The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-04
ALL QUIET IN KENTUCKY.

The average imperialist politician and
newspaper writer may take heart of hope
on the situation in Kentucky. What
ever else is likely to take place in that
interesting state in the future the imme-
date prospect of innumerable duels with
bowie knives or armed collisions between
the people and the authorities is not such
as to occasion peaceable citizens any
sleeplegsness.
That Democratic legislative caucus was
really valuable gathering In its eff
fects upon popular excitement and ex-
citability. 1t has revealed one or two
things not SO restful in their character
for imperiaHsts as the assurance 1t fur
nished that there will not be any armed
outbreak, at least within the next few
days. 1t has brought to light the possible
contingency of number of Democratic
legislators standing by their party who
were supposed to have been hcpelessly
inoeulated with the virus OF John Young
Brown reform. 1t has, moreover, shown
on what meat it is that this reform
movement has fed resulting in its grow
ing so great
John H Whallen, of Louisville, is con-
cededly the greatest man, next to Gov.
Young and Acting Governor Taylor. in
the entire reform movement in Kentucky.
He appears also to be its financial agent,
as we'll as a trusted representative Of
the Louisville & Nashville railroad And
John H WhalIen it is who, giving his ex-
pert Views on the purchasable value
of a legislator, is on record as hav-
ing declared that 5000 was an I'M
Considerably extortionate price Half the
sum, he declared in certain negotiations
| which have just been revealed, was his
idea of the marketable value of the COM
modify; but in extreme cases. he avowed,
and backed his avowar with his money,
he was prepared to pay $4,000. He did
so. And now it happens that Mr.. Whallen
and most of Ills associate reformers are
quite certain that some legislators are
dear at any price, however small.
S. B. Harrell is the name of the legisla-
| tor who seems to have made some
! trouble, and is not unlikely to make
some more, for the cause of reform in
/ Kentucky He was elected senator from
Lyon county as a Democrat. and with
| two other senators Of the same persua-
sion politically signed a paper promising
TO stay out of the Democratic caucus Of
legislators Senator Harrell is not al
| ways a man to his word, and hence 1t
| happens that he did not stay out of tho
| Democratic caucus. He seems to have
done everything else which Mr.. Whallen
| and the other reformers asked him to do.
Hence his ability to present two keys Of
q safe deposit vault to the legislature Of
his native state, representing that the
sum of $500 was on deposit in the vault
aforesaid. thoughtfully placed there by
Mr.. Whalien for Senator Harreil's pur-
| chase.
| 1t is rather sad to reflect that a smart
| man like Mr.. WhalIen could be taken red
! handed. SO TO speak, In such transac-
| tion If he did not care for his own rep
utation he should at least have reflected
! on tho blow to the cause of reform which
| was involved. But he did not; with the
result that the guileless Harrell had
| armed himself at every point to present
| corroborative proof of his statements.
| The immediate result will probably not
be- as we have suggested. the inaugura-
ton of civil turmoil throughout the state.