The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-04
THE CAMPAIGN IN KENTUCKY
Gov. Beckham Declares the Killing Of Goebel
the Issue.
(By the Associated Press.)

Frankfort, KY. Sept. 3.-The campaign
in Kentucky was opened by both parties
in nearly every county of the State to-
day. The principal meetings were at
Bowling Green and Henderson. At the
former place Hon. John w. Yerkes. the
Republican candidate for Governor, was
the leading speaker At the latter place
Governor ]. w. G. Beckham. the Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor. and EX-
Governor James B. McCreary. spoke. At,
Bowling Green the Democrats also had
meeting addressed by r. F. Pcake. of
Shelbyville.
Henderson is in the banner Democratic
district and a rousing reception was given
Governor Beckham. Ex- Congressman Nc
Creary, chairman of the Democratic State
committee, was also we'll received.
Governor Beckham in his speech said
that it was important that Bryan should
be elected President in order that the
Republic may be brought back to its old
mornings, and it was absolutely essential
to the honor and welfare of Kentucky that
its State government should not be turn
ed back into the hands of that party
which has done more to blacken the fair
name of our State and to bring into dis
else that ever happened to 1t in a CEN
turys honorable existence as a sovereign
commonwealth in the Federal Union.
1T was bad enough for the Republican
leaders to commit the crimes they did last
winter in this State. but it is far worse
that the representatives of that party af-
ter all that had happened should meet in
State convention and deliberately and with
reconciliation endorse all that has been
done. 1t was awful to kill in cold blood
a man who had been elected Governor of
this great State; it is infinitely worse
that they should endorse the conduct of
those who stand indicted in our courts for
completely in his murder. | refer you to
their platforms adopted in the State con-
vention one last May and the other in
July, that you may see what they said on
that subject They cannot escape the is
sue they have raised by this declaration.
We accept it and we propose to carry the
fight before the people of Kentucky to see
if they will endorse what the Republican
platform endorses. 1t is a sad commenta-
ry upon our civilization.
"But upon this issue which that party
has raised we shall meet them. They
cannot shift it now. They shall not be-
cloud the real issue by hypocritical talk
about the election law. Their leaders
know that if the election this fall is I'M
fair il will be their fault. If they do not
like the present law they now have a
chance to get another one. Let them
prove their sincerity. But | believe that
there are some Republican leaders who
do not want to see the present law chang
ed. They do not fear its operation, but
they believe that out of the prejudice
against it they will get many thousand
votes TIE Democrats of Kentucky want
nothing but fair law and a fair election.
The kind of law the Republicans want is
one that will give them the advantage
and allow them to steal the vote of the
State again as they did in 1885,
One of the largest crowds ever in Bowl
ing Green to attend a political meeting
was present when Mr.. Yerkes spoke in
Fountain Park. In the course of his
speech he said:
mo man who would announce in ad-
vance that he would pardon or that he
would refuse to pardon anyone who is I'M
der indictment or sentence for the COM
mission of a crime ought to receive your
votes Each application for executive
clemency must stand or fall, or be grant
ed or refused on its own merits. If
should be elected Governor and the cases
OF Governor Taylor, Powers and others
come before me, l will investigate them
and will impartially decide them and
others under the oath and obligation of my
Office"