Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-11-01
SENATOR CORES
SHAFTS Of IRONY
.IMPALE HU GHES
Greatest Crowd Of Campaign
Enjoys Artistic Dissecting
of Him
"HUCHES LIKE FREELY
HAS HEADLIGHT BEHIND"
Enumeration of What Wilson
Has Done Brings Tumult-
uous Applause

Likening Charles Evans Hughes, re
publican candidate for president, to q
lightning bug with its headlight on be-
hind, Thomas r. Gore, the blind senator
from Oklahoma, brought three rousing
rounds of applause from the audience
that packed the great armory to stand
cuss democratic issues in the present
national campaign.
Brilliant in wit, keen in cutting TO the
core of an argument and laying bear
its fallacies, apt in giving humorous
illustrations, deft in thrusting home
facts that bit like diamond drill, the
blind senator had his audience at the
tips of his fingers all the time. He
is believed easily to be the best cam
paign speaker in Salem yet this sea-
son. His speech was replete with aphor-
isms that illuminated the dark political
horizon like light bomb over European
trenches.
GA vote for Wilson is vote for
peace, a vote for Hughes is a vote for
war;" was the backbone thought of his
address. He drove this point home with
the dramatic painting OF two superb
word picturesque of Europe, weltering
in its blood; the other of America smil-
ing in the sunshine of peace and pros
perity. For the several minutes of this
recital. attention was intense. Applause
broke the suspense when he cried:
"Not for all the crowned heads of
Europe would l send one Salem boy into
the maelstrom of war;"
Senator Gore claimed for the demo
cratic administration the credit of con-
structive Observation-Disclosures for the
masses as against the special interests.
He told especially of the reduction of
the tariff and of legislation for the
benefit of agricultural interests.
Armory Is Packed.
At 8 clock when John Bayne. chair.
man, called the meeting to order the
armory was packed with one of the
largest crowds ever gathered TO hear a
political speech in Salem. F. p. Webb,
of Salem, an old time friend of the SEN
ator, was introduced to present the
senator to the audience, which he did in
a few well chosen words.
Senator Gore arose and was received
with applause as he was led to the front
OI tne pihtIOrm'
The famous blind senator was before
his audience-a man slightly gray, of
dignified mien, yet of alert appearance.
One was tempted almost to believe
that he could see. Especially after he
had begun to talk, it was difficult to
remember that he was speaking in the
dark. He heard the hand clapping,
and voices of the women; he mentioned
their presence.
He began with complicents and in
fun. Throughout his address, indeed,
were sprinkled gems of wit that
quickly won his hearers and brought
forth repeated laughter and applause.
A repeated, characteristic gesture
was clapping of his hands.
He complimented the west, he com.
plimented Oregon, he eomplimented the
women (not without, however, q lot
of left-handed, good natured banter)
he even complimented the republi-
cans.
Praises Republicans Past.
"I believe" he said, "in rendering
unto Caesar the things that are Gaze
sar's. The republican party has ad.
ded much glory unto the annals of
this republic. But Roosevelt, four
years ago, said the republican party
then was not the republican party of
the days of Abraham Lincoln. He said
it was base betrayer of public trust