As candidates begin their campaigns for offices up for election next year, many tactics will be employed in the effort to win those votes. One tactic that almost assuredly won’t be used, however, is long campaign speeches.

March 29, 1877—Rev. F. M. Grace, writing in the Shelby County Guide, recalled great Alabama speakers from the earliest days of statehood. Sen. David G. Ligon was one of the finest orators of the old Whig Party in antebellum days and a justice of the Supreme Court. He had initially become an eloquent preacher of the gospel in the Christian Church, and he died in the pulpit. Arthur S. Hopkins was another brilliant Whig orator of the early days and was a member of the 1819 convention, which drafted Alabama’s first constitution.

Sept. 30, 1880—David Hubbard, formerly a member of the Alabama Legislature, believes the best preparation for a lawyer who aspires to high public office is to serve as the county solicitor (district attorney). He asks rhetorically, “What better arena in which a young lawyer can obtain self-reliance and develop his power of argumentation?” 

A few years in this position will improve a lawyer more than any law school in the United States, as has been demonstrated in the cases of a large number of lawyers who, in our state, have become senators and members of the House, governors, judges of the Supreme Court and other courts and men of distinction.

June 16, 1906—At Hartselle this morning ex-governor William C. Oates, candidate for alternate U.S. senator, addressed the citizens of Morgan County on behalf of his candidacy. A large crowd was in the city and listened to the speech with marked attention.

June 23, 1906—B. B. Comer, candidate for governor, spoke at Hartselle today to about 200 voters of Morgan County, this being his first speech of the campaign delivered in this county. He made one of his characteristic speeches on railroad rate reduction and advocated better schools, increased pensions, restricted immigration and declared for local option.

April 10, 1910—The campaign for county office seekers has opened up, and the fight is growing warm. From now until the date of the election, May 2, county candidates will spend their time in speechmaking in the various beats of the county. All of the county offices have several candidates, with the exception of the office of judge of the law and equity court.

Jan. 31, 1912—Capt. Sam Blackwell, a Danville native, launched his campaign for Congress last night with a speech in the New Decatur City Hall. In a speech of about two hours Captain Blackwell outlined his platform. He challenged anyone to show what Judge Richardson had done in Congress during the past 12 years and also challenged Judge Richardson to a joint debate. 

March 1, 1912—A communication from Congressman William Richardson from Washington says he will speak in Hartselle in the interest of his candidacy for re-election to Congress March 30. He has been elected to Congress six times without opposition, and many of his friends feel that since he now has opposition, he should make at least a few speeches in this campaign.

June 1, 1913—In a conservative speech delivered to a good-sized Hartselle audience, Lt. Gov. Walter D. Seed, candidate for governor, opened his campaign here Saturday afternoon. Mr. Seed declared that he stood for statewide prohibition.

June 22, 1918—W. W. Callahan made the opening speech in his campaign for Congress here today, and while not dealing in personal criticisms, his remarks were full of pep and ginger, as he attacked the war record of the present incumbent, E. B. Almon, who is a candidate for re-election.

July 15, 1938—In a Morgan County speech, Sen. John H. Bankhead promised the Tennessee Valley Authority “a miserable time” unless headquarters of the authority are moved to the vicinity of Muscle Shoals, as required by the act creating the Tennessee Valley Authority.