Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1899-05-19
w. p. WALTON.

Hon. JOHN s. RHEA made his prom
ised speech at Greensboro Monday IL
answer to Hardin's speech at the sam'
place. in which he charged thai
the financial plank in the 1895 platform
was written by Rhea and revised by
Mr.. J. b. Thompson, or written by
Thompson and revised by Rhea. Har'
din denied in an interview that he had
made the charge, but Rhea upon inves'
tigation found from the stenoe rapher's
report and the testimony of reputable
gentlemen that he did make the state
ment beyond doubt. Mr.. Rhea stated
that he was satisfied that Hardin had
been correctly reported, although he
had seen Hardin the day before In Lou
isville and travelled on the same train
with him, and Hardin had had other
opportunities to correct or explain, but
had never done so. He then went on
TO show how timorous Hardin was about
radical free silver plank in the Ow-
epsboro railroad commissioner conven-
ton, saying it would hurt his canvass
for governor, but he and Blackburn said
TO him, .You shall Sight or run" AT
this convention after Blackburn had
made free silver speech, calls were
made for Hardin, but he bowed and
said, "I'll see you later" Afterward
at Frankfort when Hardin was asked
what he would do il the State conven-
tion adopted gold platform, he re-
piled: II am glad to have an opportu-
nifty to speak No man is greater than
his party, and will accept the nomina-
tion on any platform" At the Louis
vile convention the free silver leaders
for n hours besieged Hardin for his |
views as to organization of convention,
but his answer always was wait for
Norman" Joe Blackburn and 9TH
ers protested against Beckner, a gold |
standard man for chairman, being |
named for the place, but finally agreed |
TO IL on the assurance that silver men
would be appointed on the committee
on resolutions from the State-at-large.
The appointment of Senator Lindsay
was therefore in bad faith, and the
speaker said he could prove that Har-
din asked members to vote for the {
Lindsay resolution. Mercer county !
voted for the resolutions and Rhea
voted his county against them and I
against Hardin. Rhea said that Edward I
Drake told him that Hardin had tried
to get Drake TO vote against Rhea for
place on the committee on resolutions.
At the Chicago convention, Rhea said
Hardin was lobbying in Grover Cleve-
lands headquarters, denouncing every ,
democrat who was against him. This
looks like he was blazing the way TO
the Chicago platform and to Bryan, the :
speaker sarcastically continued. The
whole speech was deadener for Har-
din, whose free silver record wont bear
the test, Notwithstanding he egotistic- =
ally speaks OF the cause of silver as
'My Cause" and says his defeat would :
be beralded as defeat OF that cause.
Instead OF having convictions that he
would not yield for a crown, as he dra- :
said in the campaign OF 1895,
II appears that Hardin had no fixed
principles and was so anxious for the :
that he would accept it on ''
any sort of an old platform. The truth
Is, Mr.. Hardin deliberately butchered :
The party in 1895 and democrats ought =
10 see that the chronic Office seeker is
given no further chance TO do so. Per-
,onally we have the kindest feelings for y
Mr.. Hardin, and have shown it by sup .,
porting him many times in the last !.
core of years, but We protest against =
LONG so any longer and hope the party =,
will give us new and more deserving :.
nan. -