Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1899-08-25

fuplts vi ntWbphptrs tndt u mas SUI
eidized containing every assault upon |
the Democratic party and Its cand
dates that malignity and mendacity
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 ~ Smith. In
an open letter, that that corporation Is
ENGAGED in the effort to defeat the
Democratic party and It's candidates:
and. Furthermore. that u viii desist
from this effort only when a pledge is
given not 60 do anything TO 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. aud what
laws shall not be enforced.
There r.. 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 tho sovereign powers Of gov
eminent shall be turned over 10 the
laiFA UONffANi AhN yum
monweaicL.
Il do not believe that the people Of
Kentucky are ready TO abandon gov
eminent o. by and for the people, and
TO substitute therefor government by
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
company, for the benefit OF the Roths-
childs and the Belmonts. But that
question must be determined In this
contest. lApplause.l
Il II "a
than that during the canvass proceed
ing the recent Democratic state con-
ventlon, and during that convention.
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
company left undone nothing within
its power to control the action of that
convention. That that attempt failed
Is sufficiently attested - the platform
adopted and the ticket nominated by
the convention and the open letter OF
Mr.. Milton n. Smith. And 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
nomination OF candidates upon the
platform that had been adopted.
Pending the Democratic canvass the
/ Republican state newspaper organ. the
! Louisville Commercial. on March "a,
/ 1899. said this on Its editorial page
I Auf IsOulNNllit anu ANdSu-
VILE Railroad company and its at
tempt to control the Democratic state
convention:
a Republican View.
cit appears. therefore. that at least
one railway corporation In Kentucky
r. in politics up to its neck. and the
fact Is OF great interest and concern
10 the people OF this state That IL Is
a menace to the public welfare Is not
open TO doubt. That II f. fragrant
violation Of propricty for a corpora
D tion which Is common carrier and
which enjoys the use Of valuable
public franchise TO thus invade the do
main OF politics Is equally clear. That
Il forebodes consequences to the bust
ness interests OF Kentucky OF the
pravost significance will not be de-
MED by any citizen who will reflect
upon the existing situation and note
how similar 1t is to that which has
prevailed in other states just preced-
ing their domination by the railway
interests.
eff railroad corporation may
boldly set about to nominate candi-
date for governor without indignant
and overwhelming protest from the
people. IL will OF course not stop at so
modest a beginning In the exercise OF
political power. IL II needs governor
to do its will Il needs also a legisla-
ture. and railroad commissioners, and
an attorney general, and a complete
stan of subservient state officials. And
II II may have and own a governor. II
! may have and own all the others. II
need not stop half way in its determi-
nation to control the making and the
execution OF the laws. and OF course
! IL will not. For. II IL may control in
legislation and then in executive direc-
ton, II may ultimately fix by law Its
own rates for the carriage OF freights
and passengers, and compel every bus
iness interest in Kentucky 20 pay trib-
ute to its insatiate greed.
THE Commercial utters this note
OF warning to the people OF Kentucky
and IL admonishes the great railway
company which appears to be chiefly
concerned that II Is entering upon a
dangerous campaign. IL may nomi-
nate for governor, but II Will subse-
Quently face an Infatuated people at
the polls. II will not be permitted to
govern this state. II would better not
undertake the job
when that editorial was published
the Republican party leaders feared
that the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
road company, II IL controlled the
Democratic state convention, would
desert the Republican party. and fail
20 support IL with the sinews of war
in the approaching election. because II
that corporation could control the
Democratic convention. dictate It's
platform and nominate Its candidates,
IL would have no need of the Repub.
lican party in Kentucky.
! Notwithstanding this warning OF
the Republican state organ. the Louis
willie and Nashville Railroad company
has undertaken the job Of electing a
governor and other state officers; but
Il is attempting 10 elect, not the DEM
ocratic. but the Republican candidates.
This attempt Is a menace To the
public welfare the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad company will face
an Infatuated people al the polls, and
1t will not be permitted to govern the
state'-although II has undertaken
the Job lApplause,l
SILVER AN ISSUE.