Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-01-18
A DEADLOCK.
In tho Democratic Caucus to Nom
mate a Senator Williams,
Blackburn and Sweeney
in the Field.

NOMINATION. Ol Onllcu DldlcS Denu- .
tor, was organized Monday night
and after taking six ballots adjourned
to meet Tuesday night. Ten more
ballots were taken Tuesday night but
still no change of consequence was
made. The three candidates before
the caucus were Jno. S. Williams
present incumbent, j. G. S. Black
burn and w. n. Sweeney. the latter
of Greensboro. The initial ballot
stood Williams, SO; Blackburn, Al;
Sweeney. %. AT the close Of the
sixth ballot Williams had 81; Black
burn As and Sweeney %. The first
ballot Tuesday night was the same,
excepting that two of Williams men
went over to Sweeney for a prc-ar-
ranged purpose, After taking five bal
lots withoutany change, excepting that
Representative Payne. of Warren,
who was at home sick, withdraw his |
proxy by telegraph, causing Williams
to lose vote the sixth (l2th) bal
lot was ordered, and when the name
of Senator Peay, of Christian, was.
reached he arose and asked leave to
explain his vote. lie said that over
beyond the circling hills of Frankfort
and the green waters Of Kentucky
was land that might not be blessed
with blue grass, but was as fine as
any under the sun.
Where the blows fell thickeSt and
the fight wa&ed hottest tho people of
this country were foremost; their
party never called upon them in vain
lie had thought that this country,
whom it presented candidate, would
be treated with kindness, but his
hopes were futile. lie would not lead
forlorn hope he felt that he hao
done everything that friendship or
that Justice could ask, He therefore
changed his vote from Sweeney to
John S. Williams.
Then followed storm of applause
from the Williams men that almost
raised the roof. A few minutes later
the name of NJ. S. Clark was called,
He changed from Sweeney TO Will
liams. This created another bit of
excitement, and it looked for an in
slant as if Sweeney was swampcd,
and the long-talked-of stampede had
come. But it didn't come.
NEVER DESERTS A FRIEND.
When Mr.. Triplett'S name was
reached he arose, and the house was
quiet as the grave. lie has been one
of Swceney's trusted lieutenants, and
every eye turned on him. For mo-
ment 1t seemed lie was going to with
draw the name of his candidate, and
the silence was painful in Its intensi-
| tv. He turned and said with en-
phasis'
Mr.. SPEAKER-I have been taught
to believe that mans face was an
index to his heart, and his word
as good as his bond. | have been
also taught to never desert a friend in
his hour of need, and | cast my vote
for Sweeney.
The house went wild with excite
mcnt, and the applause was continue
GUS and doafening.
The ballot proceeded and the result
was announced: Williams, 81; Black
burn, Al; Sweeney, 90. Four other
ballots were taken without single
change and motion 10 adjourn was
carried by the Blackburn and Swec-
ney men, and the caucus after sixteen
ballots stood adjourned till Wednes-
day night, with no prospect ola NOM
nation. At this writing CThursday
evening" we have heard nothing
from Wednesday nights proceedings
but it is not at all likely that nomi.
nation was made or that the dead.
lock will be broken this week.
Twenty-Five of Sweeney's men
have held up their right hands and
sworn to vote for him until the Leg.
islature adjourned. The other man
was expected to 60 over to Williams
Tuesday night, but he did not
Williams lacks seven votes OF
enough to nominate and Blackburn
lacks seventeen. Sweeney holds the
balance of power and as long as his
men remain firm no man, unless it be
Sweeney himself, can bo nominated
Sweeney's supporters are said to be
highly incensed at the attempt to
swamp their candidate with an Or
ganized effort to create stampede
P, and as the Blackburn and Swecne!
men act together in matters Of adj
I journment and the like, it looks as il
a Gen. Williams was going TO be de-
a feated. There is no talk of darL
S horse and il is believed that none will
2 be brought in, at least that is the out
}, look at present
a In spite of the animated contest, NJ
+ bitterness has been engendered, bu
the best of feeling prevails between
0 the candida ties and their supporters
The caucus appointed committed
$ of three consisting of one supporter
: of each candidate, to so arrange thu
n Senatorial matter in the Legislature
: to prevent the l6 Republicans from
: electing any one of the Democratic