The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1891-08-15
City Politics.
= AUGUST 18th, 1891,

AUGUST 18th, 1891.
Editor Roundabout:
1t may be treason to show up the
secrets of the Democratic camp, but
as the motives of Gen. Castleman,
the Central Committe and others
have been unjustly criticised on ac-
count of the appointment of a Dem
cratic City Commi ttee, it will be at
least pardonable, and certainly just
to all concerned, that few Of the
secrets of that very remarkable mu-
nicipal campaign Of 1890 should be
revealed, if for no other purpose
than to satisfy and pacify, ifptossible,
the Democrats who are kicking
against the action of the Central
Committee.
The writer, very early in the autumn
of 1890, suggested, in communication
published in the Evening Journal,
the propriety and advisability Of call
ing a convention or primary election
to nominate candidates for Councilmen
and School Trustees. Mr.. Mangan, q
member Of the County Committee,
knowing the writer, and having read
the communication before the publ
cation, advised with him as to the best
manner of proceeding in order to
make call that would stick. We
looked up all the records available,
and found that there did not then ex-
ist a regularly authorized City Com
mittee
1t was suggested that Mr.. Mangan
should call an informal meeting OF
the members Of the County Commit
tee residing in the Frankfort magis-
terial district. The committee met
and it was agreed that primary elec-
ion should be called.
The call was published. the cleo
ton held, and we all know the result.
But very few know the ditfic ulties
that had to be overcome by those
managing the campaign to bring 1t to
a successful termination. Many DEM
ocrats, as loyal and as true as the gem
tlemen who are now kicking against
the action of the Central Committee,
objected to the call, alleging that it
was unauthorized, and were in part
sustained by party autho rity. The
chairman of the committee was urged
to write and did write Gen. Cas-
tleman, to procure from him an in
dorsement of the committees action,
and was never able to procure such
letter as would bear publication. The
writer was in consultation with
Mayor Taylor, in his library, on the
Monday before the election when
the chairman Of the committee came
in saying that he had received a let
ter from Gen. Castleman indorsing
the action of the committee, and de-
sired to advise with us as to it's pub
LEGATION. The letter was read aloud
and it was agreed that its publica-
ton would lose US the election, and
by common consent it was consigned
to the flames.
The purport Of the letter was sim
ply this, that there was no regularly
appointed City Committee, but as
the members of the County Com
mittee residing in Frankfort had
called the primary, that he Gen.
Castleman) would recognize it, and
would at some future time appoint a
City Committee to take charge Of city
politics. This Is the extent of Gen.
Castleman's offending. He has done
what he told the chairman he would
do. The committee was appointed
in the interest Of the Democratic
par ty, not in the interest of any per-
son or persons or to further the plots or
schemes of any man or set of men. We
have naught to say against the gen-
tlemen who think they constitute the
City Committee. AS a committee
they had little, if anything, to do with
the city canvass. Everybody knows,
who knows anything Of the inside