The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1914-12-30

manage the farm. He continued his stud
les however, with the result that at nine
teen he was made principal Of the high
school Of his home town. which place he
occupied for the succeeding three years.
During this time he studied law. political
economy and political history. He was
admitted to the bar of Kentucky in 1899
and on his birthday that year, his twenty
fourth, being just eligible, ne was nomi-
mated by the Democrats of his county
for a seat in the lower house of the gen.
eral assembly. He was the youngest
member of that body. During this service
his health became impaired, and it looked
as if mis- political career would be cut
short. He went to New Mexico for the
climate, and within a year was so nearly
restored to health that he returned TO
Kentucky. On the advice of his physician
he declined reelection to the legislature.
but was destined to continue as a mem
Der of that body. Isaac Wilson, who had
been given the seat he had refused. died
shortly after taking the oath of Office.
His death took one vote from the Demo
Gratis of the assembly at a most critical
time, when the body was deadlocked in
the selection of a senator, the candidates
being Joe Blackburn and w. Godfrey
Hunter, the Republican candidate. The
death of Wilson broke the tie. but one
old state senator, who was something Of
an Independent, though elected as a Re
publican, declared that the Republican
nominee should not be sent to Washing
ton across the. grave of a Kentucky iegis
lator and announced that he would wait
a limited time for the Democrats to ill
the vacancy. Without Beckham annOunC-
ing for the place, his home people quickly
reached the conclusion that he was the
man to fill Wilson's seat. y special cleo
ton was hurriedly held, he defeated his
Republican opponent by nearly 1000. and
he started out to get to the state capital
before the hour fixed by the Republican
senators for the Democratic side to have
its vacant seat filled.
A railroad wreck occurred, and it look
ed as if the Democrats would fail. In the
most Indictment weather of u hard winter
Beckham set out in a carriage from
BardstOwn for Frankfort, a distance of
siXty-five miles. Teams were changed
three times, and he reached the capital
at o'clock in the morning of the day the
balloting in the senatorial race was to be
resumed. The senatorial deadlock remain
ed unbroken for all of that session. re-
sulting in an extra session in 1897 and the
election of William J. Deboe through the
opposition of William o. Bradley, then
governor of the state. to Hunter. the Re
publican nominee.
The Nelson county man was returned to
the lower house in 1885, and had attained
such prominence in the assembly that he
was made speaker. At that time he was
but twenty-eight years of age. the young
est man ever given this Office in Ken
lucky. AS presiding officer he attracted
much attention, and in the Democratic
state convention of the following year he
was chosen for the office of lieutenant
governor, as the running mate of the
late William Goebel. Then followed the
most exciting period in Kentucky since
the civil war. The state contest was car
ried before the general assembly, Goebel
was declared to have been elected gov
ernor and was shot down by an assassin
almost at the entrance of the state CAPT
tol. w. l.. Taylor, the Republican candi-
Gate for the governorship established
himself in the capitol, surrounded by a
regiment of the Kentucky state guard.
and the Democratic claimants, with Beck
ham at their head, opened up offices at
the Capital hotel for the transaction Of
the business of the commonwealth where !
they were surrounded by portion of the |
state guard loyal to their side of the con- |
troversy. The Democratic majority of the !
general assembly was prevented by Tay- |
Tor from meeting at the capitol. and, driv-
Ell through the streets by his guardsnen !
to prevent their meeting elsewhere. The !
4diutant general even tine ISL 20 -
wade the room of the dying GOebei should /
a meeting be attempted therein Enough.