The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-11
wARRING KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS.
Those Best Acquainted WIN Manhood @
State Believe Coebelism Doomed

Those Best Acquainted WIN Manhood OF
State Believe Coebelsm Doomed
From the 81 Louis Globc-D-mocrat J
FIRST among ihe victims OF tue new
paJlisau machine in Kentucky are
tho Democrats Of the State them
selves They have the Goebel olec
tlou law, Goebtl as the candidate for
Governor, and G5ebel AS the party
iictator Republicans can be count
"a out aud GoobI Democrats alone
viii be counted in. The convention
at Louisville illustrated the methods.
Nc mauag Il 20 got hJl1 Cf the pre-.
lmluary organization Of the conven-
lion, and that settled It, though ne
had but about one-ihird Of the votes
OF delegates. The presiding officer
dad the rest. When the Hardin and
Stone forces, numbering two-,hirds
Of the convention, moved 10 adjourn
20 meet a month later ~
Lexington. the chairman ruled it out
Of order. When an appeal was taken,
the chairman refused 10 entertain it,
and proceeded with the bGllOting.
G0ebel had up his sleeve seventy
votes from Louisville, procured by
gang methods, and used them at the
critical moment His program was
not approved by the convention, bat
he forced it through by despotc rul-
ings dictated to the char. The
chairman understood that he was Sc
lected 20 nominate GOebel, and he
did it according TO instructions. And
50 tho Kentucky Democrats get the
first taste of the Goebel system of
government by the suppression of the
popular ~lll.
In one Kentucky town the Demo
Gratis have n,l an indignation meet
ing and passed resolutions declaring
that tho chairman of the convention
should be terred and feathered. But
would il be far h hurrah for Goebel
aud make him Governor and apply TO
his subordinate and tool such an uu-
comfortable badge OF Infsmy The
Kentucky Legislature opened the
door TO Goebel's plan for governing
merican citizens by nulifying their
b4llots. lie is not the first Of his
type. There are always men to be
found who put their ambitions above
eyery rule Of Justice, morality and
patriotism. GDebel's b8it 10 the Leg
stature WAS an election law 10 give
the Democrats perpetusl asceudency
in the : ate, no matter how the org
NAL ballots were cast. Democratic
county boards can change the foot
mes, aud Democratic State board
change them sgsin. Appeal TO the
courts is cut IF. Goebel's idea caught
the Legislature, which became his
full accomplice when it passed his
bill. In seiZing the nomination for
Governor, the Goebel scheme has
merely been extended. He slipped
his nippers on the convention, held
down and dissipated ITS true strength
by machine trickery, and, much to
their surprise. gave Kentucky Demo
Gratis n taste of the bitter medicine
they helped prepare for Republicans.
Those best acquainted with the
manhood of Kentucky do not believe
that Goebelism can have a long run.
The State has brains, intelligence,
social worth, personal dignity,
strong sense of individual independ.
ence, love of country and steadfsst
support IN the past of American in
stitutions. When the cause of hon
est money was sssailed, thousands OF
Kentucky Democrats rallied to its
defense aud saved the electoral vote
of the State. Many thousands con
denim and oppose all tamperlng with
an honest ballot. But Goebel will
prove troublesome customer. He
has a grip on the election boards, as
we'll rs on the convention he gagged
and drove along the road he decreed
it should travel. Kentuckisns would
he foolish to tar and feather each
other while crowning with laurel the
brows of their Eew-found Ce e3ar, the
GOebel, the man who
has dowued the ballot.box in Ken
tucky, aud subjugated his own party |
as the next step In his imperial ca
reer.