The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-03-24
The Wall Of a Defeated Candidate.

WEBSTER, KY, Mar 18th, 1897. TO
THE DEMOCRATS OF BREcKkNRDGE coUN-
Ty. Having received solicitations from
every district in the county to make the
race for County Judge, l decided to do
30. announced myself on the Sth day
OF February. In less than one week
some men in Hardinsburg, devoid Of
principle, began to say was an extreme
temperance man and IL would not do to
nominate me, for the whisky men would
not vote for me II nominated 1t was not
long until heard Of my opponents say
ing neither the whisky men nor Catho-
lies would vote for me. Various stories
were gotten up the last days OF the can
vas. One was had driven two Catho-
lie women from my house. Another, |
had refused to rent house to Catholic
family. 1t was charged that | was an A.
P. A. Rumors were sent over the coun-
ty before the convention saying | did
not want Catholics to vote for me. l de-
nounce them as base lies gotten up for
the sole purpose OF defeating me.
Inever voted against any man on ac-
count of his religion. / have voted for
Catholics in conventions and primaries
when they had protestant opponents. l
have always been on the very best of
terms with my Catholic neighbors. They
have been warm friends OF mine in both
Of my races.
In regard to the Temperance question |
made plain and candid statements that
ought to have satisfied any reasonable
man. l said was temperance man
but my private opinions should have
nothing to do with my official acts if
elected. 1 said plainly ! would follow
the course of my predecessors and grant
license when an application was backed
by law. l make these statements now
when it cannot be said am seeking
votes) to show how unfair and groundless
tn, Sc charges were. As unfair as they
were Mr.. Minor owes his nomination to
them.
did all could to keep these questions
out l did it not only for my good but
for the good Of the party. l will assert,
had all the candidates for the various
offices used their influence they could
have kept them out. knew they would
hurt the ticket regardless Of who was on
it. There were no charges made against
my character nor my Democracy, and if
it was charged that was not competent
to discharge the duties OF the office did
not hear it. My only sin seemed to be
that | was moral man and that that
kind OF a man had no right to nomins-
ton.
Gentlemen / want to say there is two
sides to these questions and the d mo-
cratic party can not afford to ignore
either. 1t has become common saying
in this county that a man who tries to
make an honorable and upright canvas
cannot get a nomination in the party.
There were men who are considered good
men whose names are on church regis
t"rs that took up the temperance qns
ton and used it against me. Now il the
fact OF my being temperance man dis
qualities me for holding oflice and por.
ton of the party will not vote for me il
nominal. d, where is the consistency in
asking my friends to vote for the man
who gets his nomination by taking the
other side. Charlie Lightfoot said Mon.
day he did not think these questions
were used against me in Cloverport. l
know they were common street talk on
the night Of the 9Th and the day follow.
ing. / will refer him to Frank Fraize
and Fladge Carter. / could make many
more. The first man to tell me OF the
religious question was DR.. Sam O'Bryan,
Of Mooleyville, who, l think, is an hon
orable, christian gentleman. l know