Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-24

in Mississippi. There the death kneN
has been rung on political machine
whch nhs en,oyea ,mper r;ion sw m since hnc
split in twain. FOR Representative Har-
rison was formerly follower OF The
junior Senator.
machine. headed py the late Senator
Anselm J. McLaurin Was the dom-
mating factor in mississippi politics.
senator McLaurin had numerous broth
ers and these scattered themselves
throughout the State. Though Gener-
ally lacking in education. these broth
crs were all men OF native ability and.
without exception. became prominent
IN the communities where they settled.
As the leaders in every section Of Mis-
sissippi they. as members of one fam
ily. found no difficulty in cooperating
in politics and the result was ma
chine known az the Clan McLaurin.'
and held. The McLaurins were men of
tact and paid constant court TO the
were interchangeable workers and all de-
fections from their ranks were replaced
with converts from the enemy II abil
ity wns recognized In a young man Of
the opposition he was formally adopted
and and made member OF the tribe,
above water.
In 1911 vardaman was a candidate
for the United States Senate. and took
the field against the McLaur!ns. The
clan" aiready weakened by me death
with their ancient enemies. the Bour-
bcns OF the river counties. But they
could not stem the tide. and the rem
hants OF the old machine were smash
ed by the Nardaman Red Necks"
But Mississippi simply escaped the
kindly bondage of the McLaurns TO
which was destructive. absolutely sell
fish and which gave no Quarter. I'VE
lave enough votes. and We want none
from the opposition" was one motto
ia N m
chine WAS more Democratic than the
old. and iis slogan was: We make no
ual voter" But II was. nevertheless.
more tyrannical. Members OF the OPP
position were marked for political
death. Factionalism was carried into
every election. even into contests for
justice of the peace and constable. Per-
sonal fitness was no longer considered
a qualification for office. The only test
was the extent of candidates devo-
ton to Vardaman. On the hotsam and
;etsam OF this political sea many scaly
creatures drifted into Office, men whose
personal regulations were unsavory and
who. In qualification. were below the
mediocre. Misfeasance and malfeas-
no redress. When indictments were
secured convictions did not follow. for
me cry OF political persecution" went
jurors refused to believe the evidence
From this ill-smellng Kettle OF fish"
the August primary has relieved the
people OF mississippi. and they are 10
be congratulated.
1t may surprise some people to in
form them that Vardaman is not real
~ pro-German. He served creditably
with the army of the United States in
he Spanish American War. and when
The United States declared war against
Germany he Immediately offered his
services TO the government He has a
son who volunteered and is now in the
National Army. Nardaman's whole
trouble was caused by his personal
pique and inordinate vanity Long be-
fore the present war he, disappointed
in the patronage which he received.
conceived a dislike for the President
and began opposing every measure
which the chief executive advocated.
He prided himself on his Independence
Of thought and vainly imagined that
his constituents were applauding him.
From mere habit he carried his OH
structtonist tactics into the war period
and there he fell into deem water and
could not swim. Those who think ,hat
Vardaman has been eliminated from
politics reckon without their host. pol
ltics is MS profession. He makes his
living in its pursuit and he cannot af
ford to remain out of the limelipht
1t took great world conflict TO eciinsa
the junior Senator from Mssissippi.
and he will emerge again, chastensd
and, we hope, a better man.
LOYAL DEMOCRAT.
Richmond Va. August 80