Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-03-26
To the Democrats Of the Second
Judicial District.


and unsatisfactory. 1t is unjust, be-
cause, evidently, it was intended to
deprive and does deprive the
Democrats of Christian cOun.
ty of the full, legitimate, and
proper effect of the almost unani-
nous vote given for me on the Isl
inst, uader the voluntary Instructions
Of The people at the primaries the
Saturday before. 1t is true that the
people had not been ordered to make
choice in the race for Circuit Judge
at these primaries; but as the people
themselves are the highest authority
recognized in a Democratic Govern
mept and as the primaries after al
active canvas of several weeks by
twelve or fifteen popular candidates
for County offices were unquestion'
ably attended by more voters than
could be hoped for at buster season
of the year, and as the Trigg County
Convention without any instructions
at all from the people had as early as
Dec. 10Th presented Judge Grace to
the District "as the choice of Trigg
| County" (not merely recommend.
ed" him as has been enormously
stated, l say in view of these facts,
surely the complaints of those who
opposed me were not entitled to
much consideration. Considering then,
that the choice of tins county has al
ready been made in the largest popu-
lar gathering that could be hoped for,
and that the committee has, practi-
cally, annulled that choice aud de-
prived Christian County Democrats
of their relative strength in the dis
trict, l repeat, the action of the COM
mittee seems unjust and unfair TO me.
| say the legitimate relative strength
of Christian is, practically defeated,
because of the utter impossibility to
get the farming community out to a
party election in May, the busiest
season of the year to them. l main
tain further that the rule adopted is
undeinocratic and unsatisfactory be-
cause it places it within the power Of
ridiculous minority of the few who
may attend, to nominate the candi-
date, # the vote should be close. II
there had been but two candidates
ITO fairer scheme could have been de-
vised ; but it should have been remem-
bered there were three, and that this
plan does not provide for majority
nominee. In many instances the
democratic rule has required two
thirds of the vote (when delegated)
to secure a nomination, but l insist
that less than majority for that pur-
pose is not democratic; it would moi
satisfy me in contest with the re-
publicans,' uncertain as the district is
according 10 one of my competitors
and ought not to satisfy the people
1t is unauthorized and unheard of be-
fore in democratic circles. If the
committee had provided for second
choice vote so that in case a majority
was not secured on the vote for first
choice, it might have been in the sec
ond, then of course, the choice Of the
people might have. been ascertained
and the probability. of running a
minority candidate would have been
greatly lessened.- 1 do not complain
that the rule adopted makes any
special hardship on me, except that
it deprives me of the largest vote in
the district, which in all fairness !
was entitled to land except further
that the time fixed hardly gives a
new man an equal chance with one
who has been. electioneering for eigh-
teen years. Neither do l object be-
cause suppose would get less than
plurality. That would be absurd,
What / believe is that neither of
the candidates now in the field
can secure a majority on the
first ballot, by any plan that
could be proposed; whereas. with an
instruction or vote for second choice
l have very little doubt the result
would be favorable to myself. AT
least l would be on an equal footing
with my opponents. As it is, it would
be a mere hazard, mere chance, de-
pending on number of contingencies
as to who may get in, possibly by an
accident and most probably by large
ly less than a majority. make no
complaint that the Committee met
and adjourned before ever dreamed
they had been called together, while
my opponents both knew Of 1t and
one of them was present and con-
senting, and doubtless both had their
wishes well represented because |
am sure that Chairman Buckner in
tended 10 discourtesy in not notify
ing me, aud as he was the only friend
had on the committee, / presume
that my presence would not have pre-
vented nor changed the action taken.
Neither do l impugn the motives of
the Committee whom know TO be
gentlemen. l only differ from them
as to what was proper and right.
But for the reasons suggested above,
and in order that the Democrats may
secure candidate who shall have
received majority Of the party vote,
and thus prevent discord and insure
harmony | withdraw from the race
for the Circuit Judgeship and leave
the field to Judges caves and Grace.
In doing this, ! desire to thank the
many friends and acquaintance 1
have made throughout the district,
for their promised support and
especially the people Of Christian
county who stood by me so cordially
and almost unanimously in the face
of gentleman who was at one time
one of the most popular candidates
who ever offered for office in this dis.