 Part of the reason for the inefficacy of the 1914 session was that McCreary was engaged in a three @-@ way primary race for the Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate . The other major candidates were former Governor Beckham and Augustus O. Stanley ; a fourth candidate , David H. Smith , withdrew early from the race . McCreary ran a mostly positive campaign , touting his own accomplishments and speaking cordially about his opponents . Beckham and Stanley , however , were bitter political and personal enemies , and the campaign reflected their animosity . Without the support of Beckham 's political machine that had helped him in the gubernatorial contest , McCreary never had a realistic chance to win the nomination . Beckham secured the nomination with 72 @,@ 677 votes to Stanley 's 65 @,@ 871 and McCreary 's 20 @,@ 257 . 
