The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1918-07-18
FATHER OF HERO
DENOUNCES SEN.
| JAS. K. vARDAMAN
]. H. McDermit, of Collins,
Miss, Scores Attempt of
Senator Vardaman to
Enlist His Support
SON BURIED ON FRENCH SOIL
(From Collins Commercially
Collins, Miss, June "a, 1e12


Hon Jas. X. Vardaman, !;
United States Senator, -. X
Washington, D. c. | Il
Ny Dear Senator =
Your bundle OF campaign literature,
with the request that busy myself in
circulating the same, received. No,
Senator, cannot comply with your rs.
guest. am . patriotic citizen and
love my country. and do not feel that
I could assist you In your assault
against the President Of the United
States and the interest of the Govern.
mont by distributing this literature.
You and l do not agree In the course
you have pursued during your term OF
service in the Senate.
You say boldly that you have no
apoiosiss 60 make Tor your course;
that II II were ali to do over again ye6
would do Just a. you have dene. q
take u that this means that you would
again slilbustsr and vote with che Re-
psblIcans and q few puny Democrats
-'the wliifui twelve"--to defeat the
ship Purchase Bill, ard thereby paw
perixe the farmers az the south by
forcing them to take Q cents for cotton
In the year 1914, az they had no con.
veyanees In which 70 convey IL 70 the
markets Of tho world.
After Germany, the lurking assassin
Of the sea. had Summarized, asssiied
and killed q number of American citi.
Esns ON the high seas, and trampled
unAer foot our rights. under the laws
Il both God and man. you voted
against arming American ships for
ssif-proteetion: aftsr . great many
American citizens had been ruthiessiy
slAtn. and after the American flag had
bssa assaulted on the high seas, you
vetsd against the declaration OF war.
the purpose Of this declaration beina
to vtndicate American rights and to
uphold the lave of all civilized nations.
Yes. Senator even after war was de-
elarsd, and It became necessary to
have an army to protect the rights OF
the American people. you voted
against the Seiective Draft, and said
that the boys who were selected to de.
fend their country made you think OF
convicts, Indeed. four months after
war was declared. and after we were
fighting for the freedom of America,
and the world. you were interviewed.
and you said:
1h4n again Il was proposed II we
did net fight Germany now---stab her
In tke back while England and France
have her do~n-that we would have
t. fight her alone, and other excuses
90 causes, imaginary and real, for war
we're assigned. Now, personally, l
think the cause Of this war was the
interference on the part OF Germany
with eommercs between New York
ard London. | have always thought
II Was purely q matter Of peeunIary
profit and think 30 still but have
ne objection 70 discussion. ~ the sub
marine warfare had not interfered
with business and profits there would.
In my Judgment, probably have been
~ war;"
Really. Senator. did this interview
express your feelings? You say now
you would not change your course
dot an H. or cross . t." III 1t were
all to do over again. Are you really
serious In this!
You also stated in letter that Pres
ident Wilson had summarized the pro-
hibitioR ship. and sent her to the bot
tom OF the sea. This do not believe.
indeed, you have done and said many
things that lead me to believe that you
are not Ia sympathy with the great
majority OF American people. be-
ueve. so far as America In concerned.
this 10 . Just war. regret that we
were not In It two years before we
we're, 80 that We might have conquer
"a Germany sooner. and perhaps the Z
price we are paying for our liberty, /
ane indeed for the freedom Of tbs
world. would not be so great.
Senator. enc Of my boys, preua,
brave, patriotic sen, has lust fallen In |,
thls great battle. He was buried a
few days ago on the shell-torn fields
81 bleeding France. do not feel that
no died In an unhoiy eauss on account
Of che Interference on the part Of Ger.
many with commerce between Mss
York and London. I feel that no died
lighting fer freedom, In . Iuss and
iehteous cause, and that no fills
eaSrlstls arnxs ! have another aeai