Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-21
THE KENTUCKY SITUATION
COL. YERKES REGARDED As AN IN
USUALLY STRONG CANDIDATE.
Mckinley Always Strong in the blue
Grass State-views of Appoint
ment Clerk Langley.

pofntment clerk of the census Office, says
that he Is out Of politics. he still takes a
lively interest in the lively campaign which
Is just opening up in Kentucky. A Star re-
porter talked with him today upon the sub
ject. When asked his opinion Of the nomi-
nation of Col Yerkes and as to the result
in November he said:
Il probably look upon the situation from
an optimistic standpoint but think Col.
ferkes is stronger by several thousand
votes than any one else whom the republic
cans could have nominated. First of all
he is one of the ablest republicans In the
south. and is the idol of the younger ele-
ment OF republicans in Kentucky He IL a
superb orator, and, in my Judgment the
only republican In the state who can COM
mand the votes Of the conservative and in
dependent democrats, without whose aid
Taylor would not have been elected last
year.
Expect Republican Success.
Il confidently expect to see both the ma
tional and state tickets carry Kentucky
next November by a majority of fifteen
twenty thousand. We have carried the
state three times out Of four since the cleo
ton in 1882. We carried it twice on the
money question and last year when Goebel-
ism was the issue This time we will have
the combined strength Of the republican
side of both these issues. The denomination
OF Bryan and the nomination Of Beckham
make this a certainty. Recent events have
strengthened our position on both issues
Every argument which the silver leaders
nave made In support of the white metal
and against the gold standard has been re-
1uted and every prophecy has come to
d dausn.; The conviction is growing every
oay among the more conservative people Of
the state that the G0ebel law has done in
calculable harm to the reputation of the
state, and that its ultimate repeal Is inev-
table,
What do you think Of the proposition of
the democrats to amend the law?'
Amending the Goebel Law.
4 believe the far-sighted leaders of the
party realize that 1t Is their only salvation
Ihey are not worried so much about the
menace Of the Tucker law as they are
about the danger to local democratic su-
premacy. There Is one element In the sit.
uation which is very important and which
renders this talk about amending the law
rather significant. The court of apDeals Is
democratic by one majority The present
chief justice, whose term will shortly eX-
p1re. and who is a democrat, gave the cast
Ing vote in favor of the constitutionality OF
the law. The district which he represents
Oh the bench is now a republican district
although the democrats hope to carry it by
means of the Goebel law. We have nomi-
mated as our candidate Judge O'Rear. who
Is an invincible leader; a bold and fearless
republican, who has the universal conf
dence Of the people. and who is certain to
be elected. This will give us majority
of the court of appeals. and the result
would be reversal of the former decision
sustaining the constitutionaIity of the Goa-
bel law. You can see at once what this
would mean to the Goebel democracy Of
Kentucky. The proposition to amend the
law Is. in my opinion, prompted largely by
a desire to eliminate from the law those
features which, according to the republi-
can minority of the court render 1t uncon-
10 inst q fhanrr of
my own. but believe it is correct. never
theless."
Administration FavOrabIy Regarded.
what do kentucky republicans think Of
the Mckinley Administrations
"Oh, Mckinley has always been strong in
Kentucky. You will remember that he
came Very near carrying the instructions in
80 over as great and popular a favorirc son
as Governor Bradley. At the time when
Kentucky republicans were engaged IN
life and death struggle at Frankfort there
was some temporary feeling that perhaps
the administration did not go far it
might have gone in support of the repuhli
can state administration. They wanted he p.
and needed 1t, and were naturally diSap
pointed when they did not get 1t. l 60 not
think however. that there is a single
publican in the state who does not believe
that President Mckinley deeply sympa-
thized with the Kentucky republicans in
their struggle, and who does not needle
that he was guided solely by patriotic mo-
tives and what he conceived to be his duty
under the Constitution.
Foreign Policy Supported.
80 far as his foreign policy is concerned,
do not think the popularity of his admin
istration is confined to the republican party
in Kentucky. The Kentuckians are natu-
rally expansionists, and are noted for their
tenacity in holding on to whatever they get.
When the Hawaiian policy of the republic
cans an issue, 1t greatly strengthened
the republican cause in Kentucky, and
President Clevelands course on that ques-
ton lost him great deal of strength there.
Yes. sir: you may put it down that Ken
lucky will go republican this year. 1t will
not only elect Col. Yerkes governor. but it
will give its electoral vote to Mckinley and
Roosevelt. 1t is evidently going to be a
very warm campaign, and there will be
few radicals each side who will whoop
up the boys with the usual pyrotechnics
The great majority of Kentuckians. how
ever. are conservative. thinking people. and
will In the end vote for what they consider
to be the best interests of the old common
wealth. believe that and believing that.
think 1t will go republican"