The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-08
CLAY PLEADS FOR
PLAIN HONESTY
Georgia Senator Is Reelected
By Legislature
RECORD IN THE SENATE
Senator Clay Tells the Legislators
That He Has Not Grown Rich
While in the Senate, But
Has Done His Duty.


solidating the vote taken in the separate
houses yesterday for United States SEN
ator.
Senator Alexander Stephen Clay was de-
clared elected, having received 100 lotes
in the house and 81 in the senate.
In response to an invitation by joint
resolution, Senator Clay appeared before
the joint session and delivered an ad-
dress. Senator. Clay was warmly re-
ceived and frequently applauded.
The keynote of his address was an ap-
peal for old-fashioned, honesty, for econ
omy in expenditures and for progress
along fair and legitimate lines. He crit
icised republican extravaganza; insisted
that Georgia was a fixture in the ranks
of the democracy; told of what he had
done in a practical way to secure rural
routes, public buildings and river and
harbor improvements for Georgia, and
pledged himself to a continuation of his
work for the state during his new term.
Senator Clay declared that during his
term in the Senate he had not grown
rich; that he was worth today not dol
lar more than when he entered the Sem
ate's portals u years ago; that he had
voted on every measure that had been
put before the Senate In IL years except
two.
Recently friend wrote me that had
cast wrong vote on an item in the
tariff BILL said Senator Clay.
II replied: I have voted on 1000 items
If one vote was incorrect you can sure
ly pardon an honest mistake But I
am sure 1 was correct on that voter
Business Questions Dominated.
In reviewing the work of the Senate
he said that national conditions have
changed; that whereas In the earlier days
of the republic great constitutional ques-
tions affecting the life and perpetufty Of
the nation were the main issues 10 be
solved; today the great questions were
practical problems, growing out of the
wise expenditures of billion dollars of
the peoples money annually.
The democratic attitude toward the tar
iff bill; the efforts of democratic sena-
tors in perfecting the law creating the
interstate commerce commission the pro-
hibition on national banks and great cor
porations of contributing to political cam
paigns. which democratic senators had
helped place on the statute books. were
recalled by him. He said though no
law had been enacted to require public
ity of campaign funds, that the insist
ence of democrats on this point had led
to the voluntary compliance by the re-
publican national campaign committee at
Mr.. Taft's demand.
Appropriations made from the national
treasury and those authorized for river
and harbor work in Georgia from 1902
to 1909 amount to the enormous total of
s1,23o,150, according to Senator Clay's
figures.
He showed that the number of rural
routes in the state had increased from
one costing s275 in 1897 to 1876 costing ap-
proximately s1.5s5,525 In 1909. The total cost
of the rural delivery service in the United
States is 35,7Ss,OOo.
All for Primary Nominations.
In beginning his address Senator Clay
said every southern state now dominates
its United States senators In a direct
primary, and that Kentucky is the only
state which has so far failed to ratify the
nomination. He said:
ators by the people began in the south,
and now prevails in nearly one-half of
the states in the union. 1 hope the peo-
pie of Georgia will never depart from
the primary system we have adopted.
have been elected three times consecu-
lively, as a senator from Georgia. Should
my life be spared this gives me IS years
of continued service In the Senate.
express to you and the people of Georgia
my deepest sense of gratitude for the
great honor you have conferred upon me-
| said when l was first elected that my
public life should be blameless; that
should toll day and night and diligently
seek to advance the best interest of the
great masses of the people of Georgia
and of the United States.
ITO the best of my ability I have re.
deemed this promise. l have had no idle
hours since my first election; during the
years | have served in the Senate / have
voted on every question that come to
vote in that body except twice, and, in
every speech l have made and every vote
l have cast, l have sought conscientiously
to advance the happiness and welfare of
the people of Georgia.
How often are public men abused and
maligned when they really deserve praise.
l confess l am anxious to have the con-
fdence and esteem of my constituents.
Above all, 1 want to feel that l am en-
titled to their respect and confidence.
When I know have done my duty l can
stand any amount of criticism.
II have never sought to make money
out of public office. When l was elected
to the Senate, l was worth $4,000. which
/ had accumulated while engaged in the
practice of law. That sum will cover
every dollar / am worth today. l haven't
added one dollar to my possessions since
have been a member of the Senate.
have lived plain, simple, democratic life,
devoting my entire time 10 the discharge
of my official duties. do not claim that
my service has been brilliant but / do
know that my official life has been clean
and that 1 have striven to be useful and
just to the people of Georgia.
oeorgia's Political Future.
Mr.. president, we have two great po-
litical parties in this country. The re-
publican party is largely in the majority.
The democratic party has not been in
the majority since l have been In Con-
gress. The republican party has con-
trolled all three branches of the govern
ment. The idea prevails In Washington
that the republican party is growing in our
state and stands good chance to carry
our state in the next national election.
They are even claiming, beyond ques-
ton, that the republican party will elect
members to Congress from the Ninth and
Seventh congressional districts In the next
election because Mr. Taft carried those
districts in the last election.
1.-THE democracy in our state in the last
xv1o1 al UNI n a "a