The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1912-06-19
DanvilIe Advocate Scores
Congressman Helm.


The subjolned article appeared in
Danville Advocate of last Wednesday;
In referring to the charges that have
been made to the effect that Congress
man Harvey Helm pledged himself not
to enter the present race for the Demo
cratic nomination for Congress, his home
paper, the Interior Journal, in a lengthy
editorial today declares among other
things, that Congressman Helm had a
perfect right to chanage his mind. A
candidate has as much right to change
as anybody else. It's all in the game.
The Advocate contends that Congress
man Helm had no right TO pledge him
self not to enter the present race for the
Democratic nomination for Congress in
order to keep down opposition in his race
two years ago. That looks like change
for revenue only. That certainly looks
like taking unfair advantage Of fair and
upright opposition. The violation of
pledge like Congressman Helm is charg-
ed with making is entirely different
proposition from a man merely chang
ing his mind upon some great question,
which he has perfect right TO do. How
ever. it is apparent that Congressman
Helm has never changed his mind: that
the pledge was merely made 10 gain
point-to keep down opposition, while
at the same time he expected TO run this
year Notwithstanding.
The Advocate repeats that it is not
posted as to these charges which have
been preferree against Congressman
Helm by his opponent, Judge Jere A.
Sullivan, of Richmond, but all Demo
Gratis who are acquainted with Judge
Sullivan's unquestioned integrity and
force of character will naturally accept
with a great deal of seriousness any
charges that ne prefers, for he is not a
man that would be guilty Of unfair
methods even in a political fight. As
the Advocate stated in its Mondays
issue, we believe in honesty and fair
play among politicians and candidates
as we'll as among individuals. This
policy of pledging one thing and doing
another does not 60 among honest voters
as ''being all in the game" Boyle county
has suffered more than once from the
violation of sacred pledges made by can
didates and the Democrats here hence
forth propose to stand for honesty in
politics as we'll as in private affairs.
Politicians who are willing to make
any kind of pledges 10 gain office are
responsible for most of the troubles OF
our nation and until the voters select
men who are above such questionable
methods the nation will never reach its
highest state of peace and prosperity, for
under such circumstances it cannot be a
government of the people, for the people
and by the people. II Congressman
Helm has been guilty of violating his
pledge in one matter, it is only reason
able that he will violate il in another. If
by so doing ne can gain his point. The
Advocate personally knows that he
violated certain promises made by him
last fall, and he will not deny this.
While practically admitting that Con-
gresham Helm violated his pledge not
to enter the present race, but contend
ing that 'he has a perfect right to
change his mind as it is all IN the
game" the Interior journal pretends 10
be astonished that the Tall Sycamore
has a blank record in Washington City.
The Advocate defies the Interior Journal
to show anything that Congressman
Helm has accomplished. 1t is true that
his colleagues placed him on an import
ant committee, but has he not proven a
failure on that committee! Is it not
fact that when he arOsa to make a
speech for his committee that he got his
notes all jungled up and made pitiable
spectacle OF HIMSELF We will also ask,
is it not fact that he was found quot
ing from authority at least ten years out
Of date in this same speechf
We defy the Interior Journal to prove
that Congressman Helm has made his
salary as the representative Of one OF
the largest revenue-paying districts in
Kentucky We do not believe that the
records will show during the past six
years that he has gotten as much for the
district in the way Of appropriations as
he has drawn in salary. In the light of
such a situation, would a private bust
ness man employ a representative who
could not earn his salary
Would a man engaged in private bust
ness employ representative who would
pledge himself to do one thing only TO
turn around and do exactly the oppOsitel
These are questions for the voters to
consider. The charges have come from
a source the reliability of which is I'M
questioned Therefore. they must be
taken as true until proven otherwise.