The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-02-24
THE KENTUCKY STRUGGLE.
Not as Near a Solution as on the
First Ballot.
BRADLEY WOULDN'T STEAL THE SEAT
governor Threatens to Make the Fur FL,
II Hunter Forces Him
to 1t.

| ''s' pa''ol was caSt-ln TACT, 1t was nearer
decision then than IT Is now
The sound money democrats ars inst as
iar from coming to Backburns aid, ana
the letters to and from Secretary Carlisle
| nave not helped matters in the least II
| is doubtful If he had urged the five mem
| bers to cast their votes for the senator ~
| they would have done So and surh n
course would undoubtedly have hurt Car
| Isle. His answer was foregone concrl
| SION ana the only apparent reason for the
| appeal having been written to him is tina,
IL might be said that he was SO welded to
the policy of the president that he pra-
| ferred republican senator with sound
| money views to democratic adherent ar
| free silver.
| The republican ranks are Just as badly
| split and there is no more chance of
liunter being elected than there is of
| Blackburn.
| 1t looks now as though a dark horse
| would have to be run In or there will be
no senator elected from Kentucky AT this
session of the Legislature.
| Tho republicans for a time threatened
| 70 unseat two democrats, and in this con-
nection Dr. w. Godfrey Hunter tried TO in
duce the governor of Kentucky to become
party to the theft of a seat in the United
states senate. The governor of Kentucky,
without mincing words, declared tina; he
would not be guilty of such an act and
Things have reached such a serious stage
that Governor Bradley said to a friend: 81
nave been pursuing a dienified course in
TINS matter but If l once get started /
will make the fur fly" This explains the
real reason why the unseating of Tomp-
kins and Kaufman was abandoned
one OF the closest friends that Governor
Bradley has In the State says that at the
last republican caucus Hunter and his
managers asked the governor to 70 before
the caucus and make a sreech agreeing
TO sign a certificate of election If they
turned out Tompkins and Kaufman and
declared Hunter elected senator, and that
the governor refused.
DR.. Hunter and his managers after
thinking over the consequences. feared to
unseat the two democratic representatives
without first making sure that the certid-
cate of election could be secured for
Hunter. The governors reply was that he
would not go before the caucus and would
not agree to sign the certificate: that he
did not propose to prejudice a case that
might come to him for final action. and
that If the two democrats We're unseated
he would use his judgment aud sense of
right and honor in deciding whether he
ought to sign the certificate declaring that
DR.. Hunter was duly elected to the office
of senator"
Governor Bradley's refusal was in itself.
by inference, a charge that Or. Hunter
was trying to get him to do some thing
wrong In an effort to secure seat in the
senate, for II 1t had not been regarded by
the governor as wrong he would have con
sented, In the interest of his party. If he
had consented to make the statement to
the caucus he would have been bound to
sign the certificate, even If It become APP
rarert that the unseating was unjust and
the result Of a party conspiracy. he sent
fer Lieutenant Governor Worthlng ton, who
Was in the caucus. and told him TO sey
that he would decide the question on Its
merits.
This Is why such bad feeling exists be-
tween Governor Bradley and DIR. Hunter
Knowing that tn re was nothing in the
contest cases, the Hunter managers dared
not risk getting certificate from the gov
ernor, after turning out two democrats, so
they had to postpone action. This is this
first explanation of the delay. Some peo-
pie believed the unseating plan was aban-
doned because the republicans wcre
afraid. but that was not 1t. They found
that the governor would not become a
party to the crime.
Referring tonight to reports of differ
ences between him and certain members
OF his party. the governor said
Il am ustounded that any human being
should say that Or. Hunters failure to he
elected is Attributable to anything have
dc nc or 1Nllal 10 no. II Is lIut lllbl ! ifdNt
not abandoned my duties in the executive
office, but | have never failed when OPP
rortunity presented to urge that the nor-
inee should be elected.
II have attended hut enc caucus, and
was there for the sole purpose of dis
cussing party policy In legislation. at which
time | insisted that the interest OF the
State should be very carefully looked after
and guarded, and every pledge of reform
literally nliai with. |
also insisted that the caucus having nom
mated, II was the plain duty of the party
to elect.
~ have positively declined to attend any
caucus where the question of seating or
unseating members of either house was to
be discussed. / have said and repeat 1t
that If gentlemen con,esting seats are en-
tilted to them II is an outrage ON free gov
ernment to deny them their privileges, and |
II not entitled to them, IT Will he equally
outrageous to seat them.
I'm tho event that members of either |
body should be seated or unseated after |
which a senator should be elected desired |
TO act untrammcled and unpledsed when |
a certificate should he demanded. appre- !
riate the fact TINT. although a republican !
who has given more than quarter OF a !
century of arduous labor to his party, am /
n sworn officer of the law, ana mat |
should not PREJUDICE any case that mlgh'
arise. but should act fairly and honoraply'
knowing no man, but doing my duty fear
lessly and without favor
81 rider these circumstances II wouia |
have been not only improper but indecent
MS well to attend a Caucus which ihVolVed |
tho conscientious performance Of an ON
cial duty. ,.
~ have been Informed that Mr.. Yerkes
has been charged with dominating the iate
arn1istiee. and that | had been instrn-
mental in requesting his presence Tor 'hat
purpose. Both those statements are ih'se.
/ did not know that such an agreement
had been entered into until after II was
accomplished and am informed ny Ar'
Yerkes that he came in response 10 a ~
Guest from The immediate frierhs OF pr'
Hunter. .,.. ,o- |
II rAgret that 1t becomes necessary ioI
me 10 make this statement, ana may OF
NAV not say something additional shoNu
II become necessary. o,,,.
~ have Away. been true TO my psiN
and the man who indicates the contrary
himself misiudges me because OF MS parry
infdelity. While l have been true 10 my
narty. il gives me profound pleasure 70
,.,.,,, 4ha. ! have never been falSS 10 ihE |