Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-08-30
THE SUICIDE THEORY CORROB-
GRATED.

of the long-haired missing link. BY
way of Introductory it is remarked
that no one Of the late and unlamcn-
ted's followers was more faithful
and effective in his behalf than Mr..
Maer, whose support was recognized
in his appointment on the senator's
nomination 10 the responsible and
lucrative office of collector Of the
port Of Mobile. The comment of the
Dispatch is quoted as explanatory Of
the disaffectlon of many thousand
of good citizens who lost confidence
in. and fell away from, the support
of Senator Vardaman;
Senator Vardaman alone is respon-
sible for the result. In three years
he has driven from his support the
most loyal and devoted following any
man ever possessed in Mississippi po-
litical lifc-a support born Of twCnty
years of political activity in this
state. Men who loved him person
ally and who in all the years Of his
political career have followed him
with unfailing devotion refused to
follow the course he pursued in this
war and the result was his defeat.
Senator Vardaman's speeches in this
state did much to add to the triumph
OF his opponent. His following con
doncd much that he did before war
was declared but his course since
that memorable event is what
brought his downfall, People are
willing to forgive mistakes, poIiti-
cal and otherwise, honestly made, |
but when on the stump he said that
he would not change his record if
he had to do II over again, and this
in the light Of all that has transpircd
IN the past, 1t revealed Il condition
Of mind towards the war which caus-
ed people to doubt his future course.
The people want to win this war and
they will have no mar at Washing
ton or elsewhere who hampers those
IN authority in carrying il to Z speedy
and successful conclusion. They
were afraid of senator V%ardamau
and that was all there was to it.
Construed according to the logic
OF this statement of the verdict of
"a once loyal and devoted following.
VS., Vardaman, there is thus much
more TO it,: First, that the primary
mop up was HIS and not tho PEG
pies mistake, second. that il WAS
goodbye. and not au revoir they
babe him, From another view point.
the New York Times, we have the
following sketch with the most an
propriate close Of IA good days
work:
AS the duper and idol of the hill
b%illies,' the astute player on igno
rance. passion and 'poor white"
prejudice, the white Chief the up
holder of the white South" tn
man who went to the Senate. with
ms tongue in his cheek. to get the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth amend
ments repealed; as a shrcwd old
indian drapcd In a Spanish cloak
or p%oncho; as the hero who was
once drawn in triumph and "A Char
lot through the streets of Meridian
by so yoke of white oxen. James X.
Nardaman was an amusing figure IN
political vaudcvillc-m ol O d ra a
When the war broke out he bocamc
a nuisance and Il scandal.
The senator who said that 'thc
States stabbed Germany in
the back while France and England
held her down" that "Amcrican
youths are to be fed to the Nolocb
OF war so the European people who
prefer a king should be forced nj
American dictation, to take a Repub-
or Democratic president as
their ruler" that "the cause of this
war was the interference on the mart
Germany with commerce between
New York and London" that the
war was purely a matter of p%ecuni-
airy profit'-this man will not be in
Senate after March, 1919.
Representative Harrison, a sound.
loyal American, will succeed this sen.
ltor who voted against the armed
ship bill, the declaration of war, con-
'cription; who opposed practically
very measure, though he promised
o support the war after ii was de.
Jared. His lee and snarls will
Don be heard no more in Washing
on. F~ire-eating pacifist, what screw
vas loose in him? Was he the vic
i'm Of his own singularity, grown
legalomaniacal, or did he simply
verestimate the hillbilllness of his