The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-21
MORE KENTUCKY POLITICS.

siderably with the part which the LOUIS
Vile and Nashville railroad plays i'll pub
lie affairs in Kentucky, and some cor
respondence he has had with Mr.. August
Belmont, of New York, who is chairman
of the Board of Directors of that com
pany. is published.
We must say Of this correspondence
that it is about the most remarkable
thing of the kind we have met with III
a long time. On the Goth Of June last
when the broth now being served out
20 the people of Kentucky was being
cooked, the Colonel wrote Mr.. Belmont,
urging him to force the railroad to cease
any ana all connections with the pupic
affairs of Kentucky. and that letter is
such a remarkable production that we
print it here, as follows:
Louisville. Ky. June &c. 1893.
INV Dear Mr. Belmont: AS your per-
sonal friend. and as friend OIL ltle
Louisville and Nashville railroad, ven
trre to write you. this letter
IN my judgment. the local administia-
ton of the road is entering upon a course
which. If it does not tend to destroy the
property, will greatly burden and impair
it.
.The Democratic ticket just nominated
will certainly he elected Under the
oneration Of The Goebel law. the result
is not left to chance. In its purpose 10
beat Goebel the Louisville and Nasilrliie
managers have already expended large
sums of money in futile attempts.
ITO do this they have not only maze
themselves responsible for two unpopular
and uninhuential newspapers. but 'hey
have set uD as their visible and accred-
tied representative a man by the 1laiiic
of Whallen. the proprietor oil 4 variety
theatre and. undoubtedly the mos
odious personality in the city and III INC
State. At every turn they have met ue
feat, and they will surely meet it next
November.
For thirty years the COMMISSIONING
has been the steady, disintercstcd friend
of the road. Believing it pubic lnsu-
tuition of the greatest usefulness, ana d
most important factor in all our AFFAIRS.
Mr. Halder1nan and myself nave sup
ported it at every juncture requiring sup
port This has never cost the ROAD
penny. But under the policy now adopt
ed war Of determination is made upon
us through the two newspapers IN ques-
ton. and the man Whallen, backed up
as certain as the day of election
1.-The issue as ii now stands is the
Democratic party VS.. the Louisville ana
Nashville railroad. and on that ISSUE the
road could not win. even if its news
paper supporters were handled Win
capacity and discretion. But they are
net so handled. They are the merest
partisan concerns. without circulation or
influence. conducted apparently Tor no
other purpose than to abuse the courier
Journal If YOU will cause to be sent You
the Disratch and the Evening Post for
a single week, and VIII look over them
each day. you will he able to see Tor
yourself how the matter stands.
Ion that showing alone | should be
willing to rest the case. In my 1udS-
ment the situation is both momentoua
and critical, and ought to arrest the
serious attention of those who control
the policy CT the road.
LAS ! said in the beginning. l write
rs a friend. The Courier-Jour has
nothing to fear from the conflict forced
upon II by the managers of the road.
On the contrary. it has something to
gain. bu; neither Mr.. Haldeman nor my
self want to profit al the expense of the
road For Mr.. Smith we have always
entertained the kindeSt sentiments. But
Sir. Smith is no more proof against mis-
takes than other people, and being
man of unyieldinS temper, he is likely
10 be carried 10 extremes. In this bust
ness he has certainly allowed his temper
to carry him far beyond the lines of
worldly wisdom and . prudent forecast
and if a halt be not called upon the
proceedings its evil consequences are as
sure as the coming OF the next session
Of the Kentucky Legislature.
Sincerely, YOUR friend,
'.HENRY W-ATTERsON.
august Belmont, ESQ"
The Board of Directors OF the railroad
at once held a meeting and adopted
resolutions declaring in the most en-
phatic manner possible that the road
had no connection whatever with the
newspapers mentioned, and that the road
was having no part in kentucky politics.
But the interesting part of the affair Is
Colonel Wat,ersons notice to Mr. Bel
mont. that the Goebel law took no
chances, and that if the road dared to
oppose Goebel and his schemes it would
secure the condemnation of the Kentucky
machine. and that might mean the de-
struction of the road.
Surely things have come to a pretty
pass when men cannot appeal to the
candid Judgment of their fellow-men
without having notice served upon them
that the machinery of a fraudulent cleo
ton law will be put in operation against
them for their destruction.
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