Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-22
IF A DARK HORSE
Then Ex-Representative Stone May
Stand a Chance.
KENTUCKY'S SBNATCRSHIP FIGHT
Mr.. Blackburn and His Elements of
Strength.
THE OTHER DATES

h.mSeIr not to be a candidate Tor the
United States Senate from Kentucky, his
friends are quietly working in order to see
that his claims may be properly presented
in case there is deadlock when the legs
lature meets next January.
During last winter Mr.. Stones name was
prominently mentioned for both guberna
torial and senatorial honors in the blue
grass state, but he saw fit to announce
that he would withdraw from both these
fights. All idea of pushing him forward as
a candidate for governor has been abandon
ed, but there are certain reasons that make
Mr.. Stone possibility as success IN the
race for the senatCrship. The western part
of Kentucky has not had United States
Senator chosen within its borders for very
many years. The people living there claim
that eastern Kentucky has been unduly
honored in this respect and look upon MIR.
Stone as the man who would fully repre-
sent them. The ex-Congressman is farm
er, and although he lost one leg in the war
still follow the plow and perform
other duties of the farm quite as well as
any other man. The population of western
Kentucky is made up of farmers chiefly,
and Mr.. Stone has many elements of popu-
larity
BIackburn's Attack on Carlisle.
Now that Mr.. Blackburn has opened fire
ON Secretary Carlisle and the latter has
made a "gold standard" speech, it is
garded as certain that under no circum-
stances can these two factions Of the dem
ocratc party in Kentucky come together.
Besides Mr.. Blackburn. Mr.. Stone is the
most prominent Kentuckian in the political
field who has come out squarely for free
coinage of silver Mr.. Stones friends be-
lieve that silver candidate will be nomi-
mated, and they say that such a candidate
cannot hope to win without the votes of
the Carlisle faction. Mr.. Stone is a man of
few enemies, and even those who differ
widely from him in their political views
think that he would conscientiously fill the
duties of United States Senator, and ac-
cording to the belief of the ex-Congress-
mans intimate friends and advocates he
would be far more acceptable than MIR:
Blackburn
1t is possible that Mr.. McCreary will be
pushed forth as compromise candidate
and that he will have a very strong back
ing, but Mr.. McCreary has always MAIN
tanned that free coinage of silver is some
thing that can be brought about only
through an international agreement, and If
there is Anything that causes the ire to
rise in the breas; of Kentucky silverite 1t
is to talk about international agreements.
Mr.. McCreary has maintained this position
so long, and his relations at the White
House are so well known and have been SO
cordial that he is not liable to make any
further concession to silver men, even in
order to get the nomination. If he were to
do so his past record on the silver question
would be brought up against him.
Feeling of the Sccretary's Friends.
PrOmlnent henlucKlanS IN w aSnlnStOn
say that the feeling of Mr.. Carlisle's
friends against Mr.. Blackburn, on account
of his bitter attack on the Secretary. has
grown steadily during the past week. They
say that Mr.. Carlisles speeches will be
read in every home in Kentucky, and that
they will have an enormous influence in
turning the tide against free coinage in
that state They assert that Mr.. Carlisle
has never spoken on a public question in
Kentucky without attracting not only the
widest attention. but influencing public
opinion to a marked degree. The present
instance they feel sure will be no excep-
ton. The fact that Mr.. Carlisle made no
direct reference to Senator Blackburn in
keenly the remarks that were directed
against him with great bitterness They
say that both he and his friends will use
all their efforts to thwart Blackburn's
plans, and the advocates of Mr.. Stones
candidacy see in this movement their
greatest CHARGE to push forward their
favorite.
Mr. Stone has left for Kentucky, and a
number of arrangements for him to speak
have been made. He will not announce
himself as desiring the nomination, but
will be ''in the hands of his friends"
Blnckburn n Dark Horse.
Assuming that the democrats carry the
legislature, which is most probable, though
by no means a certainty" said a promi-
Dent Kentuckian, "the contest for the SEN
dlOTSHip VIII eventually De between BLACK
burn and dark horse. Blackburn is by
far the most aggressive, and is more famil-
lar with the people individually than all of
the other candidates combined. McCreary
has great personal popularity with all
classes on account of his untring zeal in
behalf of his constituents, as also by reason
of his universally courteous and cordial
manners. But on the important issues be-
fore the people he lacks positiveness of
conviction. He is a follower rather than a
leader of public opinion. Positive express
sions will be demanded in the present cam
pagn.
prominent, is not nearly so we'll known to
the people of the state as either of his
competitors. This Is due to the fact that
he retired from politics some twenty years
ago, and practically remained out of it
until his recent successful campaign for
the governorship. 1t seems to be a ques-
tion even yet whether he will actively con-
test for the senatorship.
Ex-Gov. Bucl<ner.
"Ex-Gov. Buckner. the last of the avowed
candidates, is decidedly the worst equipped
for a popular contest. He is no speaker,
and even his delivery from manuscript is
rot at all pleasant In this respect Ken
tuckians are critical. On the other hand
the ex-governor is well supplied with the
s1news of war. He can influence the tone
OF the country press by buying the paper
and changing the editor He has the dis
tincton Of being the advocate of the new
sound money idea, and is supported by
the newspapers of Louisville and of the
larger towns of the state This newspaper
support would appear to be, and in an
election where no great questions were in
issue would. In fact, be, important
factor. But in a canvass like this, where
every voter is going to be reached from
the stump, the advocacy of the press is
often a positive detriment to the Intended
beneficiary.
This has prov en- the case, particularly
with Louisville papers, and Instances are
numerous of both local and country cleo
uons when candidates were defeated by
reason of the Jealous support they received
from the city papers, or succeeded
count of the opposition encounte cred from
the same source. Unfortunately we have
no such paper in Kentucky as The Star
which deals fairly with all sides and freely
prints the current news whether it hap
pens to be favorable to the view OF its
proprietor or otherwise. There on the con-
trary, important press dispatches are sup
pressed when not in accord with the policy
or the paper, and thus events If great
popular interest quietly ignored