The times., 1897-12-02

Lexington, KY, Dec. Miss Harriet
Bainbridge Richardson, of this city, who
was chosen by ex-Secretary OF the Navy
Herbert sponsor for the battleship Ken
lucky, is not pleased with the statement
OF Gcv. Bradley that he viii appoint his
daughter. Miss Christine, to christen the
vessel when it is launched, in January
Miss Richardson, who is a sister OF Mrs.
Forney, wife OF Col. James H Forney of
the marine service, is OF the home OF her
sister, Mrs. Innis, here, and tonight gave
ont this signed statement:
Il am urged TO speak by the discourteSy
l have been shown by Gov. Bradley stat
ing that he would appoint his daughter
To christen tie Kentucky. l also object TO
tn manner in which ne and his friends
have gone about securing the appointment
foF his daughter.
When / was asked by Secretary Her
bert to christen the Kentucky, l was by
that honor placed before the public, AID
/ received hundreds Of Congratulations from
patrlutic Rentuckians, the highest officers
OF tie Army and Navy, and from my
friends, every where. Every newspaper of
| Importance, not only in Kentucky, but
the M wspapers aud periodicals throughout
| the United States, voiced the general ap-
proval OF the people.
Clippings were sent me from every
qHartef OF the country. The AdministrI-
| ton OF course, was changed, and Secretary
Herbert is lot now ia office He wrote
me a short time since that he probably
could not make good his little speech to
| me tut that ne hoped no change would
| he made in the original plans.
i have lett in the matter that / had
been asked to preside at the naming Of the
| batla eship, and IT would be a natural act
| of courtesy To have the honor unchanged.
I have had no staff runners with petit
| tionS urging my selection again, neither
| have ! had at work any political IN
| ntef.ce among the trades people of Ken
| lucky, whom Governor Bradley pleads to
thrust the selection OF his daughter upon
| him. Neither do l recognize political
| prestige I'm this way. The laurel, when
wor.; hy woman, must be worn as a per
| sonai honor to be worn gracefully. When
| Governor Bradley takes the laurel from my
| heal and places it upon that Of his daugh-
| ter Just because he thinks he has the
| power to do so, | blush for the courtes :
| OF the gallant governor OF Kentucky.
| Harriet Bainbridge Richardson"
| Ex-secretary Whitney said today:
| The IauHct is the builders, and no
Government officials have anything te Go
| with it, except by the courtesy of the
| builder. Heretofore it has been the Gus
tom of the builders Of ships for the
| United States Navy to ask the Secretary
| Of the Navy to select a sponsor for the
| christening of the vessel.
| 1T is not the custom to ask the gov
| eruor of any state 10 select the person to
| Christen the vessel
/ Senator Joe Black burn, who was for
| many years member of the Cumittee ou
| Naval Affairs, was also asked regarding
| the matter ana said:
| Il dc not recall that governor has ever
| been asked TO name a sponsor for The
| christening of battIeship named for lis
| State. The Secretary Of the Navy is given
| ties honor and he is supposed 20 select a
! ladJ from the State after which the vessel
| is named. OF course since Secretary Her
| bert's term has expired before the launch.
ing of the battleship Kentucky, his sue
| cesser win have the naming OF the sponsor
| although the ship itself was named during
his predecessors term of Office
Miss Richardson is one of the handsouiesf
| well as the most brilliant young women
| in tile State. She has spent much of her
time in BROOKLYN and Boston, and is we'll
| Known in naval circles She is descended
from revolutionary stock, being a great
niece of Commodore Bainhridge, and the