The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-09-22
Stale "Torpedoes"

Tuesday was advertised as a great
day in Pennington for ratification"
among Republicans of this section of
the State. Glaring posters had been
! sent out announcing that Judge Hen
ry Lamm, candidate for Governor,
Hon. Walter Dickey, candidate for
United States Senator, and other les
ser lights would appear on the bat
Elements to shed scintillating rays on
a benighted country.
And, indeed, the aforementioned
gentlemen were present, with several
"lesser packages" There was also a
small ingathering from nearby points
very small. The bulk of the audi
ence that gathered in the Monarch
Theatre were residents of this city,
and good half of them We're Demo-
Gratis. Yet, there were many vacant
seats. A band was also in attendance
with inspiring music, to try and in
ject some enthusiasm into the meet
ing, but with the exception of few
dispiriting cheers, everything passed
off as quietly and orderly as though
it were a Sunday School picnic.
Edward A. Rozier introduced Judge
Lamm in an eulogistic manner, but
the Judge absolutely failed to meas
ure up to the description as political
speaker. He has the reputation of
being very good judge, but when he
left the law to accept the Republi-
can gubernatorial nomination he must
have made a lamentable mistake.
Personally and privately we were IA
vorably impressed with Judge Lamm
as a man, and we do not doubt that
he has rendered acceptable services
to the State as a Supreme Judge. We
were sorry to note that he at least at
tempted to leave wrong impressions
on the minds of his hearers in regard
to the present Democratic admins
tration having "busted" the State,
the States finances at this time being
at least normal. We make no at
tempt to give resume of his speech,
as it was largely misleading through
out as to the real facts.
Hon. Walter S. Dickey, of Kansas
City, was next introduced by Hon. M.
+. Rhodes, candidate for Congress in
the Thirteenth District. Mr.. Dickey,
who is known in Kansas City as a
"get-rich-quick" artist, spoke along
lines relating more to national poll
tics, dealing largely with the tariff,
but his presentments were equally as
visionary as were those of Judge
Lamm. But the most disastrous part
of it all to them was that their audi
ence was able to recognize the mac
curacies in their speeches,
Mr.. Rhodes followed with perhaps
the most interesting speech Of the af-
ternoon. He, being product of this
part of the State, was able to see
that gross misstatements would likely
act as a boomerang; hanee his speech
was more conserx atfvg. l5ut unless
Judge Lamm and Hon. Walter Dick
ey are taken in hand and drilled by
their State Committee, so that the
tenor of their speeches are somewhat
changed, their campaign speeches will
certainly prove to be a greater liza
bility than an asset to their party's
hope of success. What was intended
as tonic, to inject renewed life and
enthusiasm into the g. o. p, proved
to be only bunch Of old, stale, shop
worn fireworks, that would hardly
sizzle and were complete disap-
pointment. One man stated that he
had been victimized by being drawn
into Pennington in the hope of hear
ing some Give ones", only to be hand
ed a bunch of "buncombe" that did
not compare to that on tap at the
Crossroads" store.