Evening star., 1896-03-16
TWO KENTUCKIANS
Prominence Of Carlisle and Black
burn in the Wrangle at Frankfort.
BOTH HAVE some DEVOTED FOLLOWERS
They First Came Into Conflict
Twelve Years Ago.
M AY CT A S H A G Al n

The long wrangle at Frankfort has kept
Mr.. Carlisle and Mr.. Blackburn prominent
ly before the country. Though so very un-
like in everything, both are strong men at
home, and each has devoted personal fol-
lowing. Each has received during this con-
test the highes. evidence of attachment
that man may exhibit for his leader.
Two members of the legislature have died,
the one a follower of Mr.. Blackburn, the
| other follower of Mr.. Carlisle. The repre-
sentative from Nelson county, disregarding
The advice of his physician, rose from his
sick bed at the beginning of the session and
went to the assistance of Mr.. Blackburn at
the caucus crisis. He died shortly after
casting his vote for his friend. A senator
from Louisville has just died, as the result,
his physician declares, of the strain on his
nervous system. He was the leader of the
sound money democratic opposition to Mr..
Blackburn, and had vainly striven to unite
the sound money sentiment Of both parties
on Mr. Carlisle. His last act was to send
ior MS sound money associates and solemn
ly enjoin them to stand firm to the end.
In practical politics men do not often car
ry devotion to a leader SO far. They take
many risks, but seldom that of life itself;
and this Offering of life--in the one case
knowingly. and in the other case without
regard when the dread penalty was an
nounced-is an exhibition of as fine spirit
as the times can show.
Blnckburn's First Senatorial Fight.
Strangely enough. Mr.. Carlisle and Mr..
Blackburn colIided twelve years ago. when
the latter was first elected to the Sem
axe. Mr.. Carlisle had just assumed the
duties OF Speaker of the House in the Forty
eighth Congress, and Mr.. Blackburn, then
member of the House, had gone to
frankfort to contest for the senatorship
with Gen. Cerro Gordo Williams General
Williams was standing for reelection and
1t was thought with good prospects of sue
cess. The legislature was overwhelmingly
democratic, and it was a question merely
the measuring of one mans popularity
ana managing power against another'S
General Williams was a typical man Of
his section, bluff, hearty, obliging and
with scars from two wars. The planters
stood behind him to a man. He WAS Very
confident OF sIccess-too confident, irdeed,
Ior ms organization was so POOR that WHEN
Mr.. Blackburn much Younger man fin
or energy-arrived on the scene he found
httle difficulty in putting General Williams
at once at serious DISADVANTAGE
BUT there appeared thir1 man in the
ace-ex-CongreSSman Sweeney Of Owens
boro-who 3ucceeded in rallyng nearly
twenty votes to his standard, and for weeks
deadlock existed. Williams and Black
bufn were very close together. with Sween-
ey holding the balance of power There
was balloung daily without result. Frank
Tort filled up with politicians from every
part OF the state. and business before the
legislature became hopelessly blocked Mr.
Blackburn cast longing eyes at the Sweeney
votes. They were just the numner he need
ed 10 WIN But they gently but firmly re-
PEELED his advances, and continued to re-
cord themselves regularly for their fayorite
CarIisle's Name Suggested,
At last it was suggested that the dead
lock be broken by taking up new name.
mot ,rl;,
very popular. and now very eminent His
election as Senator would not interfere
with his service in the office of Speaker. as
his term in the House would expire the
very day his term as Senator would begin
The suggestion alarmed the Blackburn
men. They protested vigorously against
it, asserting that Mr.. Carlisle's frienls
were showing a disposition to gobble up
everything for him, and that in the
Speakershfp contest Mr. Blackburn had
unselfishly rendered Mr.. Carlisle a good
kilograms passed between Frankfort and
Washington, and for several days feeling
ran high. There was no evidence that
Mr.. Carlisle himself desired to be Senator.
On the contrary, indeed, it was asserted
that he was entirely satisfied TO remain
where he was and that he was in no way
responsible for the movement in his behalf
at Frankfort.
MIR. Blackburn finally won. The Sweeney
forces, unable to make any headway under
the Sweeney banner, and failing in their
efforts to induce Mr.. Carlisle to enter the
contest, went over in the end to the man
whose fortunes had so long been hanging
In the balance. Still, soothing as success
was 1T did not for year or two soften
the asperities that the long contest had
produced. The friends of Mr. blackburn
stood aloof from the friends of Mr. Car
Isle and the two men themselves were
very far from being intimate
The Clash More Serious Now.
This second clash has been in every way
much more serious than was the first The
Blackburn men have held Mr. Carlisle
solely responsible for their favorites un-
happy plight.ani Mr.. Eiackburn's own feel
ings are represented being very bitter
The next clash will come over the selection
of Kentucky delegates to Chicapo The