The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1906-11-02
GOVERNOR bECRHAM
Makes Special Plea for His
Elevation to Senat0rship.
Attempt TO Arouse Hearers With
Old G0tbel War Cry
Falls Flat.

Gov. J. =. w. Beckham was given
patient hearing at the Court House
last Friday by crowd which COM
fortably filled the hall. 1t was.
however, made up largely of women
and children and Republicans. The
Governors friends had left no stone
unturned to secure large crowd,
even resorting to the postal card
plan. and it is said several thousand
were sent out over the county to
the faithful urging them to come
out to meet the Governor. Probab-
hly no more unresponsive audience
ever listened to a speaker in Hart
ford. Whether any went away con-
verted or not. il seemed certain, to
an unprecedented onlooker. that the
crowd was cold toward the speaker
throughout his address.
1t is but just to say that the Gov
ernor makes a good speech for him
self. While it is special plea, al
most entirely in the interest of his
candidacy. it is well gotten up and
no one can hear him without admir-
alton for the ingenuity with which
he puts the best foot forward for
his administration.
In an Introductory speech OF ten
minutes Judges J. S. Glenn under
took to deny certain charges which
have been made against the Govern
or. One of them that of drunken
ness. To prove the utter falseness
of this accusation, the Judge under
took to file the Governor as an ex-
hibit. Said be. look at him"
Does he look like drunkdrd"
Now. Gov. Beckham naturally has a
ford face, and under the embarrass-
ment of this unfortunate personal
reference, with all eyes riveted up
on him. his face got redder and
redder, until red did not describe it.
The smile which went around the
audience was almost audible.
The attempts of Judge Glenn and
Gov. Beckham to stir the audience
with references to the sainted Goe-
bel, and slurs at Gov. Taylor. fell
fiat. The characterization of Sena-
tor Goebel as the greatest produc-
ton of Kentucky in generation,
was received by the people with
death-like stiffness. Showing that
they are absolutely tired of having
that Old trouble dug up and thresh-
ed out in every campaign. Whatev-
er may have been the mistakes COM
mitted by Republican leaders during
those dark and trying hours OF our
States history. the people Remem-
Der that in an election, held by the
Democrats, the entire State Repub-
lican ticket was elected by MAORI
ties ranging from LOO to 5000, and
that the result was so certified by
Democratic State Election Commits
sioners. 1t was then that Goebel and
this same Beckham instituted a
groundless contest before the Legis-
lature to thwart the will of the ma
jority in that election. The reign
of terror" to which Gov. Beckham
alludes, and takes credit for saving
the State from, was brought
about by himself, and those assoc,at-
ed with him in that unholy contest.
In his speech the Governor side
steps National politics, not even Of
fering reference to the peerless
William Jennings. His efforts were
principally confined to criticisms of
the official acts of Senator McCreary
and General Hays, who is candi-
date for Governor, and has been
making vigorous attacks upon the
State administration, of which he
is a part. His statement that the
Bradley administration ran the State
in debt million dollars is not borne
out by the facts. When the Bradley
lministration came into power it
found the State in debt more than a
million dollars, represented by out
standing warrants, hawked about
the State by the money changers.
Every one will remember that they
had to be discounted about rs per