The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1914-04-01

!
1t was most unpleasant duty
thrust upon me, but it placed in my
hands the power to enfOrcce the Sun
| day closing law, and | was determined
not to lose the opportunity, even
! though all the political powers of
that city were opposed to it. l made
| sure of it in the appointment of Mr..
| Bingham as mayor. From a political
standpoint it was a most unpopular
! position to take at that time. | was
then Democratic nominee for the SEN
| ate, and the election was to be held
IN the general assembly of the fol-
| lowing winter; and l knew that my
action meant to me the loss of nearly
every member of the Louisville dele
cation to the legislature, and every
| member from elsewhere in the state
that could be controlled by the en-
| ragged liquor interests. They succeed.
ed in furnishing me that winter, but
it left me with no bitterness towards
anyone; and I have rejoiced to see
that the position I then took in these
matters has been fully INDICATED. and
that no party nor politician in that
city would now even think of advo-
eating publicly the open Sunday sa-
loon.
| am not influenced by any feeling
Of unkindness or hostility to those en-
gagged in the liquor business. AS in
dividuals, l should not wish to do
any of them harm; but this is a
question of principle and not of men;
and I believe that where the people
have expressed their wishes in laws.
those laws should be rigidly enforced
Opponent to Blame.
I regret that it has been necessary
to give so much attention to, or to
criticise, my opponent, Mr.. Stanley.
But as he has pitched his campaign
upon such a low plane of misrepre-
sentation and abuse, he can not hope
to escape a fair and just discussion
of his own record. His speeches COLI
ist of two parts; first, extravagant
praise of himself, and second, abuse
of me.
It is proper, therefore, that upon
this occasion, at least, I should show
the utter falsity of the charges
against me. and the irresponsible
character and indefenslbIe record OF
the man who makes them. No con-
sideratiOn for the truth, no regard for
the intelligence of his hearers, deter
him from the most unwarranted state
ments, in his efforts to win votes.
There is no style of oratory easier
to acquire. or temporarily more pOpu-
lar with the unthinking, than that Of
abuse and vituperatiOn. From an Or
binary book of synonyms an abundant
vocabulary Of defamatOry epithets
may be easily memorized, and, when
accompanied with bOisterOUs decla-
nations and vehement gesticulatiOns,
is sometimes mistaken by the unwary
for real oratOTy. An orator of that
kind is ever willing to sacrifice facts
to secure applause, believing that
well-started falsehood is not often
overtaken by the truth, and really not
caring very much if it should be, for,
by the time it is Overtaken his fer
tile imagination has been able to in
vent new one and start il upon it,
wicked career The gauge by which
he usually measures the success CT
one Of his speeches is in the amount OF
Precipitation he has been able to exude
during its delivery The man who SO
assails me in this campaign has
achieved an unenviable and even &
national nOtOriety as an actor in that
branch Of the art, and it is not sur
prising, therefore, that he should be
chosen as the mOuthpiece Of the liquor
interests in this fsht against me. 4
filter instrument for that character
OF work could not easily have been
found.
I have no fear of any attacks upon
my record as a public servant. I am
not vain enough to claim that it has
heen free from mistakes; but the
searchlight of strictest scrutiny has
been turned upon it in many cam
paigns, and I believe I may say. with
out boast that it has stood the test
In the nearly eight years of my ser
vice as governor had many difficult
conditions and trying problems to deal
with; but l am perfectly willing to
stand upon a comparison of that adj
ministration of the affairs of my sue
cessors in Office.
State Debt Wiped Out.
When | went into office as governor
there was a debt upon the state OF
about $1,700,O00. When l went out Of
office all of that debt had been paid,
the financial credit of the state was
at the highest point it has ever been.
before or since that time; and there
was more than $1,OO0,0OO in the state
treasury. All obligations Of the state
were promptly paid when presenter,
no interest bearing warrant had to he
issued, no increased tax rate was put
upon the people, and during that time
the annual revenues of the state were
not as large as they have been during
succeeding administrations
BY hard work and by patient atten-
ton to the duties Of the office, | kept
in close touch with the treasury con-
ditions, and at each session of the
general assembly l was prepared to
inform the legislators about those