Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1911-05-04
OPENS CAMPAIGN
Congressman Ollie M. James
Delivers Opening Address
at NichOIaSviIIe
LARGE CROWD HEARS ORATOR
Address Was In Interest Of His Can.
didacy For the United States Sen
atorship In Race Against
Senator Paynter.

Nicholasville, Ky.-Congressm Oh
Ne NJ. james, candidate for the
Democratic nomination for United
States Senate against Senator T.
H. Paynter, opened his campaign IN
this city Monday. The largest crowd
IN the history Of Jessamine county was
In town 30 hear the big orator of West
ern Kentucky. After an introduction
by Senator B. NJ. Arnett, Mr.. James
spoke as follows:
Senator Paynter states that he did
not undertake to take any action reDa-
tive to influencing members OF the
State Executive Committee about call-
ing q primary or taking any action
relative TO selecting nominees for che
United States Senate. He says he
thought any action they should take
would be with view of conserving
the best Interests o. the party. As to
whether lie undertook any action or
not, 1t Is fact we'll known to the
people Of Kentucky THAT every close
personal friend OF bis, together with
the Democrats from the district In
which he lives or did live, voted
against including the race tn the pri-
mary, and after primary had been
ordered for all State officers che Uni
ted States Senatorshfp was excluded
from the primary in direct violation of
Democratic doctrine and platform
promises for almost a quarter Of q
century.
The Senator still sat silent as he
says, I presume still believing, that
any action taken would be with view
to conserving the best interests OF his
party" And, yet, he must have known,
and i charge that he did know, that
such action as this was reactionary
and undemocratic and was stabbing
Democratic hopes to the very heart.
And yet, he remained silent, still be
heving, as he tells us, that the action
the committee should take would be
to best conserve the interests of the
party" Senator Paynter has never
favored a primary election, and to-day
Is dragged uuwillingly before the
proud electorate of the Commonwealth
to submit his claims for their conf
dence and approval and his candidacy
to their srbitramept Senator Payn-
ter was not the choice Of Tho people
OF Kentucky when he was elected to
the Senate; he h not the choice of the
people of Kentucky now. believe
am we'll within the bounds of reason
and truth when l say chat Senator |
Paynter could not have pulled, when |
he was elected TO tho Senate, more |
than one vote out Of five in Kentucky |
against Senator Blackburn
But the Senator lodges the proposition |
when ne states II Is Unnecessary TO state |
what his preference was as to the nomi- |
A A. A.
and the United States Senate. Senator. I |
am no mind reader but / know your
preference as the people Of Kentucky |
know what 1t is There was a time when |
Democratic platforms were being tram
pied upon and Democratic issues were |
ppertlled you remained silent.
I was told quite frequently at Louisville.
he last. that the primary call was not
n proper form and THAI It must be abso-
utely legally drawn because Senator
oaynter intended to institute a suit in
primary; that II would not be
lone by him openly. but by some other
,erson who really would be acting in his
interest and that It would be said. Of
curse. that Senator Paynter knew moth
ng about 1t; that a primary was entire
y satisfactory to him.
My Record.
Senator Paynter says in his card Of an
that / am a member of a
treat committee of the House and the
,eople of the state can not afford to
pare my services from the House, and
hat I will still remain a member of the
House during his term as senator. The
senator doubtless loses sight of the fact
hat the term of congress for which 1
m elected expires at the same time that
he senatorial office which he now holds
xpires and of course the statement that
would remain a member Of Congress Is
MIR and he fnr |
or the purpose of decetv1ng the people |
I Kentucky or without the knowledge |
I the fact that a member of congress
only elected for two years. 1t is in
eed, fellow citizens. gratifying IN the
xtreme to know that after a service
eight years in the House in trying
mes. when greed and oppression were
altering at the very entrance, when lob !
les, great and corrupt, were crowding
very hall. when measures affecting the
ublic interests were many and complex
hat my opponent can not find one flaw
my record, and was forced to urge
s O reason why / should not be sent to
he senate that had proved too faithful
, the House. No greater tribute could
e pay me, no greater compliment would
seek than the admission that the eye
Z the critic and the enemy could find
o fault and he was forced TO this ad-
lission. And vet this argument simply
eans that to prove worthy of a trust IL
, be denied greater trust; to prove ca.
able is not to be promoted. and TO prove
lithful is not to find reward.
People of Kentucky can we'll say, 1--WE
ant the services of such a man who has
sen so high and holds such a prominent
osition in the ranks Of his party to act
,r the whole state for the good Of the
yet of the state why circumscribe the
.rvices of such a man to the narrow
inits of a single district. why not let
ich good services come to all Kentucky
ike?" The argument the Senator makes
rat because a member Of congress has
cen capable and worthy and prominent
the house, he should he kept there.
ould have kept Henry Clay out Of tho
,nate. would have kept James r Beck
the house, would have kept John J.
ritenden representing a district would
ave kept John G.. Carlisle acting for the
xth Kentucky district, would have kept
,hn c. Breckenridge In the house and
1seph c. S. Blackburn representing the
shland district. While the Senator ad-
-osses this argument to the people OF
10 whole state, II r. the only one. in NV
ldgment. BY which the Senator could
ave ever been elected to the Senate anS
presume for that reason It is near ana
ear to him While nv own district might |
nmand that | should remain in the house |
II II delights me beyond expression 20
now that ] am supported by the Dem =
Y