The times., 1899-09-07
THE KENTUCKY SITUATION.
A New View of GoebeI. the Demo-
cratic Nominee, and His Chances


the outcome of the election in November.
With the decisive day still two months
OFF. it would be unwise to attempt to pre-
dict who viii win the fight. but from Ger
tain signs which he who runs may read.
1T would seem that the regular Democratic
nominees named by the regular Democratic
convention in Louisville will be successful
at the polls 1t is no exaggeration TO say
that the Goebel ticket has been sansibly
strengthened by the incidents and Develop
ments of the past six weeks. During that
time the people everywhere have learned
how many livid side-lights are possible TO
Kentucky political campaign. Never,
however, even in the Blue Grass State"
has there been a political contest so anus
ing, so interesting. so serious, so comieal.
so pregnant with picturesque features. so
animated by partisan personalities-in a
word, so characteristic of the high-strung,
sensitive, rollcking, hght-loving, fun-Iov-
ing. sham hating people of Kentucky as
is the three-eornored battle now waging
in the State.
Mr.. Goebel's words Immediately after
his nomination for Governor by the Louis
vile convention drew with sharp precision
the lines upon which the campaign has
been and will be fought OUT THE ques-
tor" said he, lis whether the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad shall control the
politics of Kentucky l shall defend the
negative side of that question. l shall
measure strength with that corporation
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad will
fight me. and I will fight it. The people
of Kentucky will decide who is right.
In these STRENGTHENING words the Demo-
cratic candidate boldly couFted the contest
which had already been made certain by
his nomination for Governor William
Goebel has been for ten years, and Is to-
day. the most vigorous, the most formi-
dable, the ablest. and the most consistent
opponent of corporate influences in the
State of Kentucky. Corporations have
already fought him. He. in turn, has
repeatedly and persistently fought them.
Indeed, he has made himself the worst
hated man by corporations in the State.
1t was known, therefore, that his nomiEa-
ton would unity and solidify against him
certain powerful influences which, with
their paid attorneys. had attacked him
openly on the floor of the Democratic con-
yention, and which have opposed him no
less emphatcaily since he was named for
Governor.
Out of this single, definite. distinct is
sue has grown. or more accurately has
been evolved the present ~three-cor-
nered contest" Ostensibly there are three
candidates in the feId-the regular Demo-
cratic, the regular Republican, and the ir-
regular Democratic or independent ticket,
headed by John Young Brown. Actually
there are only two candidates-Goebel and
Taylor. The irregular Democrats who af
feet to be ineensed by the methods which
dominated the Louisville convention viii,
as every competent critic admits, be of no
consequence in the contest. The purposes
which placed that ticket in the field are
we'll understood by the people of the State,
and are becoming even more thoroughly
appreciated as the campaign wears on
The personnel of the ticket is not to be
condemned The men who have consented
to let their names be perverted into mate
rial to fight the regular Democratic nomi-
nee would be acceptable to the polite So
ciety of Washington, Philadelphia, or even
TO the Belmont circles OF New Y0rk's Four
Hundred. They represent, indeed. what
might be called the eminent respectable
ity of the Democratic party in Kentucky.
Their manner is errorless and their con-
duct usually becoming. They are able TO
make good speeches to small crowds hire
brass bands on impressive occasions, and
make a good deal of stir with protests and
promises. 1t is remembered here that the
Palmer and Buckner crowd, which helped
to defeat Bryan in Kentucky, boasted a
good deal of dignity and made eOnsidera-
bic noise in 1896. When election day came
around the Palmer -Buckner contingent, is
is also remembered cast few more than
5000 votes. II is thought now that John
Young Brown may do better than the Pal
-Buekner ticket bat that his vote will
not be heavy enough to affect appreeiably
kentuckys normal Democratic majority.
The real race. therefore, when the situa-
ton is unmasked. is seen 10 be between
Mr.. Goebel and the field" Mr.. Gosbel
is running in the popular colors of the
regular Democratic party. The field
might be bTacketed and opposite the names
of the two contestants might be written
with large significance: L & Ms entry"
AS the situation is studied existing eondi-
tions become pretty well known. and the
issue, which Mr.. Goebel so courageously
invited and which the Louisville and
Nashville, through a letter from August
Belmont. so brazenly admitted. becomes
each day more distinct and more definite
Shall corporation rule the politics of
Kentucky" is being shouted~from every
housetop and painted on every sand hill in
the Blue Grass State. The answer to
that question is dividing the voters
into two hostile camps-on the one
side wealth. power. and all the
silent insdious influences which threatened
corporate interests can summon TO their
support; on the other side, the plain people
of Kentucky. 1t is not too much to say
that perhaps never in American politics
has such fight against corporations been
made.
The personalities of the campaign are
only an incident in it's natural progress.
They have been melted by the opponents
of Mr.. Goebel. He is the regular Demo
cratic nominee, regularly chosen by reg
ular Democratic convention. That fact in
sures for him the support of all organiza-
tion Democrats. 1t is known that this
usually large following cannot be diverted
from Mr.. Goebel TO any other candidate.
Vindictiye and scurrilous attacks upon the
Democratic nominee have been inspired
only by the influences and agents Of the
corporations. They have attempted to ac-
compliSh by mud-slinging and calumny
what they realize they can never do by rec
ognized methods of political warfare. For
six weeks the skies have been luTid with
abuse. with elimination and with scan
daIously vicious attacks upon Mr.. Geebel
Now that the air is clearing a little, il is
admitted that the men who have resorted
to such unusual methods have not strength
ened their cause in the minds or hearts of
the people. A reaction is setting in. Men
who quietly think reeoil from these per-
sistent attacks upon the character of the
Democratic nominee. For years Mr. GoabeI
has been known here. and during all that
time he has been admired for his fine per-
sonal qualities and his strict integrity.
The attempt to rake up an unhappy in
cident in his life and to use it against him
is regarded as unnecessary, unbecoming,
unmanly, and cowardly. 1t is admitted
by all persons competent TO Judge that Mr.
Goebel was thoroughly justified in the
Sandford incident. Confederate veteran