The times., 1899-08-03
THE CLAY COUNTY FEUDs.
Governor Bradley Defends His
Cnursr I'm Inc Matter.

Lexington. Ky. Nug. Gov, William
o. Bradley has given out statement in
which he vigorously defends his course
in the troubles in Clay county and scores
the Democratic Legislature for its alleged
continued refusal to enact laws under
which the Governor can take the steps nee
essary to suppress the trouble. The state
ment is brought out by the criticism Of
the Democratic press and the condemnation
OF his policy for calling out the troops
during the senatorial contest two years
ago. He first presents the various crit
ielsms and then answers them one by one.
showing that he has done all that he could
90 under the present law. Regarding the
criticism for not calling a special session
he said:
In my first message to the General
assembly attention was called to the mob
spirit abroad in the State and the Legis-
ialure asked for appropriate remedy but
tuat recommendation was unheeded At
tnat session a special message was sent I !,
the same body on the same subject, which
was ignored AT the called session, the
same and additional Recommendations were
submitted. These were ignored in mart
but what was known as the Martin bill.
more particularly directed against turn
pike raiders. was passed. The next regu-
{ lar session OF a new Legislature came In
and again recommendations were made on
the same subject. These, however, were
unnoticed and that body repealed the cnly
effective section of the Martin bill and
came within few votes of repeating it
over the Governors veto. The majority
OF that Legislature WAS thoroughly parti-
san For the first time in the history OF
the State the Governor recommended that
penal and charitable institutions he lifted
out OF politics, as had been done In many
of the States to their great bettermant
but instead of adopting that suggestion. the
most partisan prison measure ever heard
OF was passed by which the Republicans
Were iegisiated out and the Democrats
legislated into Office.
Some time ago through the public
press. the Governor stated that the remedy
for the Clay county and other similar
troubles was to be found in legislation,
| but up to this time he has. with one or
two exceptions, failed TO hear any sug-
gestton from the members of that body
or to receive any assurance OF their CO.
operation
Under the circumstances. / have not.
up to this time. felt that n session of the
Legislature would accomplish any good
results, but would simply entail large
expense on the State. From the time /
came into office until this moment / have
steadily and faithfully labored to maintain
the peace OF the Commonwealth. and used
every power conferred by law. and re-
peatedly asked for legislation which has
been denied The newspapers which so
loudly condemn me now, failed to con-
denim Democratic Governors during the
Rowan and Perry county feuds and this
condemnation is only another evidence that
the calling Of a legislative session, In
the midst OF political campaign. when
the dominant party in the Legislature has
condemned the Governor in advance, would
avail nothing. for admission on their part
that legislation is necessary would be
a fiat contradiction to their assumption
that the Governor is to blame"