Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-07-08
OPENING SPEECH OF DR.. wa. BEDFORD
Candidate for Congress Of the Sixth Con
gressional District, Delivered at Groesbeck.
Fellow Citizens and Friends:

Fellow Citizens and Friends:
am proud Of the opportunity and
privilege Of speaking to you this eve
ming upon what consider one Of the
most vital issues that has confront
Cd this Nation for many q year. Al
Is well known, l have determined tq
make the race for Congress In this
the Sixth Congressional District
against the Honorable Rufus HARDY
Of Navarro County. who has held thii
position for the past ten yaers. In
the future l shall likely have some
criticism to make Of my opponent
both a. to his political record and
a. to what he has and has not done
since he has represented this dis
trict--rather, misrepresented it-in
Congress.
! am coming before you to asl
you for your support in this cam
paign and II IL. ! think, right and
proper that I should state to YOU
briefly and concisely what I stand
for. And ! should offer you some
Irsasonabls excuse for my having be-
como . candidate at this time. ]
want 70 say that the main reason
am determined to make this race Ia
the fact that Judge Hardy does moi
represent the sentiment Of our people
In our National Congress. today. He
does not represent the sentiment Of
the people whe mako up the Sixth
Congressional District. The second
reason for my candidacy is that In
herent desire implanted in almost
every American breast to be honored
by his fellow-countryman. consider
there can scarcely be q more iaud
able ambition to the man who has
lived q clean and worthy life than
TO have his neighbor and his friend
say to him by their vote Of appreci
alton and by their confidence. WELL
DONE. THOU GOOD AND FAITH
Full SERVANT. THOU HAST BEEN
FAITHFUL OVER A FEW THINGS
WE WILL NOW PROMOTE YOU
AND MAKE YOU THE RESPONS
IBLE CARRIER OF GREATER
BURDENS" In this connection. ]
wish to say that have spent prac
tically all my life In the two coun
ties OF Limestone and Robertson
having been born In the latter county
in 1861. Even should 20 down in
defeat In this race. I do sincerely
hope and pray that may carry these
two counties where the people have
known me from my earliest child
hood, and where many know and
have known Of my struggles during
my early life. against poverty. Tilt
leracy and ignorance. My friends, II
you will pardon me for personal
reference TO myself. should like Il
cay that I we'll remember my nrsi
acquaintance and experience in Lime
stone County. II was In August oil
1879. during one OF the most pro
ionged and disastrous drouths this
State has ever suffered. I left Jewett
Leon County. where my father lived
on . rented farm. I wanted work 10
DO. We had made absolutely moth
ing and I wanted TO pick cotton
After IN ali.dsy tramp. I reached
the community Of Prairie Grove and
stayed all night with . renter on Q
farm belonging to ono Mr.. J. A.
Wright. Tho next morning Mr.
Wright directed me 10 the Bill Welt
farm on Plummep Creek. to which
walked. I reached the Wells farm
'Sust before dinner time. applied 10
Mr.. Wells for work and no told me
he did not need my services Just
then because his cotton was on bot
tom land and had not yct opened.
but that ono Of his renters. Mr.. Bob
Ferguson. might hire me. ap
preached Mr.. Ferguson with fear and
trembling. because had TO have en-
lployment or 20 without something TO
eat; for I had not ono cent OF money.
Ny heart actually pounded In my
breast while I was waiting for an an.
swcr. His frat words were. "How
much do you want per hundredi" I
made quick reply by saying. ANY.
ching you will give mo: I must have
work. Il will rve you Sc and
board he said. quickly accepted
bis Offer and asked that I DO shown
his cotton patch. Since that day,
gentlemen. have loved Limestone
County and its people. And | am
proud TO say I have been one OF i,s
eitifcns during the years that have
rolled by since that time.
Soon after came 20 this County
my father moved TO Prairie Grove
and rented land and lived In this
nelghborhoed the balance OF his life.
am not ashamed TO tell you tina, I
ploughed barefooted when I was 10
years old; am not ashamed 10 tell
you that ! learned 10 read at the age
OF y wars; am not ashamed 10
Tell you that l graduated with a n.
A." degree when ! was &c years old.
and with an NJ. D. when I was 20;
but I will take solemn oath that
no man. living or dead. ever assisted
with one dollar 10 procure my edu.
cation. am not ashamed 20 tell
you that never owned but two suits
OF clothes In all my life until was
~ years old. do not tell you these