Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1899-08-18

| ~Sk<co Va hSWrRdtCI1 tuHk ~ Qdt oNA
eIdized, containing every assault upo
the Democratic party and its candl
dates that malignity and rnendacit
can invent
| Indeed, this year the people of Ken
tucky are plainly told by the presiden
of the Louisville and Nashville Raj
road company, Mr. Milon II. Smith, 4
an open letter, that that corporation
engaged in the effort to defeat tn
Democratic party and its candidates
and, furthermore. that it will desis
from this effort only when pledge /
given not to do anything to whicl
those who control the affairs of tha
corporation object.
I'm other words, the owners of thi!
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 and what
laws shall not, be enforced.
| There is, 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 the sovereign powers of gov
ernment shall be turned over to the
most powerful corporation in the COM
monwealth.
Il do not believe that the people of
Kentucky are ready to abandon gov
ernment Of, 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 IApplause1
There is no fact better established
than that during the canvass preced-
ing the recent Democratic state con-
vention, 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 by the platform
adopted and the ticket nominated by |
the convention and the open letter of |
Mr.. Milton H. Smith. And when this |
corporation failed to control the Dem |
ocratic state convention, then it's !
agents attempted to break up that |
convention, in order to prevent the
nomination of candidates upon the
platform 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
concerning the Louisville and Nash
lille Railroad company and its at
empt TO control the Democratic state
A Republican View.
1T appears, therefore, that at least
me railway corporation in Kentucky
in politics up to its neck, and the
act Is OF great interest and concern
nf a.. III 4
menace to the public welfare Is not
pen to doubt. That it is fragrant
iolation of propriety for a corpora
Ion which is a common carrier and
7hich enjoys the use of a valuable
ublic franchise to thus invade the do
lain OF politics is equally clear. That
forebodes consequences to the busi-
ess interests of Kentucky of the
ravest significance will not be de-
led by any citizen who will reflect
pom the existing situation and note
ow similar it is to that which has
revailed in other states just preced-
ng their domination by the railway
interests.
eff a railroad corporation may
Oddly set about to nominate a candi-
ate for governor without indignant
nd overwhelming protest from the
eople, it will of course not stop at so
lodest a beginning in the exercise of
Olitical power. If ii needs a governor
} do its will, 1t needs also a legisla-
Ire, and railroad commissioners, and
n attorney general, and a complete ,
aft of subservient state officials. And
it may have and own a governor, it !
ay have and own all the others. 1t
eed not stop half way in its determi- I
alton to control the making and the,
of nf o.I :
will not. For, if it may control in {
gislation and then in executive direc-
on, it may ultimately fix by law its /
yn rates for the carriage of freights |
i'd passengers, and compel every bus :
ess interest in Kentucky to pay trib- {
.e to its insatiate greed.
The Commercial utters this note {
warning to the people of Kentucky, '
I'D it admonishes the great railway
,mpany which appears to be chiefly 4
Jncerned that 1t is entering unon a 1
angerous campaign. 1t may nomi-
ate for governor, bat it will subse-
lently face an infuriated people at {
lie polls. 1t will not be permitted to !
1vern this state. 1t would better not :
ldertake the job"
le Republican party leaders feared l
lat the Louisville and Nashville Rail-
,ad company, if it controlled the
emocratic state convention, would I
esert the Republican party, and fail
, support it with the sinews of war {
the approaching election, because If
lat corporation could control tbs
convention, dictate it's
Iatform and nominate its candidates,
would have no need of the Repub- {
can party in Kentucky.
Notwithstanding this warning of
le Republican state organ, the Louis
lille and Nashville Railroad company !
as undertaken the job of electing a
overnor and other state officers; but
is attempting to elect, not the DEM
cratic, but the Republican candidates.
This attempt is menace to the
ublic welfare;' the Louisville and
Railroad company will face
n infuriated people at the polls and
t will not be permitted to govern the
tate'-althOugh il has undertaken !