The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1915-04-20
GREAT CROWD HEARS
BECKHAM AND O'REAR
Open Fight at Mayheld for Submits
sion of Statewide Prohibition
Question to Vote of People.

the courthouse Monday heard Sena-
tor Beckham and Judge E. c. O'Rear
speak in behalf of the nomination by
both parties of candidates for the
State Senate and House who favor
the submission to the people of a
Statewide prohibition amendment.
Both speakers were given the closest
attention. The addresses were made
at the court house, which was crowd
ed to its full capacity. Senator
Beckham has spoken frequently in
Mayfeld, and is personally popular,
while Judge O'Rear, though not so
well known in Graves county, is also
favorably regarded there.
Both Senator Beckham and Judge
O'Rear urged the submission of the
Statewide prohibition amendment to
the Constitution to the people of Ken
lucky. Senator Beckham, in opening
his address, said that the fact that
Judge O'Rear, a Republican, and he
himself, a Democrat, were speaking
from the same platform for the same
cause, did not mean that either was
lacking in all due and proper allegi-
ance to the principles of his party.
I'VE are contending," he said,
against a common foe to warn the
people of every pol:::cal faith of the
impending danger"
He declared the people are only
asking that the next Legislature give
them a chance to vote on the State
wide prohibition question in 1917.
"The issue is clear" he declared.
He maintained that the clamor for
personal liberty" and for ''local self
government" came from those who
manufacture and sell intoxicating
drinks and not from the drinkers.
1t is no longer a debatable question
that the saloon is indefensible, he
said, and that being so it followed
that the brewery and distillery
were in the same class.
Replying to the charge that pro-
hibition would be confscation, he de-
MED that prohibition of any business
that lives and thrives upon human
miseries and woes is confiscation of
property.
He denied that Statewide prohibi-
ton would seriously disturb the State
and coming to the county unit law
he took up the argument that the
county unit law should be given fair
trial before trying the Statewide
plan.
This appeal. he said, had misled and
caught some good men who have
helped conspicuously the cause of
temperance in the progress that has
been made In recent years, and he
thought the argument might have
some force if the liquorinterest had
accepted in good faith and obeyed the
county unit and other laws.
They have not done this, he said,
and the situation is such that if the
temperance people should seek to go
no farther in the work of legislation
frey must Keep in perpetual and eX-
hausting political warfare to preserve
what they have already won.
Estate prohibition" he said, Twill
put an end to this ceaseless and bit
ter struggle"
He declared that in every county
unit contest the liquor forces had
sought to control the election with
their money, and had fought each
election in the courts on every posi-
BILE technicality.
The liquor interests, he said, were
not content merely to fight adverse
legislation and its enforcement, but
have pursued and fought every public
man who has not stood with them;
have been perniciously active in pri-
maries, conventions and legislative
caucuses, and have done more to de-
bauch voters, corrupt elections and
destroy respect for laws than have all
other influences combined.
He also referred 10 the fact that
they have ruthlessly in several in
stances used the boycott on certain
individuals and newspapers that have
valiantly and ably fought on the side
of temperance, and in at least two
cities of the commonwealth they
boldly and fiagrantly ran the saloons
wide open on Sunday.
In closing, he said he had for ten
years made the best fight he could
for the gradual elimination of intern
perance from the State and had borne
patiently the calumny and abuse
heaped upon him because of the fight
and he urged the people to nominate
for Office only those men who will
never bend to the domination of the
liquor trust.
Judge O'Rear declared that prohi-
bition does not afford any middle
ground. 1t cannot, he said, be strad-
died. The issue is here, he main
tanned, born of the true instinct to
shield oneself from the destroyer.
The LIQUOR interests he said, are
trying to control both parties, and, he
said, neither he nor Senator Beckham
was advocating the election of any
particular candidate. He referred to
the fights made by the liquor inter
ests against all temperance legisla-
ton and declared the liquor interests
have never accepted any attempted
settlement until forced to do so by
law.
The liquor interests, he said, were
now urging that the county unit be
given a fair trial, saying it is "all
right" when they themselves are
fighting it in the courts at every turn.
He declared that the liquor inter-
ests maintained a lobby at Frankfort
and worked by pooling their Hobbies
with the Hobbies of other business
seeking privileges.
One of the reasons why the county
unit is proving a disappointment, he
lid; was that frequent elections are
Necessary under it and that corrup-
y ton is more rampant under them
than under any other form of cleo
ton.
He denied that Statewide prohibi-
ton would mean confscation, and
gave court decisions to support his
aims.
JTO rate in city is miles an
kS5It TO 500 fine. Watch out. /
have q fine healthy compIex-