Evening star., 1896-12-17

able candidate available. And DR.. Hunter
! was as easily chosen to conduct the cam
paign. His capacity as an organizer. and
his familiarity with work in that line.
united to make him most acceptable
chairman. The canvass was begun under
the most favorable auspices.
In very short time, however. a differ
eDce of opinion arose between the candidate
and the chairman to what the republic
cans might with reason promise themselves.
Colonel Bradley thought that the success
of the state ticket was much coultl
with safety be played for. He favored a
concentration of effort there But DR..
Hunter had larger views. He thought that
the legislature also could be captured and
he began making play for that along with
his play for the state ticket. He had his
cwn eye fixed on the Senate. There was no
open rupture between the candidate for
governor and tie chairman. but all through
the closing days of the campaign they
watched each other pretty sharply.
the result confirmed DIR. Hunters judg-
ment. The state ticket won by some ten
thousand majority. and the legislature as
between the republicans and democrats was
a tie. The friends of DR.. Hunter at once
insisted that had his efforts to secure the
legislature along with the state ticket been
property assisted by the friends of Colonel
Bradley, a safe republican ma jority in the
legislature would have been secured and q
republican successor to Mr.. Blackburn
made a certainty.
The republicans were installed in the state
Offices in December last. and the new legis-
lature met in January. Two populists, one
with republican, the other with democratic
ieaninss, held the balance of power. The
l,.y to ha;v
cratic caucus nominated Mr.. Blackburn.
Tne republican caucus nominated Dr.
Hunter. But there were several democrats
VINO would not support Mr.. Blackburn and
several republicans who were unfriendly
TO DIR. Hunter. A deadlock followed. In an
effort to capture the two populist members
DIR. Hunter committed himself over his sig
nature 10 what was construed as state
ment friendly to silver. The paper was
published. and IL proved fatal to its authors
candidacy. He retired from the race, and
ST. John Boyle Of Louisville became the
republican caucus nominee. But he was
unable to win. and the legislature adjourned
without electing a Senator.
"A number of vacancies in the legislature
having occurred by death or otherwise,
elections were ordered to fill them. The
vote took place ii November and the re-
pEblcans won. The result is that the
republicans now have clear majority on
joint ballot. and the senatorship is within
their grasp without the necessity of
dicker with the populists.
But the old fight is renewed Although
St John Boyle claims still to te the caucus
nominee, the caucus. If i pleases. may
depose him and make another nomination.
The Bradley people suspect DR.. Hunter OF
having his plans arranged to try for the
office again. and hence the toying with the
question of extra session. No extra
.ssion, no Senator
The Hunter people. for their part, charge
Governor Bradley with the disposition Ito
run everything He was elected. they
claim, to serve the people four years in the
governors office. aud not to run for the
Senate, or try to force a candidate of his
own for that Office on the legislature.
There others whose exclama ton is,
"A plague on both your houses. Give the
party a Senator. There is an excellent field
to choose from. What's the matter with
ST. John Boyle, or John W. Yerkes or
Waller Evans. or John w. Lewis. A. E.
Wilson, OF Judge Burnham, or Judge Holt,
or Judge Morrow? Select any one of them
and you'll make mistake. But don't
subordinate national party interests at SO
important a time to a personal and purely
local complication