Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-19
SITUATION IN KENTUCKY
ManeuVering Already Begun for the Demo-
cratic Gubernatorial Nomination.
Lies Between Hardin and Goebel-
Scramble Over Federal Offices Has
Weakened the Republicans.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.


LOUISVILLE, KY, May 10. 1897.
The election of a governor of Kentucky
Is two years of. but already the aspirant
for the democratic nomir alton are at worl
laying their liEes, and foremost in thi
early activity Is Gen. P. Wat Hardin O.
Mercer county, who was defeated by Gov
erDor Bradley in the last state campaign
Hardin, 1t will he remembered accepted
the democratic nomination on a sount
money platform, and then proceeded t
kick that platform into smithereens an(
made his canvass on a free silver basis
His speech at the Auditorium in this city
accepting the nomination was silver
speech, and 1t sealed his doom. Now Mr.
Hardin end former Senator j. c. s. Black.
burn and others of that wing of the party
are at work TO secure control Of the party
machinery in Hardin's interest and the
Knowledge that such is the case has
brought State Senator Goebel. Chairman P
p. Johnston of the democratic committee
Elector Smith and eX-Congressman ". J.
Stone into the race, although Mr. Smith
Is the first of these to openly announce his
candidacy.
Fight is Between GOcbel and Hardin.
Goebel is the strongest of the three, and
1t will be a bitter fight between him and
Hardin. The coming state convention al
Frankfort for the nomination of a demo-
cratic candidate for the clerkship of the
court of appeals will develop the first test
of strength of the Hardin and Goebel fac
tiCns, and as Green, the Hardin-Blackburn
candidate, will have the combined oppo-
sition of Shackleford and Mason, il seems
that Goebel has great chance to assume
command of affairs if Kentucky.
The fact that the city of Louisville de-
feated both Hardin for governor and Bryan
for President, in kentucky, is still ranking
to hra Mr IN
= quoted In the papers as having said at
lexington recently that it were better to
b,se Louisville to the republicans and carry
Che state by the outside districts: that such
procedure would show the city politicians
that the state could do without Louisville s
vote Such d result would bring them to
their senses.
Acting upon this line, the politicians out
side Of the fifth district have had a called
meeting of the state central committee and
deposed all of the committeeman chosen by
the state convention, and put up a number
o. practically unknown and unskilled men
in charge of Louisville politics. This was
done just before the fifth district coIven-
ticn had named its ticket, and we are
threatened with two democratic tickets,
which means defeat, certain. and a repIbli-
can municipal victory. 1t will hardly mean
the defeat of the state ticket for clerk of
the court of appeals, but may bring about
the end desired by Mr.. Hardin, and teach
that lesson to Louisville managers.
Do Not Speak as They Pass by.
1t is told quietly here that exist ate sena-
tor Martin and ex-United States Senator
Jo- Blackburn hardly speak as they pass by
on the streets of Versailles, where both
Eve Martin openly charges that Black
burn defeated him for the Senate, end is
now eager to get even with Jo He NAV
announce himself a candidate for the
legislature or Senate, and if Blackburn
VIII enter the list against him, would be
greatly pleased. AT all events Martin ha q
his knife sharpened for Jo., and will use 1t
at the first opportunity. He Is a gold dem
ocrat, who stood by Blackburn through
friendship. Jo- refused to return the COM
pliment and there's trouble in de land i"
as Jack Chinn'S quartet sings
Rumors or the resignation of the govern
or nave not been SO frequent of late as
when the senatorial muddle was in full
biast at Frankfort. No one believes that
Bradley will resign, or that he ever SER
teusly thought of resigning, and that If he
does So II will Tot be on account of poll
tics, but for private reasons, which will
not bear ventilating.
The scramble of the republicans for a
snare In the distribution of the federal Of
noes has opened many breaches In the G..
U. r. In Kentucky. and 1t can be freely
pfedicted that in the coming municipal
elections IN this state that there will be
Httle chance for any republicans To win.
Inc anti-Hunter men are determined TO
stand or fall by Bradley: the Hunter oeo-
PIE VIII knife every Bradleyite put up.