The San Francisco call., 1895-07-17
KENTUCKY'S HOT FIGHT.
Democrats Will Spend Big
Money to Elect Their
Man Governor.
SILVER MEN ALSO INTERESTED.
John w. Mackay and Sen9tor Stew
art Interview the Candidate
as to His Campaign.

LOUISVILLE, KY, July J6.-"Waboly
Wat is row the term most generally ap-
plied to General P. Wat Hardin, the
Democratic candidate for Governor. The
term is an appropriate one to give him, for
he has wabbled all around pretty nearly
every public question, and by so doing has
managed to keep himself in Office the
greater part of his life since manhood. 1t
begins TO look now, though, as if his wab-
bling days were over, at least so far as get
ting him into an elective Office goes. Ken
tuckians nowadays are rapidly becoming
more like other people. They don't like
wabblers any more than do the people of
other States, so it appears that this time
Wat will not be able to wabble himself
through.
There IS only one thing that can prevent
the Republicans, led by the veteran cam
paigner, General W. O. Bradley, from car
rying the State at the coming State cleo
ton. That will be the use of large Dem
ocratic corruption fund between now and
the evening of election day. 1t is believed
by Republicans that wholesale corruption
Will be attempted, for the Democracy of
the country look upon the election as one
defeat another year and the ultimate turn
ing OF the State over to the Republican
party for many years TO come.
The election, too, OF a United States
Senator next year to succeed "Joe'' Black
burn is in itself sufficient dose to compel
the silver Democrats to resort to any
means to carry the State. The Repub-
lican leaders think that plans are already
on foot by the Democrats to use large
amount of money in the buying of votes.
John W. Mackay, the silver king, and
United States Senator Stewart were both
here a few days before the Democratic
convention. 1t is known that they had
long talks with "Wabbly Wat in regard
to the campaign. 1t is known that there
is perfect understanding between them
and those who run the administration side
OF the fight.
There is one thing, however, which
makes the successful use OF money on
election day more or less uncertain. That
is the secret ballot. An unscrupulous
party-worker may pay men to vote his
way, but under the new system there is no
surety that the voter who is INSCRIPTIONS
enough to sell his franchise will cast his
ballot as the briber desires him to do. The
Democrats IN this State think that they
can buy the votes OF enough coIored men
and poor whites to carry the election. The
Republicans do not consider that this can
be accomplished and hope that if any at
tempJs are made in this direction an ex-
posure will Immediately follow.
The colored men of Kentucky are not
the sort of citizens to do such a thing.
There are $4,000 colored Republicans in
the State and their votes will be cast for
tie straight Republican ticket. They are
taking an active part in the campaign and
they appreciate that the election vitally
interests them. There are 10000 Demo
cratic colored men in this State, but the
Republicans and Democrats do not agree
in the least. What are called the poor
whites, many of whom have been intimi-
dated into voting with the Democrats in
the past now see an opportunity through
the secret ballot to shake off the party
bosses who have been imposing upon them
oIong. All through the State this desire
10 get rid of the old gang is strong. The
Republicans were never more confident
than they are to-day.