The times., 1899-07-07
Hnnna,- Slate in Kentucky.

The news discounting the result of the
forthcoming Kentucky Republican State
convention is interesting only so Ear as
it shows how excellently and accurately
the Hanna machine Is working.
Attorney General Taylor. the avewed
Hanna candidate, will win in a walk in
the convention, as the racing fraternity of
Kentucky would say. There are two other
candidates in the field. one of whom, Audi
tor Stone has the backing of Governor
Bradley and the State machine But the
Hanna candidate has left the Bradley can
didate so far behind that Stone will not
get place" to again lapse into the dialect
of the turf cult. We do not know why
Mr.. Taylor was lucky enough to be picked
to represent the interests of the Hanna
machine in a contest that is strictly local
and of extremely dubious result. We can
| be permitted to surmise, however, that
Mr.. Taylor's particular official connection
for three years with the machinery of the
State Government of Kentucky has afforded
him an opportunity to show the syndicate
| politicians represented by Hanna that he
knows hawk from a hernshaw' when it
comes to dealing with corporations. But
this is beside the main purpose.
The situation in Kentucky is only an
other reminder of the significant fact that
in every contest of Importance within the
party since the Republican national ma
chine was syndicated and perfected under
Hannas magic touch the hand of Hanna
not only has been thrust deep into the
melee but also that the Hanna side has
won. The significance of it lis OBJ
vious. 1t means that the new Re-
publican regime is centralizing the
politics of the country as well as
| its Government and it's wealth. 1t
means that the time honored system OF
party primaries and conventions has be-
| come mere forms and hollow mockeries.
! 1t means that nominees ana platforms are
dictated from the party's central organi-
zation. 1t means. that political wisdom
/ flows not from the aggregate Intelligence
of the party into the central organization,
but that it proceeds from the will of the
| party boss. ,--.s f-g1T
The day is not very far gone when the
Governor of State represented power
and influence in his sparty councils. because
he represented an organized sentiment be-
! hind him. Hannaism is destroying this.
! Republican Governors who will be elected
within the next two years will represent
nothing to their party, win add nothing
to the wisdom of its counsels. They will
add only pliable strength TO the machine
controlled by Hanna. They must of neces-
sity dispense the patronage as he dictates
| They will be compelled to recommend leg
lslation at the behest of the syndicated
party central organization. They will be
forced to administer the laws in crises be-
tween capital and labor as interest OF
| ezpedient moves Hanna. -
The picture is not overdrawn. II they
but dared, the retiring Governors of Ohio
and Kentucky could testify to its truth
They have been crushed under the screws
| of political contraction and have felt the
sharp twists applied to them by Hanna.
Against such a situation the Democratic
ticket ought to win easily in Kentucky next
autumn. Despite the unnecessary and un-
Democratic anti-expansion plank inserted
in the platform, Democrats in Kentucky
cannot afford to vote against Mr.. Goebe
and for the Republican candidate, because
in so doing they are only helping tc
strengthen the oppressive Hanna ma.
chine.