Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1899-07-28
Bryan Settles All Doubt AS To
His Position.
Writes Strong Letter Telling
Which Side He Is On-GoebeI
Good Enough For Him.

a letter written by him to Ure,
Woodson, national Democratic com
mitteeman for Kentucky, bearin:
upon the factional differences arts
ing in the ranks of the Democratic
party in Kentucky through the nom
nation of VIM. Goeoel at Louisville
several weeks ago. Mr.. Bryan
says:
"Urey Woodson, Owensboro, Ky
Dear Sir: have received within
the last few days number of let
ters and kilograms from Kentucky
Democrats, some urging me to come
to Kentucky and make speech in
support of the state ticket recently
nominated, and others giving me
reasons why the ticket should be
defeated.
''In view of the fact that engage
ments already made will occupy my
time until about the middle of Sep
TENDER, and in view of the further
fact that the demands upon my time
are such as to prevent an early
answer to the many communications
received, / deem it best to address
the Democrats of Kentucky through
you, the national committeeman for
the state.
81 noted with deep regret the bit
terness which characterized the
contest for the gubernatorial nomi-
nation and studiously avoided say
ing or doing anything which could
T5e construed as an expression of
preference between the candidates,
all of whom know personally and
all of whom are outspoker support
ers of the Chicago platform. | did
not then, nor shall l now, discuss
the relative merits of the candi-
dates, neither am l sufficiently in
formed upon the facts of the situa-
tion to pronounce judgment upon
the conduct of the convention which
placed the ticket in the field. The
only objection feel called upon to
consider at this time is one urged
by number of friends whose sin
cerity | can not doubt, but with
whose opinion | cannot agree, name
", that the election of Goebel would
,endanger the success Of the Demo
cratic principles as enunciated in
the Chicago platform.
Several persons have expressed
to me a doubt as to Mr.. Goebel 5
loyalty to the silver plank of the
platform, while others complain
that he is receiving influential sup
port from gold Democrats and gold
newspapers.
LAS to the first objection, desire
TO say that Mr.. Goebel supported
Mr.. Hardin and Mr.. Blackburn in
the campaign of 1895; he supported
the platform and ticket in 1896; and
was chairman of the reception CON-
mittee when |, as a candidate, Wis
tied Covington during the campaign.
He was chairman of the Democratic
state convention in 1897, when the
Chicago platform was reaffirmed
and Mr.. Shackelford nominated.
During his canvass for the guber-
material nomination he declared
himself in favor of the re-affirmation
of the Chicago platform and an
nounced that he would not accept
the nomination unless the Chicago
platform was endorsed by the state
convention. He is now candidate
upon platform, unanimously
adopted, which gives an emphatic
endorsement to all of the Chicago
platform.
sin answer to the second obIec-
ton, permit me to say that it is not
valid objection to Mr.. Goebel that
he is supported by some who OPP
posed the ticket in 1896. We desire
that all gold Democrats shall re-
turn, provided they will accept the
Democratic platform and support
candidates pledged tothat platform.
We desire to have all gold newspa-
pers return to the party if we can
secure their return without surren-
dering party principles. 1t is not
the policy of the party to drive peo-