The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1919-10-04
JAS. X. VARDAM|AAN
|. RECEIVES GREETING
At CITY OF NATCHEz
On Occaion of Recent Visit-Given
A Cordial Welcome and Royal
Reception-Contrary to
Political Calculations.
SAYS COUNTRY FACES GREAT
CRISIS AT PRESENT
And That the Peope Alone Can Save
the Countrywide Boys Who
Fought TO Pay Taxes-War
Made Many Millonaires.

A short time ago some leading cl-
tizens of Natchez, Miss, issued a
cordial Invitation to ex-senator Jas.
K. Vardaman to visit that city and
discuss the issues of the day. Sena-
tor Vardaman accepted the invita-
ton, but before the date set for his
visit certain set Of very bitter reso-
lutions were adopted; ostensibly by
the Legion of Honor of that city
deonuncing Mr.. Vardaman at trait
or, and as sympathizer OF Germa-
nv, etc. In other words, it was re-
hash of the same old campaign lies
that were used last year to defeat
him for the Senate.
1t was stated by few papers an
tagonistic to Mr.. Vardaman that
these resolutions were adopted
unanimously by the camp. 1t since
develops that less than half dozen
members were present, and the whole
thing was framed up by few cheap
politicians of Natchez, and the real
soldiers of the camp were indignant
that it's real functions should be thus
prostituted to political ends.
Now, the sequel Of the story is
that Mr.. Vardaman filled lis oppoint-
ment and talked to one of the larg-
est and most enthusiastic audiences
that has ever greeted him IN hls
political career. The Natchez Daily
Democrat, very partisan anti Var
daman newspaper, gives the follow
ing very fair account OF the occa-
sion:
The Democrats account follows.
Former Senator James +. Varda-
man in his address delivered here last
night discussed among other things
the question of government owner
ship Of railroads, woman suffrage,
the burden Of the war debt the
negro problem and universal mill
tary training.
R dec Jared thai this country IS
facing the greatest crisis in its his
tory and if it is to be saved the
people must do it as no reliance can
be put in Congress Or the Senate.
The address was delivered on the
bluff and the audience was large
one-flling all of the park benches
and many were standing. Inc
speaker was accorded a courteous
and attentive hearing throughout for
which he expressed his appreciation.
The ex-senator was presented by
Mavor w. G. Benbrook who spoke
briefly and in complimentary man
ner. 4FF&
In opening his address the speaker
said that the last time he had visited
Natchez he had been a candidate Tor
office but that on this occasion he
sought no favors other than to help
the peope reach righteous conclu-
sion on the great problems that con-
front the nation. He deslared ms
love for Mississippi and added that
he had been lied about, cussed ana
discussed more than any other man
in the history of the eountry Win
the exception of Thomas Jefferson.
81 am not here to apologize" he
said, "and | would not change my re-
cord in the eSnate-l did the pest
knew how for you and your inter-
ests. One of the faults of my career
IS that | have spoken too much, but
what say, l think, and what l tnlnk
[ say and | intend to maintain aoso,
lutte liberty of thought and speech.
The relation of the people to ehe
government was next taken up anu
the speaker read a quotation from
President Wilson, which stated that
one of the faults of the American
naople is that there are so few KICK
ers and grumblers and that the prln-
ciple of agitating and pulling down IN
order to build up is being, torgotten.
Referring to the quotation, MI.
Vardaman said: '"That is what am
here for and it is inspiring TO see
the fair women and the stalWart men
before me gathered to consider the
problems of our people. N
:: his is your government ana a.,
its strength and power is derived
form you-the government mas no
money CT morals except which you
ndrart. us
hv eonscription-and ! want to say
tnat | did not refer to them as con-
vIcts. | opposed conscrlption De
canse | beneved that the men VINO
fought the battles OF peace couio
ngnI the battles of war-I peheVeo
mat our citizens could be relied upon
60 do their duty without compuislon.
| Who is to pay the cost OF the war,
| tbe speaker asked, and then declared
that It would be the working men OF
| this country.
He spoke of millions having beer
made out of the war by munitions
concerns and steel corporations ane
now he had fought for an excess
nrofits. tax Of seventy-tive per GEM
on down to ffty-five per cent ane
had been denounced as traitor;
He declared that It broke ni'
| heart to think that the boys Wns
roueht in the war had TO come Daci
nome and pay its cost by taxatlol
while millions had been stored ava!
By the Duponts and others: he san
that the war had created thirty thous
and millionaires and that their mil
/ Mons were coined from the bloo'
af the fifty thousand men who Wer
i sllled in the war. -
ii this connection he spoke OF tp
, ale Of liberty bonds. telling OF tn
Jackson telephone girl VINO na
bought 4 fifty dollar bond at doiia