George Coleman Osborn

3379. James Kimble Vardaman: Southern Commoner, by George Coleman Osborn (read Dec 14, 2000) Twenty years ago I read the more well-known bio of Vardaman (The White Chief: James Kimble Vardaman, by William F. Holmes) and it is a better book than this 1984 treatment. I was surprised to find that this book is largely laudatory of Vardaman, and that its disapproval of his violent racism is pretty pro forma. Vardaman, who was Governor of Mississippi, and U.S. Senator therefrom from 1913 to 1919, was for repeal of the 15th Amendment (which granted Negro suffrage) and opposed spending any money for Negro education. The accounts of Vardaman's political campaigns are very well-done, but the account of his work in the Senate is plodding and does not excite interest. Vardaman has always interested me because he was one of only six Senators who voted against war with Germany in 1917, knowing that his vote would end his political career, as it did.… (mehr)

3405. John Sharp Williams: Planter-Statesman of the Deep South, by George Coleman Osborn (read Feb 14,2001) This is another book I have wanted to read for over 30 years and I finally asked for it thru inter-library loan. It is not a good book, and the author spends much time telling of speeches which Williams made on matters no longer of interest. Williams was a most able man, rising to a leadership position quickly in the House, and then serving as U.S. Senator from Mississippi from 1911 to 1923. This book is the only book I know of about a man who has long been a subject of interest to me. I think it was this Senator which I remember my father talking about running up and down on the Senate floor urging us to get into the the First World War--a position my father was not keen about, though when we did get into the war he supported it and would not have minded being drafted--but he was not since he was married with two children and we were not in the war long enough so that such men were drafted.… (mehr)