The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-10-13
SENATOR BECKHAM
MAKES GREAT ARGUMENT FOR
REELECTION OF WILSON
Most Popular of Kentucky's Demo-
cratic Leaders Addresses Enor-
nous Crowd At Calhoun

The first speech delivered by
United States Senator Beckham in
the present campaign, was at Cal
houn, Mclean county Saturday and
was easily one of the most powerful
arguments for the reelection of the
President that will be made. Senator
Beckham's speech was devoid of
abuse of the Republican candidate.
His speech was one that appealed to
every voter who crowded the large
circuit court room. Il was a recital
of the achievements of President
Wilson and the Democratic admins
tration at Washington. AS the junior
senator drove home telling points,
the greatest enthusiasm prevailed,
and he was cheered repeatedly.
The feature of the entire meeting
came at the close of Senator Beck
hams speech of two hours. Hundreds
pressed forward to congratulate the
senator, among the number being
several Republicans, who declared
that they had followed the G. o. p. for
wears, but that they had decided to
vote for Woodrow Wilson this year.
Senator Beckham told them that they
would be voting for the greatest liv-
ing American.
Great preparations were made by
the Mclean county Democratic COM
mittee for the meeting. 1t was esti-
mated that it was the largest crowd
that ever attended a political speak
ing in Mclean county. Big delega-
tions came from greensboro and all
neighboring counties, and the enthu-
siasm with which Beckham was greet
ed proved that he is still the closest
man in the state to the hearts of the
great mass of Kentucky democrats
today,
Prior to the speaking the Calhoun
band rendered patriotic music in
front of the courthouse. When Sena-
tor Beckham entered the court room
every available seat was occupied
and scores were forced to stand. Sem
ator Beckham was introduced by
Judge John A Stevens. He spoke in
part as follows:
No party ever came before the
American people in a presidential
campaign with a better record or a
stronger case than the Democratic
party presents to the people in this
campaign. Democrats confidently and
unhesitatingly claim, and intelligent
independent voters and many fair
minded Republicans admit, that the
administration of our Federal govern
ment for the last three and half
years has never been eXcelled in the
history of this country, in the wis
dom of its conduct, in the number
and Importance of its far-reaching
and beneficial legislative reforms, in
the admirable and patriotic manner
in which it has managed our rela-
tions with foreign countries under
the most difficult and, at times, dan
gerous circumstances, and in it many
splendid achievements for the ad-
vancement of the welfare and happi-
ness of the great common people of
our land. 1t has fully justified the
faith of those voters who by their
suffrage placed it in power nearly
four years ago, and by its remark
able course in momentous period in
the worlds history, it has won the
unreserved approval of that large
body of American citizens, who are
independent in policies, who are not
influenced by partisan prejudices,
and who have grown so in numbers
and strength in recent years, that
they can turn the tide CT battle
either way in a national election.
We do not need to appeal to the
testimony of Democrats to establish
our case; we can prove it by present
ing the opinions OF some OF the
brightest minds among the irGerend-
ent and Republican voters &C the
country. AS a fair and striking eX-
ample of the many instances of this
kind, of tribute soming not from
Democrats, but from impartial and
patriotic leaders of other political
affiliations, let me quote from the
recent excellent statesman of DR..
Charles W. Elliott, president emeri-
tus of Harvard University, whose
sole Interest IN this election is the
welfare of his country and the peace
and prosperity of its people. In sum-
ming up his views he says:
''Anyone who surveys the ex-
traordinary series of legislative
and executive acts accomplished
by the Democratic party in three
years and half will realize two
things: First, that President Will
son has proved himself party
leader of unusual power; and sec
ondly, that the party thus led has
done much more for the country
than the Republican party accom-
plished in five times as many
years.
''On the whole, the independent
voters are likely to act next Nov
ember on two simple well-grounded
convictions: First, that the Demo-
cratic party has done such an ex-
traordinary amount of good work
during the present administration
that the period from 1912 to 1916
will be memorable in the history of
United States; and secondly, that
the man chiefly responsible for
this consummate service to the
American people should be again
made their chief servant"
Henry Ford has been the most re-
markable figure in the industrial
world for some years. His eXtraordi-
nary genius has established the larg-
est and most successful manufac-
turing plant on earth. He has always
been a Republican and in he prima-
ries in his State, Michigan, before the
National Republican Convention of