The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1920-05-15
CALLS CARAVANS
CHARGES ALL LIES
CROWD HEARS SENATOR
Opening Speech of His Campaipn De.
hvered at Courthouse, is Enthusi
astically Applauded.

Using the short and ugly worde
IN denouncing the charges brought
against him by his opponent. Con
gresham T. H. Caraway, defending
his own record and vigorously attack
ing that of his adversary, Senator
William F, Kirby made the opening
speech Of his campaign at the court
house here this afternoon.
Despite the fact that it was school
election day throughout the county
and that farmers are badly behind
with their work, large crowd was
present, and the senator received fire.
quent and enthusiastic applause.
Among those in attendance were a
number of Senator Kirby's friends
from other cities, as well as several
candidates for other Offices and out
of-toWn newspaper men.
The senator was introduced by Cir
cult Judge George w Clark, who
warmly praised the record and achieve
ments of the speaker.
Senator Kirby began his address by
a discussion of his position prior to
the declaration of war with Germany
Il first thought the war could be
averted without the loss Of dignity or
honor to our country and | opposed
two measures | regarded as but pre-
hminary declarations of war" he said.
He quoted President Wilson's mes
sage in urging the armed neutrality
bill, in which he said: Il am not now
proposing or contemplating war or
any steps that need lead to it," vet
Senator Kirby declared that after the
bill failed to pass the president armed
the ships as he had always had the
right to do, but they were unable to
protect themselves against attack.
The president, he said, then recalled
congress and asked for a declaration
of war, saying, ARMED neutrality is
ineffective enough at best; it is only
likely to produce what it was meant
to prevent; it is practically certain to
draw us into war without the rights
or the effectiveness of belligerents ="
Senator Kirby said he then voted for
war
The senator said he also favored the
old volunteer system and opposed con-
scrlption, but declared that when the
draft was adopted he lent vigorous
and active support to the administra-
tion throughout the war. He spoke
for the Overman bill, giving the pres
ldent plenary power in the organZa-
ton of the army, although the meas
ure was opposed by the chairman and
the ranking member of the military
affairs committee. After Senator
Chamberlin, chairman of the commit
tee, had publicly denounced the war
department as having ceased to
function Senator Kirby said he was
called upon by Democratic Leader
Martin. as the only Democrat on the
committee sufficiently conversant with
its affairs to do so, to reply to Cham
terlain and did so in a speech that
"refuted the false and unWarranted
charges" Later, he said, he similarly
replied to statement of Senator
! hitchcock, ranking member of the
committee, in which the latter said,
in December, 1917 that the claim that
America would have 100000 men in
France by July /, 1918, was absolute
ly preposterous.
His most important speech, made
last August on "America's Participa-
tion in the World War" Senator Kirby
said, was compiled and delivered at
the personal request of Secretary of
War Newton d. Baker In this CON
nection the speaker read letter from
Secretary Baker, according him high
praise on the speech, and also read
a letter from Mr.. Baker, dated May 9,
1920, which was in part as follows:
81 note that you are engaged in
your campaign for reelection to the
senate, and that some question has
arisen with regard to your attitude
toward the prosecution of the war,
| should be very happy indeed to have
your constituents know the extent to
which | feel grateful to you for your
constant support througout those long