Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1883-05-22
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TOR knOtt, our next UOVernOIi " lhi
as Lebanon. He was suffering with
severe cough, the result Of cold
contracted during his canvass, but he
was as afIable and as courteous as al
ways, and replied good naturally Il
the thousand and one congratulation'
of friends all along the road. During
a somewhat lengthy conversation with
him, he expressed himself as very
much gratifed over the result of hi
race and said il would be bis earnest
endeavor to promote every material
interest of the State and thus place
her in that rank, which her position
and resources entitle her to.
In regard to the report that he wish
ed the Office Of Governor merely as 8
stepping stone to the U. S. Senate,
he said that he had no such idea.
If he wished to be a candidate he
could have done 80 without the Gov
ernorship, and with equally as much
show of election. Only two Govern.
ors had ever been honored with that
Office in the history ofthe State. ono,
sir" said he, Gin accepting the nom
nation given me | feel that | have
entered into contract with the peo.
pie of the State to serve them four
years in that capacity. Ofcourse / do
not say that wish my political life
TO end with the Governors Office, but
will always stand ready in the future
as have in the past to serve the peo-
pie In any place to which their prefer
ence may call me. But that report"
he continued, "was in Keeping with
the many other falsehOods started on
me during the canvass. Why it was
charged that / was an habitual drunk
ard and that at New Castle, l was so
intoxicated that after makinga misera-
BILE exhibition of myself on the speak
er's stand, l had to be carried to my
hotel and put to bed. Of course eve
~ word Of this was a lie, manufac
tured out of whole cloth, for l had
not taken drink that day. l do not
drink whisky for fun, and only take
it when l think my physical condition
demands it, On my honor as a gen.
tleman, l did not drink during my
whole canvass enough to fill an ordi.
nary tumbler. Yes, they had it too,
that Judge Hargis, Beck and myself
had formed a syndicate to get all the
good offices in sight, when the fact is,
l have but slight acquaintance with
Judge Hargis, having met him only
on two occasions and then for q very
short time, and l really do not know
to this day, who was his preference for
Governor. Judging however, from
the way his section instructed,I would
think he was a Jones man. Then /
was charged at Lexington with de-
feating Joe Blackburn's bill to erect
public building in that city, when the
fact is no such bill was ever before
the House. Mr.. Blackburn did in
troduce bills for buildings at Frank.
fort and Lexington, but as they are
only 25 miles apart, the latter was
never reported to Congress. l was
also charged with defeating bill to
make another U. s. district in Ken
lucky with Lexington as the place for
holding Court. To that i very
proudly plead guilty. The report of
the Attorney General showed that the
Judges already in Kentucky were oc.
cupied less than third of their time,
and l hardly thought that the demand
for another was great enough to occa.
sion the expense to be incurred. The
Judge OF such a court would hold his
office for life; then there would be
Marshals and other officials to draw
the public money and give no return
save to aid in extending the politics
Of the party in power. A court at
Covington and another at Frankfort,
each in about stones throw Of Lex
ington we're deemed sufficient, and |
did under the circumstances use my
best influence to defeat the BILL"
Referring to the charges of bribery
of delegates, Mr.. Knott positively
disavowed any knowledge of it, and
declared that his conscience would not
let him obtain nomination by such
means. Some of his ardent support.
ers may have made promises but it
was without his knowledge or consent
81 would not, and could not buy a
delegate if Conventions were selling
at $3.50 a piece, he emphatically as
serted. As 70 his probable majority,
be thought it would depend considers
bly, on the interest that was gotten up
in the race, but judged it would be