Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-06
CALM BEFORE THE STORM
Kentuckians Awaiting Election Day il
0minous Silence.
Close of an Exciting CampniGn-
GOebeI and Taylor Are Both
Confident of Victory.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star


LOUISVILLE, KY, November t. 1899.
Today marks the close of what everyb body
comedies has been the most exciting and the
most bitterly contested state campaign in
the history of Kentucky politics. The closing
hours finds the whole state literally hold
ing its breath: the pause being one in
which both uncertainty and fear of serious
trouble find place.
No man can tell what will happen when
the Lallots begin to fall Tuesday, but
many persons expect serious disorders, pos
sibly bloodshed. The Goebel adherents in
sst that the republicans have circulated
the rumors of possible bloodshed purely to
throw dust in the eyes of the democrats,
and thus cover UP frauds which republi-
cans expect to attempt. But many con-
servative leaders on both SIDES dread the
clash of partisans at the polls and the
scenes which may follow.
Families Split on Pc itics.
What has made this campaign especially
bitter is the fact that to d great eX tent it
has been a struggle between two factions
OF the democratic party. In many in
stances prominent democratic families have
been split by the issues involved in what has
come TO be known as the GOebel campaign.
For instance, Representative Evan SeJIle,
one OF the most SIIJea orators in the south,
mas been the sum-. IUr mon. his advo-
eating the election Oh the GyeDel ticket
ms brother, Col. James Sc; lie, who is also
gifted with u silver tongue, has : cen one of
The most Jealous speakers among the
Brown democrats. Down in west Ken
lucky young Hal Curbett has been touring
the highways ana py ways, making adj
dresses on behalf of the boiling democrats
While his oluer rO,heI, Jake Corbett ana
his lather, Thos. CorDett are stumping the
state Tor GGebel. ". {. McChord is a
member of one of the Brown state commit
ices DESPITE the br,
thdrleS - a caiu4dst,e on the GoepeI ticket.
Exactly lCert cal are the positions of w L
T. BrecklnTldSe and Judge Robert J. Brock
IilltSt, one an eN-Itpl eSenta tive of the
United States ana the otner an ex-repre-
sentative Of the confeueracy. The latter i
the nominee for attorney general on tn
ticket headed by Goebe while the former
through his newspaper, the Lexington Her
aud, mas bitterly opposed the election Of
the Goebel democrats.
Between GoebeI and Taylor.
The arrival of election day finds the Goe-
Del democrats and the republicans equally
confident. The ticket led by Ex-Governor
john Voting Brown, and made up and sup
ported by bolting democrats, has no hope
of victory. The Brown men dee are they
did not offer themselves for the sake of
getting office, but to support a principle
and preserve the democratic party. Nor
VII the pOpuIStS usually rather strong m
this state, cut any very considerable figure
IN the returns, as many Of ne p0pul- sts,-
ike good numb of prohibit and
a large portion of the Brown dem 3crats, viii
vote the republican ticket. AR. GGebeIs
campaign managers have been making
some rather eXtIayagant claims. The nor
nal democratic majority, with a factions
united. IS about 10000. hut Allie Young.
chairman Of the GoeueI state central COM
mittee, disregald!ng the fact that there 5
a big split in the ranks dec ares the Goe-
be! ticket will 90 in by not less than 3Gaa3
and possibly by as big majority as 1860
votes.
The republicans are not doing much talk
ing. Instead they are doing a great deal of
hard work.
state Treasurer Longs Views.
State Treasurer Long who has stecred
the republican campaign. says that unless
the republican candidates are counted out
by the Goehel election machinery the ticket
headed by Taylor Will win by safe. clean
cut majority. This belief, it may be added
Is shared in by pretty nearly everybody
else except the GoeD-l democrats.
As matter Of fact. it is hard to figure |
how Gcebe with fair count possibly |
win. The Brown strength certainly amounts |
to 4h.H0 votes. and at least half of these. |
it Is predicted. viii go to Taylor. To offset |
this GCcbel can expect to get only a few |
negro votes from the republican ranks.
Yet Goebel, who has never yet been de- |
feated for any office is cool and confident. |
He says he is going to win. and GoebelS |
followers say the KentOn county leader is |
right