Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-06
bECKHAM'S DEFEAT
for SENATE LOOMS
Wet and Irish Votes In Ken.
lucky May Elect Repub-
" Iican Candidate
cox NOT SURE OF VICTORY
By CLINTON w. GILBERT

3enG Cexvespopdeut Evening Public LedEes
Csourt0hs. 1880. oy Public Lsdcor 90.
LsuAEville. KY, Oct. 6.-Richard
nssst, the Republican candidate for the
pnifsd States Senate, win run ahead
Of Senator Harding in Kentucky, ac-
eording to the general opinion. The
Democrats concede that he will run
10000 ahead of Harding The Repub-
llcans think he may run 10000 ahead.
Twenty Thousand will be enough to
elect him, for Cox will not be able to
save for himself 20 900 Of the 2s,000
majority Wilson had In 1915. With
the German vote pretty solidly going
to Harding, 10, 900 may be enough, for
Cox's majority, If he does carry the
state, will be small.
Senator Beckham, the Democratic
nominee for the Senate, has two great
weaknesses which Governor Cox has
not. Beckham's name Is anatherna to
the vets. And it is anathema to the
Irish. Cox Is regarded with favor by
the vets, In spite Of his recent utter
anccs on the subject Of prohibition en-
forcement in the West. And Cox has
been steadily winning back part OF
the Irish votes.
Wet Issue Figures Largely
One hears more Of the wet issue in
Kentucky than in any other state in
this part of the country. But it chiefly
figures in the Senate race and not so
much in the national contest. That is
likely to be true everywhere. The vot-
ers having come to the realization that
II any one is to mitigate the severities
Of the Volstead act it will be Congress
and not the executive.
But the wet issue Is especially sharp
ened In Kentucky by the fact Sena-
tor Beckham has been for years the
leader of the dry forces in the Demo-
cratic party of his state.
His nomination is almost as obnox-
ious TO the vets as would be the nom
ination of leader of the Anti Saloon
League. Kentucky has two or three
wet spots, in the larger centers Of
population, particularly Louisville and
the cities of Newport and Covington,
across the river from the rather wet
town of Cincinnati.
Il might be supposed that Beckham' s
loss of wet support would be compen'
stated for by the support OF the drys,
for Kentucky, under local option, be-
fore the prohibition amendment went
into effect, had 105 dry counties, con
taining a majority Of the population:
But these dry counties were the rural
counties and were the strongly Demo
cratic part of the state. Besides Mr..
Ernst, the Republican candidate, Is ec-
ceptable to the Republican drys. He
Is not openly wet. The vets will not
so much vote for him ms vote against
Beckham.
Beclkham Beat Irish Plank
The Irish objection to Beckham is
as incurable as the wet objection. He
has taken as positive a stand upon the
Irish question as he has upon the wet
question. In San Francisco ut the
Democratic convention he was the
leader of the opposition 70 the plank
which the Friends. of Irish Freedom
wanted put into the Democratic plat
form, and compassed its defeat.
A month ago the Friends of Irish
Freedom addressed an open letter to
the various Kentucky candidates for
Congress and the Senate asking them
freeing of Ireland. Mr.. Beckham did
not hesitate, but replied within twenty
four hours. He would oppose any
recognition Of the Irish republic unless
and until ireland had actually achieved
its independence.
He was against any intervention by
the United States in behalf of Ireland.
He was consistent with his position in
Washington and at San Francisco and
settled his fate with the Irish voters of
Kentucky.
Ernst never answered the Irishmen' S
letter. Again the Irish will not so much
vote for him as against Beckham.
Other things are working against
Beckham. The Republicans realize that
they have a good chance TO elect Re
publican senator and are concentrating
upon doing SO. Mr.. Bcckham is going