Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1900-08-30
A SENSIBLE MESSAGE.
Gov. BeCkham Addresses Him
self Frankly to the Point.

Frankfort, KY, Aug. 2S.-Gov.
Beckham's message to the Gener-
al assembly was sent to that body
this afternoon and is as follows:
Gentlemen of the Senate and
House Of Representatives: You
have been assembled here in extra
ordinary session for the single pur-
pose of amending the election
laws of the State, and l shall un-
dertake to state briefly the reasons
why / believe the occasion to be
extraordinary, and why have call
ed you in session here at this time.
Section 80 of the Constitution of
Kentucky reads as follows;
HE may, on extraordinary oc-
casions, convene the General AS
sembly at the seat of government,
or at different place, if that
should have become dangerous,
from an enemy or from contagious
diseases. In case of disagreement
between the two houses with re-
spect to the time of adjournment,
he may adjourn them to such time
as he may think proper. not ex-
ceeding four months. When he
shall convene the General Assem-
bly, it shall be by proclamation,
stating the subjects to be consid-
cred, and no others shall be con-
sidered."j
| consider that some changes in
our election laws at the present
time would be productive of much
good and would remove some of
the unfortunate bitterness and dis
satisfaction that now exist among
the people. The present laws on
the subject are undoubtedly dis
tasteful to large number of peo-
pie in the state, and their amend
ment is earnestly desired by all
those who want to relieve as much
as.possible the friction and ill-fee-
ling engendered by hostile politi-
cal factions. An exciting and i'm
portant political contest in the
state is about to begin, and all
good citizens desire to see that
contest conducted in as orderly
and peaceable manner as possible,
and it is not only essential that the
laws controlling the election
should be fair, but also that every
honest citizen, whatever may be
his political faith, should believe
them to be fair. A law, to be sat
isfactory, must not only be good,
but must be generally considered
so by large majority of the peo-
pie. | do not believe the present
law in its operation to have been
unfair or unjust, and | know it to
have been passed with the earnest
and honest intention to remedy
the evils which existed under the
system which it supplanted. 1t
was a great improvement upon that
system, but by reason of a strong
prejudice against it, many people
have been led to believe that the
change was a mistake and the law
a bad one. This prejudice against
it, whether reasonable or not, is
sufficient to justify your consider
alton and warrant you to take
some action in securing a more
satisfactory law. l know it is your
wish, as we'll as mine, that the
election in this state this fall shall
be SO fair, SO just, SO honorable,
that no citizen in the Common
wealth shall have cause to COM
plain as to the law and its admin
istration, and that, whatever the
result, every fair-mindedI citizen.
whether he sides with the victor or
the vanquished, can say that the
verdict of the people has been pro-
perly recorded and the victory
awarded to him WHO deserved it.
Let us have such a law, if posi-
BILE. l will gladly cooperate with
you in the effort to secure it. |
have bot called you here to legis-
late on this subject with the idea
that fair election would not be
held under the present law, for /
am firmly convinced that if the
law, in its operation, has been un-
fair or unjust to any one, it has
been so to those who were charged
with being its beneficiaries, who
gained nothing by Iany unjust ma
nipulaticn of the law, but who lost
many thousands of votes by reason
of the violent prejudice against
it.
However, this opposition exists,
and you should deal with it frank
ly and considerably, as feel con-
fdent that you will. Imaginary
ills, whether political or physical,
should be treated as we'll as real