Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1899-12-26
Reasons for Contest
ADMIRABLY AND sUccINCTlY GIVEN


military arm Of the Government for
the furtherauce OF partisan purposes.
unless ~ be the more insidious aud
cowsrdly practices EN- ployed In there
cent election by both Federal and State
Judges at the dictatiou OF one OF the
parties 20 the contest. Upon no con-
ceivable ground can Federal Judge
either Justify, excuse or palliate his
Interference IN An election for State
officers only: whilst the action Of Judge
Toney. y decision Of the Court Of APP
peals, IL stripped OF every semblance
OF excuse ADD, left In its native deform.
ity, IL IL TO be condemned, rebuked and
denounced by the people who we're lie
victims.
No more important question con g.
fronts the people OF the Common wealth
than the question whether great cor
poration owned not In Kentucky. not
In tie United States. but in Europe.
can buy an election aud thus control
the making. construction and execu
ton of the laws Even now the hire
lings VI this corporation boast that IL
will buy control of the General Assem-
bly, of the Common wealth aud thereby
prevent the enactment OF laws the peo-
pie desire, and prevent the democratic
candidates from obtaining possession
OF the Offices to which they we're duly
elected.
Both before and since the election
on November :. 1899, the republican
party has continuously employed
threats OF violence and practice of in
timldation, nor have they even desist
ed yet
To all this threatening the democra-
cy has replied that IL would stand upon
the law. that IL would carry Its conten-
tion Ia the tribunals which the law has
established for their decision, and To
the verdict OF these tribunals alone IL
would bow in submission.
II the board Of election commission
ers had no authority To pass upon the
question at issue las 1t declared IL had
notl, we simply propose to 20 TO those
who have this authority and abide by
the judgment that may be rendered.
What the Law shall declare TO be ours,
we claim. We ask no more; we will
take no less.
Should the practices herein COM
planned OF pass without protest, the
presidentia, election Of next year, and
oil other elections hereafter held with
10 the limits of Kentucky, would fail
TO afford an opportunity TO the people
OF the State to express their sentiment.
at the polls. II the most important
rights OF the citizens are ~ survive Ia
Kentucky the laws governing election,
must be fairly enforced; judges must be
taught that their judicial powers are
not To be exercised upon the demand
ana In the interest OF either a political
party or IA corporation To which they
may owe an allegiance even superior IL
that which they owe To The law. The
great corporate monopolies must be
Taught that elections can not be Dough,
by them, and governors must be made
10 know that In times Of profound peace
the law of the Common wealth is not IL
be pushed aside by the bayonet.
Your committees are not unaware oI
the fact that the contests now proposed
To be inaugurated should not be entered
upon for light or trivial reasons; thai
considerations of "a personal or partisan
character should be ignored in deciding
upon 80 grave and important step
that the passions usually aroused in a
heated campaign should be given d
proper cooling time, aud that only con
siderations of an overwhelming publi,
necessity should be allowed To control
We believe these conditions have beer
observed, Not wiling 10 trust our owl
judgments In "A matter 50 Profound \
affecting the Interests of the State, We
Summoned in Joint council with us a
lAfKt tut WlNttt anu ulOtt
conservative citizens from all parts OF
the state. IL was the unanimous ver-
diet Of these gentlemen that "A blow had
been struck at the very vitals Off zee
government by the methods and prac-
tices enumerated, aud that every con
sideration that can impel free men 10
act for the protection OF their most sa-
cred rights demands lhat the foul
wrongs inflicted on the State shall be
redressed through the agencies APP
pointed by law.
In the proceedings 10 accomplish this
end IL Is but just to say that the ambi-
ton of no man or candidate has been
considered The situation rises above
the individual. and becomes one OF
grave peril 10 the citizenship OF the
whole State; and the candidates OF the
democratic party, In Obedience TO the
supreme cuty OF the hour, are used
merely as the Instruments by which
these wrongs may be rectiied and the
dignity aud honor OF the State vindi-
Gated
These are the reasons that have
moved your committees 20 the inaugu-
ration OF these contests, and we cont
IDENTIFY expect the democracy OF Ken
A A