The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-26
KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS
Still Fighting "A Three Corncrrcd
Contest That is Piling Up Hotel
Bills Of the Fuming Delegates.

Still Fighting = a Threc-COrncrrcd
Contest That Is Piling Up Hotel
Bills Of the Fuming Delegates.
LOUISVILLE. Ky. June 25.-Up to a
late hour tonight there Is no sign of an
agreement between any two OF the
Democratic candidates for governor
and 1t seems likely that the first ballot
takn then the state convention meets
tomorrow morning will result Just
about as did the eleventh on Saturday
night. Candidates and their managers
have been on the go all day out OF one
conference into another. but SO far to
no purpose. The 1902 delegates In the
convention are divided SO nearly even
that there Is not n difference OF thirty
votes In the strength OF the three can
didates. Stone, Goebel and Hardin. But
OF these GOebel is the strongest because
OF the solidity OF his support. He con-
trolls his following absolutely and can
vote them for himself or throw them to
either of his opponents at will. Nelth-
er Stone nor Hardin can do this and for
that reason neither Is In q position to
liiaihe .lSIlIlS.
There has been break In the Stone
Goebel combination since bnlloting be-
gan. caused primarily by the action of
Goebers managers in voting the sev-
enty votes OF Louisville solidly for the
kenton county leader on the first bal
lot. The Stone people say their under
standing was that the vote was to be d.
vided equally between Stone and Goebel,
but the latter, It Is said. produced
written agreement covering the coDlb!-
nation of the two forces up to tempo
rary organization. but containing no
mention OF the Louisville delegation.
Chagrined as the Stone people are ut
the failure OF the combination promptly
to effect the nomination OF their candi-
date. 1t is not believed they can in Il
spirit OF revenge. bring about the NOM
ination Of Hardin. They threatened to
try this when Gocbel showed such sur
prising strength on the first ballot and
went so far rs to start stampede, but
Goebel's nerve and coolness check
mated It. On the other hand, the Har-
din people cannot throw their strength
solidly to Stone. for they are divided In
the matter OF a second choice and as
was the case yesterday. many would 80
to Gocbel In case Of n break.
a noteworthy feature OF the contest
Is the Hardin campaign. Coming into
the convention with hundred votes
short of q ma ajorlty Of the delegates.
beaten at every point in the temporary
organization and weakened by adverse
decisions by the credentials committee
Involving scores Of seats. the Hardin
managers. with consummatc cleverness,
jumped into the fight when the game
seemed lost, withdrew the name OF
General Hardin and left Gocbel and
Stone to fight 1t out. These two fell in
to the trap md flew at each others
throats with the result that when the
convention adjourned last night Goebel
and Stone had split and Hardin. on the
last ballot, stood second In recorded
votes.
Meanwhile the thrce-corncrcd fight
grows warmer and the delegates who
have spent nearly week trying to
nominate n state ticket may yet have to
look outside the trio now occupying the
ring to find leader upon whom they
can unite.