The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1915-12-08

of the majority was kept intact by the
young governor to keep the record straight
and clear. The full record of the settle
ment of the guoernatorial contest was
preserved. Through it all he held his side
in perfect obedience to the laws and set
example to his followers that did much
to bring order out of chaos When he
could do so he reassembled the legisla-
ture at the seat of government and pro-
ceeded ntelligently with the business "
the state. So well did he handle the Tains
of government during these stormy times
that the Democrats of the state made
him their nominee TO fill out the unexpir-
ed term of Goebel in the executive chair.
The Republicans put forth most formd-
able candidate in the person of John w.
Yerkes. man of national reputation. who
had held himself aloof from the recent
political trouble. 1t was a national year.
Bryan and Mckinley being the candidates.
and the race was one of the most holly
contested held in the state in years.
Beckham won by 300 majority.
Two weeks after the election, at the
a ge of thirty-one years. the young COVER
nor was united in marriage TO Miss Jean
Fuqua of Greensboro. They occupied the
state executive mansion for the, seven
years following. he being reelected in
1913 for a full term of four years. AS gov
ernor he did much to alay feeling which
had been stirred up during the 1900 polit-
cal troubles, winning the strong friend
ship of Republicans who had bitterly OPP
posed him He was governor of the
whole people, and no trace of political
feeling ever was displayed in the COVER
nor's Office during the years that followed
the political strife During his incumben-
cy ne cleared the state of debts totaling
nearly s2,000.0)0 without increasing the
tax rate and passed the Office to his sue
cessor with million in the public treas
ury. He collected for the state from the
national g-yerment over 81, 10000 war
debt. The new capitol was begun and
practically completed under his direction,
and home was established in the state
for Confederate soldiers.
One of the most notable features of the
Beckham administration of affairs in
Kentucky was the enforcement of the
Sunday laws and the promotion of tenn
penance and regulation of the liquor traf-
fc Until ne had an opportunity TO APP
point a mayor of Louisville. in 1907. sa-
looms ran wide open on the Sabbath
With the appointment of Robert Worth
Bingham as mayor they closed and have
so continued ever since. Through further
extensions of the county unit local option
laws he incurred the enmity of the liquor
people and through taxation laws the III
will Of the whisky rectifers Before his
term "a governor had closed he was NOM
mated by the Democrats of the state in
primary election for the office of United
States senator, defeating James B. Nc
Creary for that honor In those days n .
state legislature had the final say. and.
although there was a clear Democratic
ma jority in that body. he was defeated
through the Vaccinations of the whisky
and brewery interests. who drew away
from him four men who had been elected
as Democrats and pledged to his support
as the party nominee.
Senator Elect Beckham is not unknown
in the national councils of the Demo-
cratic party. In the national conventions
Of 1904, 1903 and 1872 he was a delegate at
large from the state of Kentucky. and in
each convention represented his state on
the committee on resolutions of the con-
vention. helping to draft the national plat
form of the party. He has thus been
closely associated with Mr.. Bryan, With
whom he has stumped Kentucky in al
of the campaigns since 1896 He was
Wilson adherent when it was unpopulai
to be on that side in Kentucky. owing &c
the candidacy of a former Kentuckian.
Champ Clark, and rendered valuable serv
ice to the New Jersey man at the Balti-
more convention. At Washington he will
not be found in the scramble for political
pie, but IN the committee rooms and con-
ferences whore Affairs q big imDwtAnce
are being discussed.