The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-07-23
McJimsey's Speech
a Disappointment

E. E. E. McJimsey, a Springfield
editor and prominent Republican can
didate for Governor of this State,
made brief talk Saturday evening
from the band stand on the court
house square. to small and unusual
ly unresponsive audience, most of
whom did not even arouse themselves
from lounging positions on the lawn.
He had been advertised to begin at Z D.
m, but it was after 8 o'clock when he
entered the speaking stand, having
been delayed in his trip from Ste.
Genevieve in an auto.
The Times editor knows Mr.. Nc
Jimsey to be an excellent newspaper
man, as well as a speaker of ability.
Therefore his effort here is difficult
to explain, except on the theory that
he had as little confidence in the Re-
publican argument he attempted to
produce as his hearers appeared to
have. His words as well as his man.
ner were wholly lacking in convic-
tion, and his, absolute failure to re-
ceive the least shadow of approval
from his hearers perhaps had much
to do with the length of his remarks.
About the only argument he at
tempted against the Democratic ad-
ministration was what he dominated
its criminal extravaganza" during
the war. In making such a charge,
he was necessarily forced to confess
that the war was managed entirely by
the Democrats. But this he failed
to do. 1t seems that practically all
the Republican candidates the writer
has thus far heard during the present
want to take to themselves
a full share of the credit for winning
the late war, while at the same time
they try most strenuously to stuff all
the blame.
To illustrate: About the only charge
he made against the present admins
tration was its "profligate" buying of
horse brushes, branding irons, etc. In
order to go that far, of course the
speaker must admit that the party to
which he claims allegiance had no.
thing to do with the winning of that
conflict. He then went on to at
tempt to show the average life of a
horse brush, as well as the utility of
branding irons when properly han
died. According to his presentments,
he apparently proved, to his own sat
isfaction, if to no one else, that such
a record during the war period, show
ed criminal extravaganza" He
failed to take cognizance of the fact
that perhaps thousands of American
lives were saved by the enormous
for war that had been
made in this country.
His talk was but another demon
stration of how utterly destitute Re-
publican candidates are this year of
issue. The essence of all
their speeches is in efforts to de-
lude the people by attempting to
'camoufiage" the remarkable success
Of the late war with the howl of
criminal extravaganza, even after
every loyal American citizen has felt
Justly proud of this country's wonder
tul accomplishments during the late
war period. 1t is altogether likely
hat some men, who are now Repub-
ican candidates, have even admitted
such fact. Even those surplus horse
brushes and branding irons might yet |
De put to serviceable use if properly
applied to undesirable citizens who |
Ire now making their presence mani
,est. Sometimes an over-strenuous
iesire for office might become a dan
serous thing,