The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1904-06-08
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might win a seat in Congress and then
claim a wife from the fair daughters of
Eve in the land famed throughout
ChristendOm for its beautiful women,
the grand Old Commonwealth of Ken
tuckv. Mr.. Helms opening speech
was frequently interrupted by applause
much as a studied effort at high flown
OratOry with Greece and Rome as his
principal text, but with the Issues of
the present and the obligation of Mad
isOn to return now at this first
opportunity. the kindness in part to
her ever loyal neighboring county of
lincoln.
MIR. Gilbert followed Mr.. Helm with
a good speech. IL which he touched
upon national affairs, the tariff, the
Man on Horseback, our irrepressible,
autOcratic President, the iniQuitOus
trusts. with inevitable ruin and wreck
age of our Republic unless we return to
the simplicity of the Fathers and the
fundamentals of the Constitution and
Declaration of Independence. Mr.. Gil
bert then took up Mr.. Helms reasons
for desiring to 90 to Congress and ridi-
culed the idea Of a crusty bachelor ask
ing a district to send him to Washing
ton so he could get him a wife, decar-
ing that be (Gilbert) wanted to return
to Congress not for the honor but for
the chance to do his district some good.
AS to Mr.. Helms claims upon Madison
for the support of Lincoln to our candi-
dates for Governor, Senator, Congress
man, Auditor, etc, Mr.. Gilbert said
that his county of Shelby was always
depended upon to supply the majority
that finally won those honOrs, ana that
his county and Anderson and Spencer
had been placed in this district to
ensure it to the Democracy.
He declared, though it must be con
iessed with questionable policy, that
zen if Lincoln had supported Madi-
son candidates, the latter were always
Of such a high class as to merit the sup
port of Lincoln. Mr.. Gilbert then
turned his attention to Mr.. Helms
mild aspersiuns upon his lack of intiu-
ence and services in Congress, and eX-
planned that he had been hampered in
his first term by contest Tor his seat
by ms Republican opponent, Davidson,
which hung over his head like the
sword of Damocles, and to that extent
trammeled him. He alleged that he
had secured an increase of S20,OO0 or
S25, 600 for the completion OF the Gov
ernment building at Richmond, and
now had a bill up for $4,000 20 be re-
funded to the county of Madison from
the U. 5. Treasury. This latter bill, he
declared, no new Congressman could
pilot TO winning finish, and hoped ms
hearers would remember that when
Of. nm IN ri he
clients were always 10th to exchange
their old lawyers for new ones. Mr..
Gilbert spoke nearly his full time and
as the rain began to descend in tor
rents. almost drowning his voice, be
resigned his place on the floor to Mr.
Helm for the latter's rejOinder OF if
teen minutes.
Mr.. Helms second speech was entire
ly different from his opening. He
came back at Mr. Gilbert with vlgOf
and upset the Congressman calcula
tiOns and claims as to his pre-eml-
nence in Congress. eMr. Gilbert had
stated that he reElgTned at Washington
up to the closing hours OF Congress and
left for home within two hours, where
AS SIR. Helm produced the Congress
iOnal Record to show that Mr.. Gilbert
was not present on that day. AS to bis
influence Mr.. Helm cited well known
incident that when the citizens Of GER
tain locality in ROckcastle petitl0ned
him for a pOstOffice instead of being
made to 90 ten miles for their mail,
Mr.. Gilbert had failed to secure it. At
this iuncture Congressman Gilbert arose
and responded: when Mr.. Helm
shall have served in Congress as long
as / have he Will learn that under
Republican administration a Democrat
has little or no influence in such mat
ters." Nevertheless" retorted Mr..
Helm, when Democrat in the per
son of Hon. James B. McCreary put
his shoulder to the wheel, he got the
pOstoffice without anybody's outside in
huencel" This was received with loud
cheers, and enliyened the occasion.
Mr.. Helm produced receipts to show
his contributions TO the success of Mad
isOn's several county candidates in the
county OF Lincoln and in rhe district,
while he declared Mr. Gilbert had been
ungenerous in his contributions to even
his own campaign in Madison county,
allowing it to fall heavily upon the 10
cal candidates.
Both speakers were literally applaud
ed, and the friends of both were well
satisfied with their efforts. AS this
was Mr.. Helms first public appearance
here he received the more critical in
spectiOn, and accordingly launched into |
his subject with moderation and Dig
nifty but yet with confidence and IA
miliarity with public debate that was
reassur;1g to his supporters.