Biographical Sketches of James Kimble Vardaman by Coody, A. S - 1922

Hackson, Mississippi: A. S. Coody, 1922. First Edition . Hardcover. Very Good. 232 pp. Blue cloth, title gilt. Illustrated with black and white photographs. Vardaman, (1861-1930) was publisher of the Greenwood Commonwealth newspaper in Greenwood, Mississippi from 1896-1903 and the Issue from 1908-1912. He served as a Democratic United States Senator of Mississippi from 1913 to 1919. He was a highly controversial figure. As Governor, Vardaman was viewed as progressive because of his support of government regulation of business, and child labor laws. However, he also said, "if it is necessary every Negro in the state will be lynched; it will be done to maintain white supremacy." He was famous for racial slurs that pushed the limits of acceptability even in his own era, and made him so popular he was called the Great White Chief.