 McCreary campaigned for Democrat William Goebel during the controversial 1899 gubernatorial campaign . Between 1900 and 1912 , he represented Kentucky at four consecutive Democratic National Conventions . Governor J. C. W. Beckham and his well @-@ established political machine supported McCreary 's nomination to the Senate in 1902 . His opponent , incumbent William J. Deboe , had been elected as a compromise candidate six years earlier , becoming Kentucky 's first @-@ ever Republican senator . Deboe had done little to secure support from legislators since his election , however , and McCreary was easily elected by a vote of 95 – 30 . Following his election to the Senate , McCreary supported Beckham 's gubernatorial re @-@ election bid in 1903 . In a largely undistinguished term as a senator , he continued to advocate the free coinage of silver and tried to advance the state 's agricultural interests . 
