The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1903-09-16
GOV. BECKHAM.
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 VIM
chester on Sa urday.


chester on Sa urday.
welcome the opportunity which this
occasion presents and 1 rejoice that the
time is at hand for the democratic party.
with its ranks united and enthusiastic to
enter campaign before the people of
Kentucky for the election Oh 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 adj
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 determin-
ed upon d quiet and secret campaign, re-
lying upon the power of big corruption
fund and hoping that the democrats may
be lulled into a sense of OVer-cOnfdence,
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
fun and fair investigation of our rec
ord. and We gladly go before the people
upon that record, believing implicitly in
lut SlhttTllE OF our purpose ana IN lDe
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
holding the fair name of the state: the
republican party tries to succeed by
slandering il and making its name a by
word of reproach throughout the land
We strive to maintain peace and pros
perity and to enforce the laws vigorous
ly and impartially; they would rather
that such conditions would not exist, II
they could get any spurious campaign
material out of the states distress. 1
speak not of the great mass of the re-
publican people in Kentucky, who, I be-
lieve. love law and order. and want TO
see the state prosper. ! know a large
number Of excellent republican citizens
In Kentucky, and il is far from me to
utter a harsh or unjust criticism about
them. but / speak of those who 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 in November. The republican
candidates for those offices were nomi-
mated last July in Louisville in a con-
vention which was characterized by some
republican leaders as the most corrupt
and unfair convention ever held. 1t was
said that nothing could be done by the
delegates, very large number Of whom
enjoyed lucrative positions in the federal
service. until there was some oracular
htterances of the wishes of the national
administration at Washington. The pow
er Of the federal machine prevailed, and
their ticket was nominated.
a on raf ~ for f1ruf Ina
In the history Of the state. in its desire
to get as close to the people as possible.
held state primary on the 9Th of last
May and nominated its ticket That
primary although an experiment. was
most successful In all its features. No
less than one hundred and fifteen thou
sand democrats voted in II. and it is
safe to say that, although there was no
contest for the Office of governor. and
il was a very busy season of the year.
more than twice as MANY democrats took
part IN il than ever before took part in
their. nominations for state offices by the
convention system. Each successful can
didate won by such large majority and
the conduct Of the primary was such
that there could be not the slightest crit
fcism 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
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
The democratic party stands pre-eminent-
ly for law and order, for peace and pros
pertty. II promises and gives an honest
and capable administration of state af-
fairs 1t believes in the rigid enforce
ment of the law against all criminals re-
CARELESS Of political or other considera-
tions. It Is against the assassination of
a republican in Breathitt county lust as
much as II Is against the assassination
of democrat in Franklin county. Its
conventions or assemblages have never
Endorsed or cheered the name of those
who are guilty of murder and who are
afraid to stand trial for their crimes
II has never through its leaders or its
newspapers sought to take up Subscrip-
tons to defend those whose only claim
for help is that they murdered the leader
OF the opposite party Without fear or
favor II has stood for equal and exact
justice to all. It 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
PROGRESS Of the age. and to prove that
life, liberty and property are as safe here
as anywhere else on earth. II believes
that II is the duty of the government TO
protect the poor as well as the rich, TO
guard rs jealously the interests of labor
as wei as of capital. and to preserve
between them those just and equitable
conditions which bring content and salts
faction to both. It believes in the pru-
dent anil careful management Of the
fiscal affairs OF the state. and in the dill
fgence and perseverance of it's state off,
Gals in the collection of all claims due
the state and the prompt application of
sucn 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 trne to the eternal principles of its
great founders IL unfurls to the breeze
the white banner of brotherly love- upon
whose folds are inscribed in letters which
can be read from the mountains to the
Mississippi. United 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 commonwealth
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.
became factor in the politics OF the