Editor’s Note: Having completed the adoption of the current Kentucky Constitution in August 1891 and the start of America’s involvement in World War I in winter-spring 1917, the Sun now moves to the last months of WW I, the period of the United States major involvement. This period also saw the impact of the deadly Spanish Flu epidemic in the U.S., including Central Kentucky. For historical purposes, the Sun reprints the Clippings “warts and all,” and so derogatory and racist stereotypical words are reprinted in an effort to combat any attempts to “clean up” history for modern eyes or assuage modern consciences.
The Woodford Sun
October 31, 1918
[SAM HENTON DIES FOR HIS COUNTRY] Sergeant Samuel Hampton Henton of Woodford County, was killed last Saturday fighting in France. He was born here in 1887 and in 1908 entered the employ of the Bank of J. Amsden where he remained until September 1917 when he was called into the service of his Country. He was married to Miss Kinkead Worthington of Versailles, who survives him. The couple purchased a home on Camden Avenue shortly after they wed, where they set up housekeeping. Sam Henton was a fine young man, a courteous gentleman, a very highly valued employee of the Bank, and very popular in Woodford society. He answered the call to serve willingly and cheerfully.
[WAR NEWS] Gen, Ludendorff, the brains of the German military machine, has resigned. Now, German Socialists, many released from imprisonment, are demanding that the ultimatum of President Wilson relating to the autocratic, monarchical regime should be fulfilled. The Supreme War Council meeting in London have, it is reported, already has drawn up the terms of an armistice with Germany. For the first time since the Americans entered the War, they have opened fire against the enemy with their long-range guns and are heavily bombarding Longuyon, some fifteen miles distant from their front lines. William Faust, Co. K, 120th Infantry, now in France, of Versailles, has been highly commended by his Lieutenant, writing to Faust’s father, Adam, that William has been in the thick of the fight for several weeks and his conduct so admirable that he has been promoted to corporal.
[SPANISH INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC NEWS] Not until the entire State is practically free of the epidemic of influenza will restrictions imposed by the State Board of Health with a view of preventing the spread of the disease be lifted in Kentucky.
[NOTICE OF ELECTION] The City of Versailles has called for an election on November 5, at the usual polling locations, to decide whether the city will incur a debt not to exceed $38,000, to secure a more adequate waterworks system and of procuring and providing purer and more sanitary supply of water for Versailles than it now has.
[COLUMN BY PUBLISHER-EDITOR BOWMAR] Every citizen of Versailles ought to vote for the water bonds. It doesn’t make any difference whether this (current) water has typhoid germs in it or not, we know it has sewage in it, has always had it, and will always have it unless we pass this bond matter. Do you know what sewage is? Would you want to drink water that had been full of it even if it had been filtered out? The cry about debt and taxes is ridiculous. For Versailles, with property worth in actual value at least two and one-half million dollars, to incur a debt of $38,000 is no more serious than it would be for a man worth $25,000 to incur a debt of $880 to be paid off in small installments over 20 years! This water is a poor man’s fight, and don’t you forget it! The well-to-do can have cisterns and filter pure rain water to drink (though even they must bathe in loathsome, filthy, vile-smelling stuff, and maybe will get enough water in their mouths that way to kill ‘em). The poor man has just got to drink the stuff.
[NEXT TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY] As I have said before, the Sun’s reason for supporting Gov. Stanley for the Senate is because President Wilson wants a Democratic Senator from Kentucky, and the President is entitled to have the support of his own party and his own political friends in carrying the heaviest burden ever laid on a man’s shoulders. Why go back on him at this critical moment? Take this thought with you and when you go into the booth, PLACE YOUR STAMP UNDER THE ROOSTER!