PUBLISHERS' PREFACE

    In publishing this volume of "Stories and Speeches" of Senator
William 0. Bradley, we desire to extend thanks to Hon. M. H.
Thatcher, former Governor of the Canal Zone, and the intimate friend
of the Senator, for the biographical sketch herewith included, as well
as for his compilation of the speeches of Senator Bradley herewith
published, and for suggesting their inclusion; also, for other very
valuable work rendered in relation to this undertaking and in
reading and revising the proofs. We also desire to extend thanks to
Mr. Arthur B. Krock, of the Louisville Courier-Journal for valuable
services rendered by him to Senator Bradley, shortly before the latter's
death, in helping to put the stories in shape for publication. In these
thanks the members of the Senator's family most earnestly join.
    The members of the Senator's family have felt some diffidence in
permitting the publication of these stories for the reason that, with
characteristic Bradley candor, the real names of the actors are
called, and the stories are told without reservations; and there has
been expressed the fear that the feelings of some of the relatives
and descendants of some of those who figure in these portrayals might
be wounded. We believe, however, that this will not be the case. Some
of the ancestors and kinsmen of the chief officers of the publishing
company are so named herein, but we know that Senator Bradley loved
these men-and, in fact, loved all the sturdy Kentuckians about whom
these stories and reminiscences cluster-and what is herein portrayed,
though true to life, is portrayed in the spirit of love and humor, and
never otherwise. Hence, we do not believe any umbrage can be taken
on this score. Moreover, we believe that the frankness with which
the stories are told will greatly add to their value. For the most part
they refer to Kentucky's yesterday, when the weaknesses and dissipa-
tions of men were more open than now, and when candor-always a
Kentucky characteristic-went far to redeem those faults which grew
up chiefly from the spirit of good fellowship. All this Senator Bradley
knew and appreciated, and as he lived through that day as one of its
strongest characters, these stories of his observation and experience
became part and parcel of his life, and were ever retained in his
wonderful memory. It was natural, therefore, that with his remark-
able story-telling gifts, and with his recollection of all these humorous
incidents, he should desire to record and preserve them. It had been
his hope to see the collection in print during his life-time, but the