The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1899-08-22

non. Goofrey w. Hunter turned out
the largest Republican majority the
county ever gave.
There is nothing better known than
the fact that in 1896 no definite knowl-
edge could be had as to what was the
Republican majority in the Eleventh
congressional district for week after
the election The reports as to what
that majority was were changed every
day, and the Republican majority grew
with every change. 1t is reasonably
certain that If the returns of the cleo
tion in 1896 from the other parts OF
the state had not vet reached Frank
fort the returns from the Eleventh
congressional district would still be
held back. In 1895. in the Eleventh
congressional district, the requirement
of the law that the election officers
should be divided among the political
parties contesting in the election was
wholly disregarded. The records Of
the Bell county court show this re-
markable fact concerning the election
of 1896 One of the precinct election
officers appointed by the county Judge
of Bell county for one of the precincts
of the town of Middlesboro was Hon.
Daniel G. Coson, then the Republican
member of congress for that district
and a candidate for reelection in that
election. Is ii any wonder that ma
iority of 10000 was turned out for Nc
Kinley in that district? The wonder
is that the majority was not $4,000.
A Remedy.
I'm only one way could indefinite
repetition of these frauds be prevent
ed. That way was by changing the
appointing power so as to render 1t
certain that at every voting precinct
in the commonwealth the Democratic
party would be represented by two
real Democrats, as we'll as the Repub-
lican party by two Republicans; and
this the new law does. [Applause.]
MANY Misrepresentation were ut
tered and published about this new
law. 1t was asserted that no penalty
for offenses committed by election Of
ficers was provided by the new law
and consequently there was no law
providing punishment for such Of
lenses. But in the suit to test the val
idity of the law the appellate court adj
Judged, as the advocates Of the law
had contended, that the penalties pro-
vided by the original secret ballot cleo
ton law remained in force and were
applicable to every wrong done after
the enactment of the new law. 1t was
claimed that because the new stat
ute did not provide for appeals to the
courts from decisions of election con-
test boards in election contests, there
fore that right was destroyed. But the
court of appeals decided, as the DEM
ocrats contended, that the right of ap-
peal to the courts remained unaffected
in every case in which there was such
right before the new law was enacted.
THE Republican platform declares
LoN 1.x 80,
irresponsible commissioners not cho-
sen by or accountable to the people
for their acts. To whom is county
judge in any of the mountain counties
having large Republican majorities re-
sponsible? And what would such
judge care for criticism because he had
not, in appointing election officers, di-
vided them among the old political
parties? Under the old law tie action
of the county judge in appointing cleo
ton officers could not be reviewed. nor
could he be removed from office nor be
in any wise punished for disregarding
the law governing the appointment of
election officers. There can scarcely be
imagined a more irresponsible power
than that conferred by the old law
upon the county judge.
But the new law empowers the
state commissioners to remove from
Office at any time any county commits
sioneT, so that whenever any county
violates the law there
is an immediate remedy by bringing
the matter to the attention of the state
board.
ut was said this law was without |
precedent, but in Ohio the Republican
party has for years had in operation a
law which vests in one man, the secre-
of or bn n IN
county election commissioners for all |
counties in the state save those con-
tanning the large Republican cities, |
and in those excepted counties, which |
usually go Republican even when the |
state goes Democratic, the power to APP |
point the election commissioners is |
vested in the mayors. The Republican |
press of Ohio, of course, continues to |
1enounce the Infamous Kentucky |
election law.
I'm Virginia, the home of Jeffer-
son, the father of the Democratic par |
.y, the general assembly at every ses-
sion, by joint resolution, appoints a |
BOARD of three election commissioners |
or every county in the commonwealth,
who in turn appoint the registration
and election officers. Mahoneism has
given the people of Virginia a proper
of the Importance of this
subject, and they have therefore placed
/ upon the same plane with the high
,st function of government--the exer-
Use of the sovereign legislative power.
I'm Tennessee. the home of Jackson,
han whom there was no greater DEM
,crat, nor truer man, the governor an
lually appoints three election COM
nissioners for each county, who in
urn appoint the election officers. The
people of Tennessee have had longer |
experience with Republican frauds
lnder a secret ballot system than have
he people of Kentucky, and that ex-
,erience has taught them what is nee
,ssary to prevent those frauds.
Phase of the Opposition.
1T have confidence not only in the
wisdom, but in the integrity of John
W. Daniel and eompeers of Virginia,
ind Isham G. Harris, Benton McMil-
in, Robert -. Taylor, William B. Bate
md other Democrats of Tennessee.
rheir brand of Democracy is good Y
enough for me, even If it does not suit
he tastes Of Mr.. Henry Watterson
md Colonel W. G. p. Breckenridge,
md | believe that these Tennesseeans
md Virginians have at least as much