Evening star., 1897-03-10
Looking Forward to the Contest in
the Kentucky Legislature. 70.
POSITION TAKEN BY THE PRESIDENT
Hunter Confident, as Are BoyIe's
Friends.
MEMBERS TO BE UNSEATED
special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Spcclal DlSIEJtcH 10 lne Evening Stdr
LOUISVILLE, KY, March 10.-The legis- |
lature has been called to convene in extra
session at Frankfort on the 13th of this
month to elect a United States senator to
represent Kentucky, vice ]. c. S. Blackburn,
whose term expired last Thursday. With
the proclamation calling an extra session
Of the general assembly was commission
for A. T. Wood of Mt. Sterling, who is
given the empty honor Of an appointment
in the face of the fact that the senatorial.
steering committee has informed Governor
Bradley that an appointee of his would not
be confirmed. This step was also taken by
the executive in spite of the request from
Mr.. Hanna, as representative of the pres
ent administration, that the selection of
Mr.. Blackburn's successor be left to the
legislature. These protests were futile. and.
kentucky's first republican governor now
says he has some ground for believing that
his appointee will yet take his seat and in
that event it will be a personal triumph for
him which he feels would be immeasurable.
President MckinIey's Position.
But in going counter to the wishes of the
administration the governor has "queered''
| the stalwart republican patriots of the
state who are anxious to serve their coun-
| try in some governmental capacity, for the
word has gone down the line that President
| Mckinley has told every ken:uckan who
has visited him that he will not under any
circumstances distribute the offices i'm Ken
| lucky until the legislature has elected a.
| ser ator and thus disposed of a vexed and
| vexinS question. Then, while the govern
\ ors action in opposing the wishes of the
| leaders at Washington may have been 4
| very gratifying personal pleasure, it has
| trought upon him the censure of a large
element of his party, and there are warm
times ahead.
!
| bic source that the contest which will be
| waged before the legislative bodies week af-
| ter next will be equally exciting as those
| which marked the last session of the legis-
| lature, when in a vain attempt to elect a
| senator the lawmakers kicked up so much
turmoil the governor thought it necessary
| to call out the militia to quell the alleged
| mob. The friends of St. John Boyle of this
| city, who was the last caucus nominee of
| the republicans, but who refused to accept
the appointment from Governor Bradley
and become a political cats paw. say he will
win with ease On the fourth fifth ballot.
But DR.. Hunter, ex-congressman, who
was formidable contestant in the last ses-
sion, insists that he will be the republican
who Will win the spurs SO recently worn by
Blackburn.
Propose 10 Unscat Members.
In the meantime the silver democrats
are not letting any grass grow under theil
feet, and they do not hesitate to inform
| the waiting PUBIC tnat tney Will unSeai
four recently elected representatives ano
thus deprive the republicans of their ma
jority, which would be two on Joint ballo
if they Were left undisturbed as at pres
ent. Blackburn sends word from Wash
ington that If ne does not succeed in hav
ing Bradieys appointee seated, he will soor
be on the ground, ready for lively tussl,
with the republicans and sound none,
, democrats, for when he cherishes hatre;
| that many say is bitterness itself
| A close friend of DR.. Hunter assures Th
. Star correspondent, within the past twelv
: ! hours, that his candidate will poll forty
. two votes on the caucus ballot at Frank
, fort. and will have ffty-five on the frs
D joint ballot. He claims that DR.. Hunte
3 can easily secure five sound money demo
cratic votes, but this is not at all proba BILE
8 This friend of Hunter has been working il
4 different parts of the state, and claims t
have pledges enough to warrant the state
5 | mcnt he made. However, it is likely tn
contest will be a long-drawn-out one, an
4 | there Is every indication just now that
4 | will engender much strife and cause som
4 | sensational scenes.
4 The sixty-three votes necessary to elec
A will not come to any favorite before tn
| tenth or fifteenth ballot, and not then.
| the silver democrats can succeed in un
| seating the republican members they ar
now counting on knocking out. A demo
Il | crat may be elected at last. and it may b
sound money democrat. The republican
:, | will not let the silverites elect a man, an
- will hinder any such intention.