The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-25
TWO CONVENTION DATES
KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS MEET AT
FRANKFORT AND LEXINGTON.
Beckham Will Have Opposition
Blackburn's Open Letter Excites
Unfavorable Comment.

FRANKFORT, KY, May 2.-The Demo-
cratic state executive committee held
meeting here this afternoon and issued
calls for two state conventions. The first
will be held at Louisville June IA; for the
purpose of selecting delegates to the Demo-
cratic national convention. The other will
be held at Lexington July 10. and at this
convention a Democratic candidate for
Governor will be nominated. The commit
tee was in executive session over two
hours, discussing the question whether one
or two conventions should be held and the
wording of the official call and other mat
ters. This was rendered more interesting
by the open address issued by Senator
Blackburn, in which he took a position
against the policy Of the party managers
ir some parts of the State in excluding
from participation Hardins friends and
other men who had bolted the ticket last
fall, and other matters of this character.
Governor Beckham's friends, 1t is under
stood, favored only one convention. this
to be held the last week in June. but the
proposition for two conventions carried by
majority of one. The call is wide open,
as suggested by Senator Blackburn, and
invites all known Democrats who pledge
their support to the ticket and platform
in November to participate. There was
great deal of discussion among the leaders
as to the proposition of Blackburn and
others regarding proposed changes in the
state platform with reference to the elec-
ton law and other things. but not enough
to give definite idea of what the state
convention will do on this subject.
Governor Beckham to-day signed the
commission of Senator-elect Blackburn,
and that document was mailed to him at
Washington tonight. to be filed with his
credentials, which are pending before the
Senate. Governor Taylor refused to sign
Blackburn's commission when the latter
was elected, Jan. 8, and the facts were
some time ago certified to by the presi-
dents pro tenn. of the two houses of the
Legislature, together with the proceedings
at the time of the ballot for senator.
The committee tonight adopted the Of
fetal call for the conventions: "All legal
voters who are devoted to the principles of
the Democratic party and desire to see
those principles succeed, and who, by par
ticipating in the conventions. will feel in
honor bound to support the nominees, shall
nave tne TlBut 10 pdItiClpstte III Sdlu COii-
ventions. The Democrats of Kentucky are
a law-abiding and peace-loving people.
They would welcome not repel. from their
association those Kentuckians who love lib
erty and justice and who hate crime. Un-
der Republican rule the civil arm of the
state government was struck down and
a military usurpation was set up In its
place. Under Republican rule murder was
made a weapon of party warfare. and Re-
publican officials obstructed and defied the
courts in their efforts to discover and pun
ish it's authors In view of these things
we invite every Kentuckian who remains
true Kentuckian, and without regard to
former political affiliations. to join with us
in stamping out their possible recurrence
and to share with US the glory of redeem
ing the honor of the State and reviving the
memory of the patriots and sages who In
it's better days made it prosperous. Illus
trious and happy"
Gen. ]. H. Lewis, former chief justice of
the Court of Appeals, has announced his
candidacy for the gubernatorial nomination
before the Lexington convention.