Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-02
FACING A DILEMMA
Kentucky Democrats Ratified by
Strife in Their Party.
OBJECTIONS TO BOTH LEADERS
As a Last Resort Many Viii Vote
for Taylor
LEADERS
NOTES OF THE CAMPAIGN
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.

| aWakenS these mornings, must sit I'D in
bed and ponder over his situation before
he draws on his boots. If he desires to
| align himself with the regular party, he
must vote for Goebel for governor But
then, he is told that Goebel received his
nomination by revolutionary methods, and
| is not the choice of majority of the demo-
| Gratis. His alternative is to vote for
| Brown, nominated by boltins democratic
| convention. But then. he will be classed
| as a bolter, and Kentuckians don't like
| that word. If he Is q gold democrat he
remembers that Brown Is a rock-ribbed
silver man. On the other hand, If he is a
silver democrat, he is made uneasy by the
talk that Goebel Is not sincere in his free
silver sentiments So what is a poor demo-
crat to do?
Many Will Vote for Taylor
There is one thing a great many of them
will surely do They will vote for Taylor
the republican candidate for governor. It
is In this prospect that the republicans are
rejoicing. The Indications are apparent
that thousands Of Brown democrats will
vote the republican ticket this fall The
tide is most certainly setting strongly in
that direction. Many Of the speakers of
the Brown faction are openly advising
such course. Bronston, a leader urged
his audience in Louisville to vote for the
republican If they felt that was the only
way to beat Goebel- The detection from
Goebei amounts to revolution in the
democratic ranks Kentucky democracy
has not been SO torn with dissension since
the war 1t is much worse than the split
over silver in 1896 With the bitter haired
existing between the factions-and the
Brown element is certainly large in num-
oers-if their course on election dav could
De foretold, the result could be prophesied
now. The point Is whether the disaffected
element Will vote a bpltjpp
merly reducing the regular democra tic
vote or will go over to the republicans,
norse, foot and Dragon, and make a dou-
bic hit against Goebe
Solid Front of the Republicans.
AS for the republicans, their condition is
admirable. They represent assoIid front
and are enthusiastic to the last degree
Their spirit is stronger than when they car
fled the state IN the last gubernatorial
campaign. Their organization is better
they have more votes than they had then
In every way they are in better shane than
When tney won the victory of 1875 with
Governor Bradley. The republican leaders
express themselves confident of success
II they can have a fair election and get an
honest count. Right here it might be well
to state what measures are being taken to
secure fair count. They say they are
most afraid of the city of Louisville for un-
fair dealing, they have Organized the
Honest Election League. Its membership
numbers 5000 and includes citizens of the
highest character and best standing in the
town. There are democrats and republi-
cans bent upon seeing fair play The league
VIII station men at every precinct in the
city and county to watch the proceedings.
There will be enough of them to take
haiid II force is to be tried, and there is
no conceament Of their Intention to shed
plood II 1t Is necessary to protect the ballot
box.
The opportunity for fraud could arise In
THIS way. On the morning of the election
the commissioners, under the Goebel cleo
tlon law. could turn out all the present
election officers and appoint new ones, and,
II unscrupulous men were chosen, the pos
sibiiities of fraud would be lmitless
Now, the Goebel leaders laugh these prep
arations to scorn. They Indignantly deny
that they contemplate fraud and swear by
hlgh heaven that their intentions are honor
able.
GOebe1 Has the Election Machinery
The election machinery is in the hands
of the Goebel men, but they solemnly prom
ise to use it only in legitimate way Since
Goebels alleged revolutionary seizure of
the state convention, the people have been
afraid Of him. and think he will carry the
same methods to the polls
IN MS campaign speeches Mr.. Goebel plays
upon one string continually-opposition to
railroad corporations. He poses as the
martyr OF the Louisville and Nashville rail-
road, the principal corporation of the state
ne ne telis the horny handed sons of toif' in
the back counties that this great octopus
Will seize the state If he Is not elected.
ne declares that the opposition to him in
nls own party was started and fostered by
the Louisville and Nashville, to accomplish
his defeat for the railroad eompany's selfish
interests.
Mr. Bryan's recent trip into Kentucky is
declared to have failed in the, purpose of
winning the Brown boilers back into the
fold The Brown leaders and most of their
followers We're the original silver men of
Kentucky, although there are many gold
aeIiocrats IN the Brown ranks. The orig
lIal silver men were very much incensed at
Bryan for coming into the state and taking
sides with Goebel in a party fight While
Mr. Bryan aroused the Goebeites to re-
ileWea y' enthusiasm. 1t is said that he did not
make many converts from the Brown
ranks.
Bitter PHI for the Democrats.
Goebel is hitter pill, however, for even
a great many of those who will vote for
MIN. On all sides you Will hear democrats
say as they make wry face: He was not
my choice by long shot, but reckon I'll
nave 10 1al into line with the party AMI
vote for him." Mr.. Goebel believes there
are enough of this kind of democrats to
eject him, When Mr.. Goebel aroused the
by his alleged forcible seizure of the uomi-
nation they began to find other faults in
him. They said he was not a Kentuckian
10 peg1n with, but a Pennsylvania Dutch
man. He could hardly be said to be "a gem
uine resident OF the state. for his town Of
Covington Is In spirit but a suburb of Gin
cinnau on the Kentucky side of the Ohio
rNrscn, river; They find lot of things about his
personal record to dislike. The ex-confed-
crates We're reminded that he had picked a
quarrel quarrel with VIII and killed a famous ex-con-
reaerate leader, SO Mr.. Goebelw was declared
persona non grata for many reasons. The
i5r. Brown a democrats have not put legislative
for the legislature were Regularly chosen
BY their district conventions and that no
1t happens that many of the legislative can
dldates are ardent friends Of Goebel. In
VIII vote for the republican legislative cam
didates; @ The legislature to be elected this
faii VIII choose successor to United States
Senator Lindsay. democrat. Ex-senator
the legislature If it is Democratic
One of the notable features Of the cam
palgn Is the personal abuse in which the
campaigners indulge. The bitterest vitup-
Grafton otter marks speeches and n in