Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-10-17
Mr.. cLAY's DEFEAT.

only i'll this county but IN the district.
So far as this county is concerned his
fate is simply that of a political sui
eide. Two years ago there was con-
test in the Christian county delega-
ton to the District Convention. Mr..
Clay had carried six counties and his
opponent two. Mr.. Clay permitted
his friends to divide the county's vote
by methods that no fair man could
endorse aud in the face of the clear
est evidence of fraud, in order to save
his friends who had money bet on
the result. Had he forbidden this
outrage, the chairman of the Christian
county delegation would have moved
to make his nomination unanimous
and his magnanimity and fairness
would have made him invlncible
in this county this year. AS it
was, mm who supported him earnest
ly two Years ago refused to touch
him this year, but used every eff
fort to defeat him.
Added to this treatment ola de-
feated opponent, which showed TO
what methods Mr.. Clay would resort,
was his record on the civil service
reform bill, which few Democrat
in this county could endorse. Still
another thing that contributed to his
defeat was his course in regard to this
county, Early in the race Mr.. Clay
thought he could be elected without
help from the "Republican county of
Christian" and did not even visit the
county before the Sebree convention.
When the primary was ordered his
chances had become very desperate
and he changed his mind and came
to Christian and met his opponent in
Ijoint debate at the court house. In
his speech instead of making amanly
appeal to the people he had wrongcd
for their support he began by picking
flaws in the grammar ofhis opponent
and attempting to ridicule him befor,.
his best friends. These matters
sealed his fate in advance and it was
conceded that he would be beaten in
this county by 400 or 500 votes. Even
in the face of defeat Mr.. Clay had
some supporters in this county and a
week ago they began to work to re-
duce his majority. 1t WAS in vain
that they argued that he was hand
sOmer than LatfOon, that he was a
better speaker and that he should be
endorsed these matters changed but
few votes, while the actively of the
minority only made the majority
more determined and for every recruit
gained for Clay six working friends
were made for LaffOon. When the
day of the election arrived Lafloon' :
friends were thoroughly organized in
every precinct and his majority was
several hundred more than his most
sanguine friends had hoped for. In ihC
city the majority deGided upon was
200, but so thoroughly was the city
worked that by noon Lagoon's friend,
were able to telegraph that they wer,
, 225 votes ahead and when the poll
closed the majority was over 300
Pembroke and Crofton came to the
front with nearly 200 more and whel
all of the returns were in the hand.
some figure Of SIT majority was
reached, and Christian county, "the
Republican county" had cast the votet
that decided the race. Mr.. Clay's lit
tie band fought nobly but to no pur,
pose. They threw themselves into ;
hollow square at lIopklnsville ant
fought like heroes and succeeded
in polling nearly 100 votes, but befor
the unbroken columns of Laffool
they were bound to fall and they
went down in the breach, coniden
that when the back counties wer
heard from their favorite would b
on top. At Mt. Vernon a desperat
fight was waged for supremacy an,
Clay's friends came out victorious b
: ID majority. Casky and Newstea
u were his other strongholds but bot
precincts were holly contested an
the vote was nearly equal.
Mr.. Clay's friends take his defea
very hard, and even those who vote
against him cannot have the heart
boast about it. lie might have Sc
= cured an endorsement but for hi
- blunders and mistakes. Mr.. Laffoo
realized early that it would be cas-
!. to defeat him with such record an
announced himselfa candidate. II
had no superior claims TO urge an
=. Mr.. Clay has been defeated by hi
record alone. In this county ms
iority of Mr.. Laffoon's supporter
l. never saw the man they voted TO
but they knew him to be a fri
friend Of our county, staunch Den
- ocrat in accord with his party, and
!" successful lawyer, and that he wa
9 from county that was entitled [
Is some recognition, and he received
vote in Christian of which he ma