Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-06
KENTUCKY OUTLOOK
The Populists Present a Fresh Peril
to the Democrats.
AN ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT HARDIN
No PopuIistic Feeling Against Sen
ator Blackburn.
TWO DISTINCT CAMPAIGNS

A fresh peril appears for the Kentucky
democrats. Harassed by divisions within
their own ranks, and neraced by a solid
republican front, they Were in trouble
enough before the populists took the field
But now the populists are in the field, and,
it is said, are intensely eager to assist in
Gen. Hardins destruction.
POpulists Against Hardin.
AS the situation is explained. there
would have been populistic demonstration
in the state in any event. The third party
in the blue grass country contains some
ambitious anxious enough to be in
evidence even to limited extent. These
men were preparing a program which would
serve at least the purpose of an advertise
ment. But they were willing to be content
with that if only the Blackburn Hardin
program in the democratic camp could be
put through. Free silver the leading
feature of one of the other, and the bulk
of the populist vote was to be thrown to
the democratic ticket, as standing SO much
the better chance of success before the
people
This is said to be all changed now. Gen.
Hardin is regarded as having surrendered
to the gold men, and the populists are anX
1ous to sec him defeated. They denounce
his acceptance of the democratic guhcrna-
torial nomination on aeCarisle platform
and are organizing for a campaign of un-
eAaIipieu actlVlty.
Their Strength Problem.
The populist strength in the state is a
problem. Last year in the congressional
elections the third party polled nearly
1900 votes, and this vote added 10 the re-
publican vote left the democracy in the
minority for the first time in a quarter of
a century. Can this vote be thrown again
this year? There are democrats who con-
ha
fear that the figure may reach 10000. The
populists will work to pile it up high as
possible, realizing that. while they them
selves cannot win. every vote thrown for
their ticket will be a vote drawn from the
democracy, and hence factor in the eff
fort to defeat Gen. Hardin. And if 10000
former democrats vote for the populiSt
ticket, and the republicans stand Loyalty
by their ticket. the nomination that Gen.
Hardin took at Louisville against the ad-
vice of Mr.. Blackburn, may. some of his
friends fear prove to be the emptiest of
empty honors.
They Favor Blackburn.
AS may be imagined, this populistic feel
ing against General Hardin does not ex-
tend to Senator Blackburn. who stood for
silver to the end of the convention, and
who, whatever party exigency may require
him to do in the campaign. is understood
to be still for silver. That is the spirit the
pcpulists like, and are willing to assist.
Candidates for the legislature, therefore,
friendly to Mr.. Blackburn will have moth
ing TO fear from populistic opposition, but
may even receive open populstlc support.
1t is in the legislative elections that silver
cuts so distinct figure. apd hence the de-
sire on the part of the silver men to see a
legislature chosen committed to the return
of Mr.. Blackburn to the Senate.
Two Distinct Campaigns.
And this separates the Kentucky struggle
into two distinct campaigns. The friends
of the state ticket will have to look out
for that, while the different aspirants for
the Senate will keep eye on the legisla-
tive tickets. The task will he difficult. The
situation will become complicated in the
extreme. What with the sound money
democrats lukewarm as to the state ticket,
some of the free silver democrats luke
warm as to the platform, and the popu-
lists who are merely democrats who have
seeded, throwing their strength first
against Hardin and tnen for Blackburn, it
takes an understanding capable of solving
the mysteries of French pools TO work out
the different chances of success failure.
Only this much appears to be reasonably
certain at this time-that if General Har-
din is beaten for governor the feeling be-
tween the sound money democrats and the
free silver democratS-already bitter-will
become so intense that the situation in the
newly elected legislature will, for a time,
defy analysis.