The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1903-09-09
.os. uLUkIlAIvl
Sounds the Keynote
OF the Democratic
State Campaign.
Mastery Speech by Kentucky's
Executive at Winchester,
September 5th.
The Following Is the Text of Governor
Beckham's Opening Speech at Win
chester on Saturday,.

Beckham's Opening Speech at Win
chester on Saturday,.
welcome the opportunity which this
occasion presents, and j rejoice that the
time is at hand for the democratic party
with It's ranks united and enthusiastic, TO
enter q campaign before the people OF
Kentucky for the election OF their state
officers next November.
On our part l intend that the contest
shall be an aggressive, not a defensive,
one; that the people shall be thoroughly
acquainted with the issues involved, and
that in the fun light of public view the
democratic party, willingly. and the re-
publican party unwillingly, must stand
upon their respective records, and let the
people judge between them. This is the
policy which We seek, which we demand,
and we intend to drag our reluctant ad-
versaries from the dark recesses of a
-'gum-shoe campaign and make them
tight us, If they will, in the open light of
day. While they seem to have determine
ed upon a quiet and secret campaign, re-
lying upon the power of a big corruption
fund and hoping that the democrats may
be lulled into sense of oVer-confidence,
we are determined to compel them to
stand up and assume entire responsibility
for the evil record they have made in
this state.
We have nothing to conceal; we invite
a full and fair investigation of our rec
ord, and we gladly go before the people
upon lllUl TttOTQs believing lIlDltllly III
tho sincerity or our purpose and in the
righteousness of our cause. We know
the people of Kentucky, their love of
honesty and courage, their hatred of
fraud and deception, and with that knowl-
edge we begin this campaign with no
misgivings as to the result. Democrats
need only do their full duty and the vic
tory is won. Kentucky is a democratic
state and intends to be governed by the
democratic party. We seek to win by up
n the fair name of the state; the
r. n party tries to succeed by
al II and making it's name a by
w reproach throughout the land.
" re to maintain peace and pros
p ID to enforce the laws Vigorous
they could get amy spurious Snlf Dssien
material out Of the states IS. I
i fRs: .ses ssss 4, "a e g - 10 %
state ss gsSsgff -. ss',
in Kentucky. and IT Is far from me to
utter harsh or unjust Criticism about
them 49, f speak of those VINO dominate
their conventions, write their platforms,
and nominate their candidates. What I
shall say hereafter shall be directed at
this class, and / purpose before finishing
TO show to what depths of crime and in
fanny some of them will go in their des-
perate greed for office and power.
There are nine state offices to be filled
by election 81 November. Tine republican
candidates for those offices were nomi-
mated last July In Louisville in a con-
republican leaders as the most corrupt
and unfair convention ever held u was
said that nothing could he done by the
delegates, a very large number of whom
service, until there was some oracular
utterances of the wishes of the national
administration at Washington The pow
er Of the federal machine prevailed. and
their ticket was nominated.
The democratic party, for the first time
in history of the state. in its desire
oil n "a
+ state primary on the 9Th of last
~ I'd nominated its ticket. That
m st snccessful in ali It's features. No
les tssctn one hundred and fifteen thou
sand democrats voted in 1t. and 1t is
safe 10 say that, although there was no
contest for the office of governor. and
ii was very hnsay season Of the year,
more than twice as many democrats took
part in 1t than ever before took part I'm
their nominations for state offices by the
convention system. Each successful can
.didate won by such a large majority and
the conduct Of the primary was such
that there could be not the slightest crit
1cism as to the fairness and impartiality
of the election. On the ticket with me
were nominated eight honorable men,
who are worthy OF the democracy of Ken
lucky, men of excellent character and
capacity, and deserving In every respect
OF the support of the good people of the
commonwealth.
The people of Kentucky must choose
between these two tickets and decide
which one shall administer state affairs
for the next four years. The issues are
clearly drawn; the principles and policies
of the two parties are thoroughly under
Stood each of them has been tried and
tested by the experience of the last eight
years, and there is not an intelligent
voter In the state who does not under
stand the difference between the two
parties and what each one represents.
ly for law and order. for peace and pros
perity. 1t promises and gives an honest
and capable administration of state af-
fairs. It believes in the rigid enforce
ment Of the law against all criminals re-
gardless of political or other considera-
lions. II is against the assassination OF
a republican in Breathitt county just as
much as 1t is against the assassination
of democrat in Franklin county. Its
oonve- ions or assemblages have never
Endorsed or cheered the name of those
afraid to stand trial for their crimes.
II has never through its leaders or its
newspa pers sought to take up subscrip-
lions TO defend those whose only claim
for help is that they murdered the leader
of the opposite party. Without fear or
favor 1t has stood for equal and exact
Justice to all 1t seeks to build up Ken
lucky, not to defame her; to open up and
develop her vast natural resources, TO
encourage industry, education, and ad-
vancement, to show the world that our
state is not a laggard in the commercial
cro"ress &C the 3Sc, and 20 prove thai
fife, liberty and property are as safe here
as anywhere else on edftn. IL DeueFeS
that IL is the duty of the government to
protect the poor as well as the rich, TO
guard as jealousy the interests of labor
as well as of capital, and to preserve
between them those just and equitable
conditions which bring content and salts
faction to both. II believes in the pru-
dent and careful management OF the
fiscal affairs of the state, and in the dill
tgence and perseverance of its state OFF,
cials in the collection of all claims due
the state and the prompt application OF
such collections In the payment OF the
states debts. The democratic party of
Kentucky breaches the gospel of peace
and tolerance, not of strife and hatred,
and true to the eternal principles OF its
great founders, 1t unfurls to the breezs
the white banner of brotherly love, upon
whose folds are inscribed in letters which
can be read from the mountains to the
mississippi Omitted We Stand. Divided
we Fall" There shall be no sectionalism
is Kentucky, but the good people of the
Mountains of the Blue Grass OF the
Pennyrile, and of the Purchase. united
as one under democratic rule shall place
our state, where she properly belongs,
in the front rank of the commonwealths
of the union.
Under that banner we shall march to
certain victory, and restore to Kentucky
that era of good feeling and contentment
which existed here before the republican
party, with its malice and vindictiveness.
me a factor in the politics of the
state, and when the nightmare of its su-