The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1918-08-02
A CONFEDERATE
VETERAN TELLS why
MIR. r.. N. Provine, 70 Years
Old, Always Heretofore for
Vardaman but Can not Now
Vote for Him. Tells Why
Thinks the Senator Should be
Left at Home. Says We Ell
ther Have Wrong Senator or
the Wrong President. Has
Grown Children.

Mr. r. n. Provine Of Calhoun County
was in Grenada Monday. He came
down to visit his son living near Gre
NADIA but while here he dropped in on
meeting of the Pat Harrison Commit
tee of Grenada county, and, from what
was said by those present, he evident
~ gave that gathering what the boys
say. in political Darlance. "rabble.
rousing" talk
Mr. Provine is 79 years of age and
has eight living sons, all grown, and
one daughter He looks hale and hear
ty. indeed he has the appearance OF
man scarcely more than so years OF
age. He was born and reared on the
very farm where he now resides. his
wife is vet a vigorous woman and &c
her Mr.. Provine ascribes a large part
of whatever success he has had in life
He is a member of the Baptist church
and is known throughout the state as
one of the strong and vigorous charac
ters of the commonwealth. His family
is one of the most prominent in the
state. His son. Dr. ]. w. Provine, is
President of Mississippi College. and
is one of the leading educators OF the
South. In addition to the noble sons OF
this honored citizen, Mr.. Provlne mas
been blessed with 26 grandchildren
and is therefore vitality concerned
about what happens to Mississippi not
only now. but the policies Of the pres
ent as they affect the future. 1t would
seem that the voice of one of Mr. Pro
vines years and experience should be
regarded as voice from the sacred
past and like the cry Of one OF the old
prophets as to the future.
While in town Mr.. Provine was seer
by a representative Of The Sentlne
who endeavored to ascertain his vteWs
rgarding the Senatorial election. This
he had little trouble in doing, thoug'
Mr.. Provine said he felt no little re
Iuctance at appearing in print Mr.
Provine is just as candid and as FRANK
about his views about men and meas
ures as he is positive in his business
relations. There is no beating about
the bush with him. He talks out
straight from the shoulder.
In answer to the question as to whai
he thought Mississippi ought to do IN
the senatorial election, he re o!:ed with
a snap of his eyes and with that alert
ness which is said to have marked him
for the four years he was ;HI0jGc i'll
The Confederate army. "Why, Missls-
sippi ought to make Vardaman stav a.
home and every other man ike h.m
should be kept where his speeches and
his atrs can not hurt our country.
I You understand that | say. wnat
say about Senator Vardaman with sor-
row and with regret. | helped to elect
him Governor l then voted for him for
the Senate in 1907 and again in 1911;
so / proved my fidelity every time Mr.,
Vardaman has been a candidate up to
now
When he voted against the Ship-pur'
chase bill, | did not like that altogether
but tried as best could to justify him.
Still he continued to make speeches
in the Senate and do, it seems to me
everything almost that he should not
have done | was hurt over his action.
] really loved the man. had had him
in nv home and | had shown myself
his friend in numerous substantl2I
ways. disliked his acts, yet hated to
20 back on him You know we all have
a certain sort of pride in our opinions
and we are much disinclined to do or
say anything that will discredit what
we have formerly done or that VIII
show that we made a mistake. And }
guess | was not altogether free from
that sort of feeling and false PRIDE
But when he refused to give Presi-
dent Wilson the right to put arms on
our ships in order to protect them
against German submarines and war
ships and then when he stood our
against every other Southern member
of Congress and voted with the five or
six against declaring state OF war.
said that was too much for me. saw
that Vardaman was out OF place ano
that we either had the wrong Presil
dent or the wrong Senator. But even
after war was declared, Mr.. Vardaman
did not stop his tactics. He just kept
on in his opposition to the administra,
ton in place of cooperating with hia
own President and party, we find him
Joining hands with such discrediteo
man as LaFollett. feel sure that his
acts were very pleasing to the Kaiser
Now the Senator comes home and de.
nounces those who discuss his record
and who show by the official journal
80 conqress how he voted in opposition
to his country. as liars. SQUIRREL
heads and other similar things. Wnat
no has said since he came home is