Life, 1905-07-06 · page 40 of 44
Life — July 6, 1905 — page 40: what you’re looking at
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This article recounts a campaign story about **Judge Emory Speer**, a federal judge in Georgia's Southern District who presided over important peonage cases. The narrative describes his 1870s congressional race against Democrat Allen D. Candler, when Speer, a Republican, faced unpopularity among white voters due to his party affiliation. The anecdote illustrates Speer's political skill: during a speech to a hostile Democratic audience, a drunk heckler confronts him aggressively. Rather than escalate, Speer deflates the situation with wit, suggesting the man wrap straw around himself to become a "demijohn" (large bottle). The crowd laughs at the heckler instead of supporting him, and the story concludes that this incident increased Speer's support in that district. The piece celebrates Speer's intelligence and composure as political assets during Reconstruction—using humor to neutralize opposition rather than confrontation.
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