The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-04
John w. Yerkes Speaks mt Bowling
Green and Excoriates Goebel-
ism and Its Supporters.
MIR. BEcKHAM AT HENDERSON
HE SAYS KENTUCKY RIGHTFULLY
BELONGS TO DEMOCRATS,
Charges Republicans with killing
and Predicts His Party's Success.


w. Yerkes, the Republican candidate for
Governor, opened the campaign here this
afternoon. 1t began raining in torrents
shortly after noon, and it was still rain
ing at o'clock when Mr.. Yerkes began
his speech. Nevertheless over 5000 people
were in the park. In the course of his
address Mr. Yerkes said:
"a grave emergency and crisis in our
state history is on us to-day. Marvellous
as II may seem to coming generations,
monstrous as it may seem to us. in this
land of boasted liberty, We men OF Ken
lucky have for the past two and One-half
years been forced to make contest for our
political liberty, for the sovereignty of the
people of this State, by reason of the en-
actment of the Goebel election law by the
new Democracy. This new Democratic
party forgot, in lust for Office and power.
in hate and passion, the past history OF
true Democracy. This new organization
forgot the great declarations and defense
of human liberty and individual rights
made by that party. 1t forgot that DEM
ocrat, according to the definitions. utter
ances and deeds of the founders and IA
favoring and defending government con-
trolled by the people, in which sovereignty
resided in the people, where local self-gov-
eminent was necessary, where political and
legal equality must be preserved, where
the administrations of affairs was lodged
in officers selected by and representing
the people, and where free and honest
elections were sacred and constituted the
foundation stone of all these great govern
mental ideas. These principles of free
government by the people are as eternal
as the pillars of heaven.
1.-THE Goebel law, the rights destroyed
by its passage, the wrongs done by it's
enforcement the crimes committed in its
name against individuals and against the
people as a voting unit, lead up to the
one supreme issue in Kentucky politics to-
day, the one written on the hearts or the
people, civil liberty. political freedom, the
right to fair count of the votes cast.
the right of majorities to control, and the
right of the majority to say who shall
bear rule over them. This issue is the
States present problem. It's solution rests
upon us all. 1t is too serious to stife.
1t is too earnest for repose That issue was
forced upon us by the passage of a law
that was resisted by combination con-
stituting every Republican and num-
Der of Democrats in the General Assembly.
The wrongs, outrages and crimes against
popular sovereignty and representative gov
eminent done by and under the direct pro-
visions of that law in an atmosphere and
spirit of partisan injustice created by 1t.
have intensified that opposition. Every
element of fairness, every principle or self
government, every recognition or popular
rights is eliminated by this law. AS a
result, for the first time in the history of
this commonwealth every State office is
now occupied by and its duties done or
left undone, by men defeated at the polls.
The people have been disfranchised, Of
ficiais chosen by them at the ballot box
unseated, counted out, and commissions
issued to men rejected by the voters, but
declared elected by Democratic Legisla-
ture and a Democratic State election board.
The courts have declined to grant relief.
1.-THE murder of Senator Goebel was a
crime of blacklist hue. Every man worthy
of citizenship must earnestly hope that the
assassin and all others, if any, parties to
this crime and participators in it may be
brought to a speedy punishment; but one
crime is no excuse or defense Tor another
The fact that Senator Goebel was the au-
thor of a law under whose provisions the
majority of the men of Kentucky believed
their civil rights were destroyed can never
be pleaded at the bar Of public opinion as
ground, excuse or palliation for his muir
der. Nothing can be pleaded in extenuation
of assassination. On the other hand the
fact that he was murdered cannot be used
as an argument addressed to the reason
and calm thought of the men OF this State
for their support of party and a party
nominee enacting this law and using for
party and personal advantage for de-
throning the will of the people its brutal
provisions. Such an argument can be ad-
dressed to passion alone. to arouse partisan
hate, to create neighborhood strife and per-
sonal antagopism. The cry OF asSassina-
ton and murder ringing out, reiterated and
repeated on every stump In Kentucky, will
not cloak or cover the real issues between
the parties. The Democratic charge IS that
Senator Goebel was murdered by a Re
publican, d10eQ ana assisted Dy some Otner
Republicans acting In concert with him.
This is the Democratic position. Take It,
and what is the result? Can you before
sensible reasonable thinking men charge
that crime against an entire party organi-
Zation when that organization denounced
the crime and those guilty of it? Can muir
der be made part of our political creed
party platform and personal conduct be-
cause Mr.. Goebel was killed? Just as
nationally could / say that stealing of pub
lie money was part of the Democratic
policy in Kentucky because State Treasurer
Tate embezzled and became a defaulter
1.-The murder of Mr.. Goebel is to be
deeply deplored, sternly condemned and
can never be justified. But the present
Democratic leadership, in seeking to make
a political issue of assassinatio is guilty
of resort to a fraudulent device and to
subtle artifice.
mo man who would announce in advance
that he would pardon that he would re-
fuse TO pardon any one who is under in
dictment or sentence for the commission of
a crime ought to receive your votes Each
application for executive clemency must
stand or fall. or be granted or refused on
ernor and the cases of Governor TAYLOR.
Powers and others come before me. / will
investigate them and will impartially de-
eide them and all others under the oath
and obligation of my office.
1.-THE true issue in this campaign is not
assassinations, pardons or refusal of par
dons but the repeal of the Goebel law and
the defeat of all who favor il or are profited
by it,
BECKHAM AT HENDERSON.