The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1899-08-30

aidized. containing every assault upon
the Democratic party and its candi-
dates that maligniSy and mendaeity
can invent.
Indeed. this year the people of Ken
lucky are plainly told by the president
of the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
road company, Mr.. Milon Fl. Smith. In
an open letter, that that corporation Is
engaged in the effort to defeat the
Democratic party and its candidates;
and, furthermore, that IL will desist
from this effort only when pledge is
given not to do anything 10 which
those who control the affairs of that
corporation object.
''In other words. the owners of this
corporation, which the people of Ken
lucky created by act of their general
assembly, assume to decide for the
people of the commonwealth what
laws shall, and what laws shall not, be
enacted. and what laws shall, and what
laws shall not, be enforced.
There is, therefore. distinctly and
unequivocally presented to the people
of Kentucky the question whether
their laws shall be made and executed
by themselves. through their duly
chosen servants. or whether the ex-
ercise of the sovereign powers of gov
eminent shall be turned over to the
most powerful corporation in the COM
mcnwealc,.
Il do net believe that the people Of
Kentucky are ready to abandon gov
einCent Of. by and for the people, and
to substitute therefor government by
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
company, fer the benefit of the Roths-
childs and the Belmonts. But that
question must be determined in this
contest. [Applause.l
There is no fact better established
than that during the canvass preced-
izg the recent Democratic state con-
yent,on. and during that convention.
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
ocuD2ny left undone nothing within
its power to control the action of that
convention. That that attempt failed
is sufficiently attested by the Platform
adopted and the ticket nominated by
the convention ard the open letter OF
Mr.. Milton H. Smith. Aud when this
corporation failed to control the Dem
ocratic state convention, then its
agents attempted to break up that
convention, in order to prevent the
noDi- alton of candidates upon the
platform that had been adopted
Pending the Democratic canvass the
Repub ican state newspaper organ. the
Louisville Commercial. on March "a,
1889, said this on its editorial page
| concerning the Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad company and its at
tempt TO control the Democratic state
convention:
A Republican View.
1T appears, therefore, that at least
one railway corporation in kentucky
is in politics up to its neck. and the
fact is CT great interest ard concern
to the people of this state That it is
menace tc the public welfare is not
open to a doubt. That it is a flagrant
violation of propriety for a corpora
ton which is a common carrier and
which enjoys the use of a valuable
public franchise to thus invade the do
main Of politics is equally clear That
it foTebOdes consequences to the bust
ness Interests of Kentucky of the
/ gTavest significance will not be de-
MED By any citizen who viii reflect
upon the existing situation and note
how similar ii is to that which has
prevailed in other states just preced-
/ ing their domination by the railway
interests.
of a railroad corporation may
boldly set about to nominate a candi-
date for governor without indignant
and overwhelming protest from the
people, ii will CT course not stop at so
modest beginning in the exercise of
political power. If it needs a governor
to do its will, it needs also a iegisla-
ture, and railroad commissioners. and
an attorney general. and a complete
staff of subssTvient state officials. And
if it may have and own a governor, it
may have and own all the others. Ii
need not stop half way in its determ.-
nation to control the making and the
4 execution of the laws, and of course
I 1t will not For, If il may control in
( legislation and then in executive direc-
/ ton, it may ultimately fix by law its
own rates for the carriage of freights
and passengers, and compel every .bus-
/ mess interest in Kentucky to pay trib-
ute to its insatiate greed.
The Commercial utters this note
of warning to the people of Kentucky.
/ and it admOnishes the great railway
I company which appears to be chiefly
/ concerned that it is entering upon a
/ dangerous campaign. 1t may nomi-
nate for governor, but it will subse-
/ quently face an Infatuated people at
| the polls. 1t will not be permitted to
! govern this state. 1t would better not
undertake the job
when that editorial was published
/ the Republican party leaders feared
] that the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
/ road company, if it controlled the
: Democratic state convention, would
]
! to support it with the sinews of war
in the approaching election, because if
/ that corporation could control the
Democratic convention, dictate its
! platform and nominate its candidates,
/ it would have no need of the Repub-
/ lican party in Kentucky.
! Notwithstanding this warning OF
/ the Republican state organ, the Louis
/ vile and Nashville Railroad company
! has undertaken the job of electing a
] governor and other state officers; but
/ it is attempting to elect. not the Dem
ocratic. but he Republican candidates.
This attempt is a menace to the
/ public welfare;' the Louisville and
! Nashville Railroad company will face
an Infatuated people at the polls and
1T will not be permitted to govern the
state'-although it has undertaken
/ the job. lApplause.l
SILVER AN ISSUE.
Kentucky Democratic Platform Fav-
ors the White Metal.