Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-07-23
Beckhams SefConfessed Confusion at Baltimore Fol-
lowed By Deliberate Misstatements To
Voters of Kentucky
READ THE OFFICIAL RECORD

How did ]. c. w. Beckham vote on
the famous Bryan resolution in the
Democratic National Convention at
Baltimore on June q, 1912?
This question has been the cause oil
some dispute between Mr.. BecKham
/ and Mr.. Stanley since the beginning
of the senatorial primary campaign.
! Mr. Beckham claims that ne Voteu
against the resolution at a time wheh
he was laboring under a nisapprehen-
| sion as to its purport. Mr.. STANLEY
| states that no man could have mlsun-
| derstood the purport OF the resolu-
ton. and that it was impossible for
MIR. Beckham or any other delegate to
the convention to have had any other
than a clear idea of the situation.
Any number of letters have been re-
ceived at the Stanley headquarters
asking for information on this sub
iect. the latest of which is from Ed
| dyville. where Mr.. Beckham SAID IN
! his speech on Monday that he voted
| against the Bryan resolution before
| the second part of it had been WIN
drawn.
Prior TO this Mr.. Beckham has
claimed that he was away from the
convention during the debate and got
in as the vote was about to be taken;
that he was confused and misunder-
stood the situation. He has never be-
fore made the ridiculous statement
that he voted against the Bryan reso-
luton before the second part was
Withdrawn. The cold facts OF the
case are that the second part was
withdrawn by Mr.. Bryan himself be-
fore a vote of any sort was taken on
the resolution.
Nobody in that convention ever had
a chance to vote for the second part
of that resolution, and the records Of
the convention will show it to anyone
who wishes to look at them. Now,
what did happen at the Baltimore
convention on the night of June 81,
1912? Shortly after the convention
gathered for the evening session Mr.
Bryan introduced his resolution. Here
is the resolution in full:
Resolved, That in this crisis in our
party's career and in our country's
history this convention sends greet
ing to the people Of the United States
and assures them that the party of
jefferson and of Jackson is still the
champion of popular government and
equality before the law. AS proof of
our fidelity to the people, We hereby
declare ourselves opposed TO the nom
ination of any candidate for President
who is the representative of or under
obligation to j. Pierpont Morgan,
Thomas F. Ryan, August Belmont or
any other of the pTivilege-hunting and
favor-seeking class.
BE II further resolved, That we de-
mand the withdrawal from this con-
vention of any delegate or delegates
constituting or representing the
above-named interests"
Senator Ollie James, of Kentucky,
was in the chair as permanent chair
man of the convention, and upon the
reading of the resolution by Mr..
Bryan asked If there were objection
to the adoption OF the resolution.
Thomas j. Spellacy, a delegate from
Connecticut, objected. James V. Cole
man, of California, sustained him.
Mr.. Bryan then said:
objection having been made TO
unanimous consent, | move to sus.
pend the rules and pass the resolution
at this time"
A. w. Gilchrist, of Florida, made
the point of order that the State of
Virginia had elected as one of its del.
egates to the convention a man named
in the Bryan resolution-Thomas f.
Ryan-and that the convention had
no right to go behind that election.
Senator James ruled that the conven.
ton could do anything il pleased un.
der suspension Of the rules.
Emmett O'Neal, OF Alabama. asked
that the resolution be read again. Mr.
Bryan himself reread the resolution amid
a profound silence throughout the con-
Among other things he said:
Every Deleoste Knew.
There IL not a delegate in this con-
vention who docs not know that an ef-
fort is being made right now to sell the
predatory interests OF this nation IL is
the most brazen, the most insolent the
most impudent attempt that has been
TO dominate convention. stifie the hon
est sentiment OF people and make the
nominee the bOnd-slaye OF the men who
exploit ne people OF this country"
u need not ten you that J. Pierpont
Morgan, August Belmont and Thomas n
RYAN are three ~ the men who arc con
nected with the great Money Trust OF
this country, who are as despotlc In their
rule Of the business OF the country ana
as merciless In their command Of their
slaves as any man In the country"
Then toward the close OF his speech he
made a proposition 20 the Virginia and
New YORK delegations that n they would
make pool OF their respective delegates.
ard a majority OF the New York delega-
ton did not ask for the withdrawaI Of
Belmont and the Virginia delegation ala
not ask for the withdrawal Of Ryan, he 3
resolution.
Delegates Hal Flood and John w /
Price, Of Virginia, speaking for their |