The Adair County news., 1907-09-11
DEMOCRATIC DAY.
Gov. ]. {. W. Beckham and Hon.
Ruby Laffoon Speak at
Columbia.
LARGE CROWD, ENTHUSIASTIC VOTERS.

Beckham, the next United States Sem
ator from Kentucky, and Hon. Ruby
Laffoon, candidate for State Treasurer,
and Hon. John B. Chenault, candidate
for Clerk of the Court of Appeals,
reached this place about 1920. stop
ping at the Columbia Hotel. From the
time of their arrival until the dinner
hour, they were kept busy shaking
hands with their numerous friends, all
of whom were enthusiastic in the cause
for Democracy.
At 1:30 in the afternoon every avail
able spot in the large Courtroom was
taken, and many of the yeomanry were
left upon the outside.
The audience was called to order by
Attorney L. C. Winfrey, paying a nice
compliment to the people of Adair and
the distinguished guests. When Mr..
Winfrey concluded, Hon. James Gar
nett, of this place, in few well-chosen
sentences, introduced Governor Beck
ham to the waiting assembly, and for
two hours the distinguished Executive
spoke to the most attentive audience
ever gathered in the Court House. In
a few minutes after he opened his ad-
dress, the crowd upon the outside be-
gan clammoring for a speech, and Mr..
Laffoon went down and spokefrom the
Courthouse door. 81
1t was Governor Beekham's desire to
begin his campaign at Columbia, and in
his opening remarks he paid a high
compliment to the Democrats of Adair
county. He then reviewed his own rec
ord as the Executive of the State,
comparing his official acts to those of
w. o. Bradley; stated that Wilson and
Bradley were one in thought, and if
people of Kentucky should elect Wilson
they could expect another Bradley ad-
Referring to the affairs
of the State under Republican rule, he
showed that the public funds were
spent, and that when Brad
ley retired from office, he left the State
largely in debt. He scored Bradley
for ordering out the militia intimes of
peace; his effort and Wilson's effort to
defeat DR.. w. G.. Hunter for United
States Senator after he was the caucus
of the Republican Legislature,
etc. He spoke of the stand he had
taken for Temperance-his favoring
the County Unit law, the closing of the
saloons in large cities on the Sabbath.
and that Wilson was superb artful
dodger of the issue. He showed the
condition of affairs at Frankfort under
Democratic rule; that Kentucky was
out of debt Notwithstanding she had
built capitol at the expense 81, 600, 900,
had increased the school percapita until
it was now larger than it had ever
been, had expended large sums nf mon
ey on the charitable institutions;
that the Democratic Administration
was proud of its record, and he defied
Mr.. Wilson, the Republican candida tie
for Governor, to refute his statements.
He touched upon all public questions,
making one of the most argumenta-
tive speeches we ever heard. 1t was
as he said heart to heart talk, con-
spoken. He closed by urging
the voters of Adair county to be at the
polls on the 9Th, of November and cast
their suffrage for Judge S. w. Hager
for Governor and the remainder of the
Democratic ticket. Mr.. Laffoon fol-
lowed Gov. Beckham in second speech,
talking Democracy for twenty minutes.
In the near future we will publish
Gov. Beckham's speech in full.