The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-06-29

The recent appointment Of Gen. Percy
Haly as Internal Revenue Collector for
the Lexington District was the lnspir-
alton for striking pen picture of him
to be drawn by Daniel b. o'Sullivan, OF
Louisville. Mr. O'Sullivan is a former
member of the Prison Commissioners,
and is one OF Kentucky's most gifted
writers.-Ed
| When Secretary of the Treasury Nc
Adoo selected Gen. Percy Haly to sue
coed Ben Marshall as Collector Of In
ternal Revenue. he paid a DELAYED trib
ute to the ahlest and most influential
young Democrat in Kentucky, and in
cidentally conveyed the information
that Senator Reckham was entitled to
his share of the Federal patronage i'll
this state.
It IS time that the truth was told
about Percy Haly. and the purpose OF
this article is to set down in plain
words the environment that shaped his
life, the association that influenced him
the motives that inspired him, and the
natural talents that, with unceasing
labor raised him from messenger boy
in the camp Of Joe Blackburn to the
position of Warwick, maker of Cover
nors and Senator'S, and shaper Of po-
litical destinies.
Purcelle Haly was the titles his fond
mother gave him, in the pious hope
that he might follow in the footsteps OF
her distinguished cousin, Archbishop
Purcelle of Cincinnati. His father long
a merc chant at Frankfort and a fine old
Irish gentleman, and graduate OF the
University of Dublin, took an early in
terest in city and state politics, and
young Percy soon followed his ma
tural bent and made lasting friends OF
Blackburn and Goebel and the other
leaders OF that exciting period. His
alert receptive mind stored away the
lessons of those days, when the legis-
lative session were long battles between
contending factions, lie learned the
secrets of organization. how to gather
and deploy great forces; how to lead
political armies how TO estimate the
character and value of men. The tao
tics and the strategy OF politics, as i'm
portant as the planning of battle in
war time, were learned in many saw
age encounters, with senatorship and
governorships as the prizes.
When Senator Beckham began his
Legislative career, Haly found much to
admire the delicate, clean, studious
young Representative from Nelson.
This acquaintance ripened into friend
ship that has changed all the currents
of both their lives. Haly has consc-
Grated every waking thought to the ad
vancement of Reckham's fortunes, ana
the combination has been irresistible;
Beckham's Judgment is unerrfng Hays
energy unceasinE. Peckham is stu
dent and dreamer; Haly is an organ
izer with executive talent OF the high
est order. Beckham lacks ambition and
aggressiveness; Haly believes Beck
ham has the ability to fill the highest
office in the gift OF the People.
Haly has made a thousand sacrifices
for Reckham. He has refused to be-
tray him when powerful interests plead
ed and threatened. He could have had
a fortune for the asking, but the poor
Irish boy, with no capital but his abii-
ity and experience refused to be temp
ted and accepted the burdens his enc
mics heaped upon him rather than
prove false to his friend. When Beck
ham was cheated out OF the Senator
ohip ny llt lhbiibhto Va tit
beer and whisky combine. Hays heart
sank as he SOW his life work topic
about him like a house of cards. But
he took new courage, reorganized his
forces, waited long and patiently. out
planned and out-fought an unscrupu-
lous foe, and not only re-nominated
but elected Reckham to the Senate. and
thus realized a dream OF twenty years.
Greater faith and love have few men
shown. One Of the superfine qualities
In Hays nature is that he would lay
down his life for his friend.
Percy Haly is the most delightful OF
His long association with
the ahlest Olen in the country has CIV
an him most engaging outlook on life |
oroadened his keen knowledge of af-
airs. matured his judgment OF men and |
measures. frightened his wit and ri
,entd his hunor until his society is
ought by the leaders of thought and
Lction in State and Nation.
The death of John &C. Mayo brought |
N Overwhelming sorrow to Haiy They
we're the closest friends, bound togeth-
r by the warmest ties that could not
% weakened by the envious or the ma
cious. Haly Knew that Mayo was one
t the greatest men Kentucky ever pro-
uced with the broadcast vision, the
leanest mind, the best brain and the
iggest heart. He shared the secrets Of
lis generous. wonderful captain Of in
ustry whom imperial dream was TO
make an empire Of Eastern Kentucky |.
nd who saw his hopes translated into
Qualities before an untimely fate cut
i'm down.
Mayo had implicit faith in Jaly, He
-usted him with hundreds of thous
nds He had put his honesty, his 10y