The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1908-08-05
A Glimpse of the Young
Mans Character.
HIS CAREER FULL OF TRIALS
His Life as Statesman and
Citizen-HaS Been Great
ly Maligned.

ueS anu ltlloN- ldbOltlFs Hts0 l~N44 W
from active politics, it is well, per-
haps. for one who was with him
during the entire tempestuous period
of his official life to speak of him
as he is. During his gubernaorial
days there were bright days and dark
days, there were ups and downs, and
there critical periods when the right
course led to victory and a false sep
would lead to shipwreck.
The writer watched his career with
more than ordinary care, for he had
learned to love the young man with
that love that gave birth to an earnest
desire to see him succeed to the ut
termost in whatever direction his am
billions might lead.
Governor Beckham came into con-
troll of government at a very criti-
cal period of the States history. The !
shot that laid William Goebel low also
lifted Beckham into a position where !
his youth and ineXperience caused his |
every movement 10 be watched with |
suspicion. The people throughout the
STATE did not know him. The office
of Lieutenant Governor had always /
been regarded as an ornamental fifth |
wheel in the governmental machinery, |
and there were many who regarded |
lin as too young to guide the ship /
Of State.
With his own party, also split in /
twain by The fight against and for
Goebel, with the united Republicans
and the disconnected elements Of the |
Democratic party, the young Governor
had to steer in a narrow channel, and |
those around him, not knowing his
executive ability, feared shipwreck at
every point But The strong hand of
the young man successfully guided
the machinery until calm water was
reached, and the parry again united
as we'll as placing the State govern
ment on a firm basis.
There were those, and there are still
men, who said that Beckham was
merely the figurehead, behind whom
men Of more experience and ability
pulled the string that made the wheels
go round Never was a greater mis-
take made. He listened to advice and
needed it where he thought the advice
good but the ruling power was Beck |
ham.
Mistakes were made. Mistakes are
always made when great issues are
involved. The man without a fault
is generally a man without a redeem
ING virtue. His estimate of men, gen.
orally unerring, was sometimes at
fault. He trusted men who betrayed
him. He believed men who proved
traitors. He formulated policies that
sometimes proved erroneous. But
through it all there was spirit of
earnestness, Of aggressiveness, OF in
tegrity of purpose that deserved to
win, though sometimes 1t did not.
Few men were more persistently
misrepreeented and lied upon than
was Governor Beckham. Creatures in
the form of men told throughout the
length and breadth Of the State that
he was drunkard. They told that
his habits were reprehensible., There
was never a baser lie written. He
was a man OF clean lips and clean
life. He observed the law and he
respected and observed the princi-
pies of religion. He was not fanat-
ic, nor was he teetotaler. But the
man who says that Beckham was
drunkard is a liar, willfully and pre-
meditatedly.
His position On the whiskey ques-
ton was mbsrepreFented by both
sides. He believed in the principle OF
self-government on this question, and
1t was through his earnest effonS that
the present liquor law was placed on
the stature book, which should have
satisfied the temperance people on
the one side, and received the judg-
ment of fairness from those who did
not believe in temperance legislation.
But il is not of Beckham as an
official or as a politician that We
started to discuss, but Of Becl0ham
as the man and the lawyer. He has
voluntarily retired from politics and
has entered the profession of law,
for which by education, temperance
and tradition he is so eminently fit
ted. During his political days he did
not let his talents remain dormant.
lie studied good books. He kept
abreast Of the thought of the times
Ho pursued his studies. and now,
though young man yet, he is as well
or better equipped than any man in
ths State TO make success
er, and being a born leader Of men,
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