The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1900-03-01
BLACKMAIL AND ELECTION FRAUD
IN KENTUCKY.


BLACKMAIL ANO ELECTION FRAUDS
IN KENTUCKY.
Mr. August Belmont, one OF the lead
ing officers and owners Of the rail.
road interest IN Kentucky, has given
out some interesting correspondence
between himself and Henry Waiter
son, which occurred during the last
campaign in Kentucky. We regret
that we have not room to publish
this correspondence in full, as ii
makes several columns, but the sub.
stance Of it is that Mr.. Watterson
tried to influence Mr.. Belmont to
use his influence with the corpora
tons in Kentucky to support Goebel
and the Democratic ticket.
The interesting part of Mr.. Waiter
sons correspondence with Mr.. Bel
mont is the kind Of argument used
by him to influence or coerce Mr..
Belmont and the corporations into
putting up money in support of
Goebel. We will make room for a
few sentences from Mr.. Watterson's
letter. One is as follows:
The Democratic state ticket Just
nominated will certainly be elected.
Under the operation of the Goebel
election law the result is not left to
chance"
Thus we see Mr.. Watterson plain
ly tells Mr.. Belmont (and no doubt
similar letters written to heads of
every business interest in kentucky
that they must get on the band wag-
on and support Goebel. because,
under the Goebel law, they could
steal the state, no matter how the
voters voted. There is nothing
"left to chance" says Mr.. Waiter
son. He argues to Mr.. Belmont
that the machinery is perfect for
controlling the result. Therefore,
Goebel is bound to be counted in,
even though the majority was large
against him. This kind of persua-
sion and threading argument not
having the desired effect, Mr.. Waiter
son follows it up with direct threats.
Again writing Mr.. Belmont, he calls
his attention to the fact that any
railroad or other business interest of
Kentucky that dare oppose Goebel
and his methods were not only vast
ing their eff orts, but, then proceeded |
to threaten them by saying that
il they did not support Goebel that
"evil consequences are as sure as
the coming of the next session of the
Kentucky legislature"
Was there ever Q more infamous
piece Of blackmail. Was there ever
q more open and holder confession
OF the prostitution Of the ballot box
and the use of stolen majorities to
punish every business interest that
did not contribute to their campain
fund. No doubt similar letters we're
written to every prominent business
man in the State Of Kentucky.
What do business men and free peo-
pie think of such political highway
menf It's exactly the method of the
highwayman when he puts the pistol
in your face and says, you are
powerless. give your money or I kill
you. While we do not approve the
methods Of the Louisville and Nash
vile railroad or that of any other
corporation interfering with the
politics of any State, yet every good
citizen must condemn even more
severity those who attempt to black
mail these corporations into giving
campaign contributions and for the
refusal 80 to do then to attempt to
destroy them. Not only must every
good citizen condemn such black
mail but he must condemn a thiev-
ing election law under which the
will of the people can be suppressed
and q political machine get power
that 1t has stolen, rob the people or
corporation, or anyone else that it
sees fit by placing them at once at {
the mercy of such q machine.
But in spite of these infamous and $
damnable methods the people of
Kentucky rolled up . majority
against Goebei and his election law I
SO large that he was unable to steal .
it all. Even q Democratic returning
Board was bound to confess that he
was beaten though they had sue
seeded in cutting the mai ,rity
against him from about thirty thous
md down to about three thousand.
The rest is recent history, ending in
tragedy, which our readers too well a
Know. Goebel, defeated at the y
POLLS in spite Of his thieving election a
aw. attempted to have . partisan II
legislature, elected by the same cleo .
ion law, to unseat the legally elected I
Governor and to give the Office to .
i'm.
No doubt Mr.. Simmons is to-day :
the very same course in
Jorth Carolina. He has adopted :,
be Goebel law and Of course he will =,
dept the same methods. No doubt =
o is calling the attention of every
usiness interest in the State to the -
sct that under this Simmons elect =
N law the result is not left to -
nance, and he is no doubt threaten :.
lp them that If thew do not mt nm