The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-19
BECKHAM AND THE OPPOSITION
THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR CONTROL
OF THE CONVENTION.
To-Day's Meeting al Lexington Pre-
sents Some Sharp Lines Of Denmark
atfon-streneth of Candidates.
spec,al 70 tn. INDIANAPOLIS Journal.

tie immigration into. the State, so that
whatever political change has taken place
there has been within itself. There has
been no n1ux of outsiders to effect a rev.
olution in its internal affairs. The popula-
ton of Kentucky is almost entirely agrt-
cultural, there being comparatively little
manufacturing except in a few of the
larger communities, and even there the
mechanic industries are 10 a large degree
incidental to the surrounding agricultural
interests. The mineral resources of Ken
lucky have not been developed to any great
extent. The State is, nevertheless. in a
highly prosperous condition. 1t entirely
recovered, many years ago, from the eff
fects Of the war, and even among those
who took part in the great struggle there is
little bitterness remaining. The war is
with them nothing but a remote memory
softened by time.
Throughout the larger part of the State,
especially in the central and western por-
lions, the farmers as a rule are very we'll
TODD and highly educated. Among the
Kentucky farmers there is probably a
larger percentage of college-bred men than
in any other State of the South. The peo-
pie live .well and enjoy all the comforts
and luxuries of the older States of the
North-even more so. in fact, for the coun-
try homes are more commodious and the
the enjoyment of living than almost any
where in the United States. 1t would nat
uraIly seem that political revolutions would
come very slowly in such a population. but
in this case the ehurning up was sudden
and unexpected. The bolt which was or
ganized by John G.. Carlisle, Henry Wat
terson and a small group of hard-headed,
stiff-necked sound-money Democrats five
years ago was like the tearing of an arm
from a healthy body. The arm once torn
off is not reunited to the body, although
the most scientific political surgery has
been applied to effect that result. The
Courier-Journal has foundered back into
the camp of the regular Democracy, but
the great mass of Democrats who accom-
panied it into the bad lands remain out
side. The Courier-Journa appears to be
glad it is back, and the regulars are GER
tainly rejoiced at its return. They advance
the claim that that great journals infu-
ence will be as potent in reuniting the fac
tons of the Democracy as it was in pro-
noting the revolt. The truth of this re-
mains to be seen. The people of Kentucky,
Republicans and Democrats, are proud Of
the Courier-Journal, and particularly proud
of "Marse Henry Watterson, for whom
all classes entertain the kindliest feeling.
He is a man without personal enemies and
a philosopher. AS such he is regarded, but
it does not necessarily follow that his in
fiuence is potential at all times. even
among those who think most kindly of
him. In this particular case man of those
who know him best persist in suspecting
him of an absence of sincerity in this
latest move into a position behind the in
trenchments. but he takes this sort of
thing good-naturedly and even jokes with
himself in the columns of his own newspa-
per. Mr.. VIII Haldeman, of the Courier
Journal. on the other hand, has taken off
his coat and gone to work for the organi-
cation with every evidence of intense earn
estness. In fact, he is taking a personal
lead in the active politics of Kentucky, and
1t would not be surprising II he did not
ere long loom up as pre-eminently the
leader of the party in the State. He has a
genius for party organization and the
courage 10 go through with any campaign
he maps out for himself. The influence of
the COurier-Journal group on the campaign
is one of the uncertain quantities, and is a
subject of considerable speculation in Ken
lucky.
BOLTERS WILL STAY OUT.
Having once broken away from their old
party relations, a great many of the bolt
ers of 1896 prefer to remain on the outside
from motives of pride. This feeling is il
Illustrated by the remark of an old ex-Con-
federate who took part in the revolt five
years ago. A friend joked him about vot-
ing for Mckinley after having been all his
life a red-hot Democrat.
How did you like the dose?" he was
asked.
We'll" he replied, at didn't especially
enjoy 1t, but 1t wasn't so - nasty as 1
thought it would be-"
The independents are becoming accus-
toned 10 the dose of medicine which they
feared they would not like and do not
mind it: in fact. they appear to enjoy it.
1t goes hard with some of the old-line
Democrats TO affiliate with Republicans
are working into a philosophical frame of
mind with regard to that even. Col. w. c..
p. Breckenridge. of Lexington, commented
on this phase the other day in a conversa-
ton in which he said:
when you pick up a club to kill a rat
tlesnake you don't stop to look for artistic
beauty, but for a stick that will do the
business. AS yet we are only $4,000 to 10000
strong. Without the 115.000 to 1S0, 900 Re-
publicans in Kentucky we can Go nothing.
With them for a club We can kill hat rat
tlesnake."
''What are you going to do after killing?''
dShtd.
1--WE hope to see a triumphant rejuven-
ated Democracy Democracy in fact as
well as in name-one that properly repre-
sents the intelligence and will of the citi-
zens of the State"
You don't count yourself a Republican,"
"Oh, no. I am a simon-pure Democrat
not a Populist or a chaser after false gods
but the real thing. | am one of the true
blue Democrats of Kentucky"
This specific declaration by Colonel
Breckenridge will be interesting not only to
Kentuckians but 10 a great many outside
of the State who have been somewhat con-
fused as to just where Colonel Breckin-
ridge stood and stands. The colonel and
his 5000 stalwarts are contented in the
theory that they are using the 10000 Re-
publicans TO batter the brains out of a
common enemy. The $4,000 Republicans
feel much the same way with regard to
Colonel Breckenridge and his associates.
/ found the former congressman little
changed In appearance. He has not aged
years ago. As he puts IL, when a man
gets white-haired and fat there is very
little chance for change until he dies. The
colonel is white-haired and fat. He has
settled down 10 private life. and is said
TO have one Of the best law practices in
Kentucky. He finds time also to write
heavy editorials for the Lexington Herald,
a paper controlled by himself and his son.
His editorials, next TO "Marse Henry
WattersOn's. are the juiciest things in
Kentucky Journalism.
FIGHT FOR a JUDGESHIP.
Next in Importance in the estimation OF
Kentuckians TO the election for Governor