The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-19
A Lively Tilt Over the Kentucky Elec

tion.
The closing day of the general dc
bate IN the House of representatives
at Washington on the financial bill
proved to be one Of exceptional inter
est.
When the House met Friday
morning Mr.. Wheeler, Democrat, of
Kentucky. secured recognition to
question statements made by Mr..
Berry, Democrat, the previous day as
TO corruption IN the recent Kentucky
campaign.
regret the necessity of having
to wash our dirty linen of Kentucky
on the floor of the House." said Mr..
Waeeler, :" but | do not propose that
our people shall be maligued and
slsudered without r word of protest"
Mr.. Wheeler declared that Mr..
Berry represents neither Kentucky
nor her people, and that the people
of his district would speedily rebuke
him by retiring him to private life.
The election of Taylor. the Repub.
lican Governor, he asserted, had been
bought and paid for, with a railroad
on one side and the plain people on
the other. But, despite this, he said,
Governor Goebel" would yet be
sested.
"Yes, use the word sdvisedly,"
proceeded Mr.. Wheeler, referring to
his Characterization of Nh GJebel as
Governor, for before the buds burst
on any tree in Kentucky he will be
its Chief Executive and We will have
routed that nef4rious gang who won
their certificate of election by cor
ruption. fraud and rsscslIty."
Mr.. Wheeler paid d glowing tribute
to Goebel as a gallant gentleman and
atribune OF the people and denounced
the reports set ah)st against him.
They we're afraid Of him." inter-
jected Mr.. Sulzvr democrat, of New
YORK;
What does New York know about
it 2" shouted Mr. Berry.
New York likes Goebel because
be is a fighter" responded Sulzer.
Mr.. Wheeler closed by declaring
emphaticslly that Taylor had not
been elected that he had secured by
irregular methods a certificate of
election, but that when the calcium
light of the courts was turned on
this procedure, as it would be, Will
liam Goebel would be seated in the
Executive chair.
Mr.. BERRY's SHARP RESPONSE.
Mr.. Berry replied with much feel.
ing. He said the speech just heard
was typical Of the intolerance OF that
Kentucky element which would not
brook any freedom of opinion. II
came with i'll grace from one who
represented district which for years
was not true to Democracy. He did
not need the influence OF the gentle
man or his hackers. Four times he
had been sent here, and be would re
turn again. Shaking his finger at
Mr.. Wheeler, Mr.. Berry exclaimed
You are cringing at the feet OF
Goebel, and | tell you that your scalp
is taken now by Goebel."
When reference was made to the
irregularity of the Louisville conven-
ton Mr.. Wheeler sought to interrupt,
but Mr.. Berry waved him off, declar-
ing that the gentleman had partlci-
pated in the disorder and had stood
up and yelled down opposition, with
policemen about him.
Mr.. Wheeler interjected fat con
tradiction of this, but, not needing
interruptions, Colonel Berry proceed
ed in his fiery response, declaring
that Mr.. Wheeler was as bad as Goe-
bel himself.
Mr.. Wheeler gained a minute to
reply, defending the regularity of the
Louisville convention and saying
that only few thugs aud toughs
we're excluded.
The tension was relieved at this
point by point of order from Rep
resentative Cox democrat, of Ten
nessee).
What is the point Of order 7 "
asked the chairman.
81 object to have this Kentucky
sideshow thrust into a financial de-
bate" said Mr.. Cox ,gravely, " to the
edi6catiou of the Republican side "
This caused laugh, and the ex .
change of personalities between the
two Kentucky gentlemen was con .
cluded.