New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-06
GEN. BUCKNER'S VIEWS.
THE ONLY HOPE OF TRUE DEMOCRACY
HE SAYS, LIES IN THE DE
FEAT OF BRYAN

FEAT OF BRYAN.
Mckinley and Roosevelt will undoubtedly re-
eeive the votes of a considerable majority of the
people Of Kentucky. but whether the votes Will
be honestly counted is altogether a different
matter" said General Simon B. Buckner, Of Ken
lucky the candidate for Vice-President on the
Gold Democratic ticket four years ago. to
Tribune reporter last night at the Fifth Avenue
Hotel.
General Buckner returned this week from a
four months trip in Europe. He spent the hot
test part of the summer in the Swiss Alps
He reached New-York yesterday from Boston,
where ne landed on Thursday and to-day he
viii start for his home in Kentucky. He is
looking strong and well. and last night as ne
smoked his famous corncob pipe and talked
with the newspaper men, he looked the old war
rior that he is
THE men now in political control Of the state
Of Kentucky are not Democrats" said General
Buckner They are Bryanites and Goebelltes.
The people OF Kentucky will not enjoy civil ara
political liberty TIL they are retired from cohtroi
Of affairs The only hope of true Democracy
lies IN the defeat Of William J. Bryan FROM
letters have received from home, together Win
what my friends in this city tell me. believe
that Bryan will be as soundly beaten this time
as he was four years ago. The friends Of John
stand Organism and Goebelism will doubtless
vote the Republican ticket this fall.
am in hopes that the plurality for
the Republican ticket will be so large that the
Bryanites viii not dare to juggle the Repubh-
cans out of the States electoral votes. -Four
years ago they thought they had fixed the re-
turns in enough precincts so that the electoral
vote would be for Bryan, but the vote for NC
Kinley and Hobart Unexpectedly large, ana
their plans miscarried Bryan came into the
State and indorsed all the crooked work done by
his friends. He is no Democrat The Bryan
ties and Goebelites do not try to justify their
action further than to say that the Republicans
have been known to cheat, and that, therefore,
they are going to do So I tell them that there
have in times gone by been plenty of murder and
highway robbery, but the existence Of il did
not make it right
ct is matter of regret to the honest people
of Kentucky that things there are as they are
We in Kentucky like TO consider ourselves law
abiding and honorable in everything, and II
is Painful TO realize that the elective franchise
is not safeguarded. The fact that the Governor
of Kentucky called special session of the
Legislature to amend the Goebel law is hope
full sign but don't know what they have done
70 it. Under the Goebel law the Republicans
might carry every county in the State but one,
and then the State Election Commissioners
could get together and declare the vote of the
State In favor of the Democrats. and they could
do this without any fear of penalty for violat-
ing the law. as there is no penalty. The Legis-
lature appoints the State Commissioners. the
State Commissioners the County Commissioners
and the County Commissioners the precinct in
spectors. They may be appointed all from one
party, or in such manner that the Democrats
control them absolutely.
What If the coming Presidential election de-
pended upon Kentucky? Under the present law
would not the Federal Government have a right
TO question the legality of the election in Ken
tUcky?" General Buckner was asked.
Undoubtedly" said he. Congress has legal
and moral right to investigate the legality of
an election where Congressman and Senators are
elected. If the credentials of the members are
not straight Congress has a right to throw them
out 1t is that fact that may make the Bryan
ties and Goebeltes afraid of thwartng the hon
est voice of the people of Kentucky as expressed
at the polls.
Il was extremely sorry, . continued General
Buckner ''to learn, upon my arrival in Boston,
that my old friend General Palmer had died
He was a fine character, a man simple in life
and tastes, and yet with greatness Of character
! got know him well four years ago, as we
were together for four five weeks in our
canvass