Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-16
KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS
TROUBLE BETWEEN THE MACHINE
AND INDEPENDENTS.
The Removal of Collector of Internal
Revenue Sapp at Louisville
Direct Issue.

| What are known as the machine repub-
| licans Of Kentucky and the other members
| of that party, known as the Independent re-
| pubiicans. are each putting on a smiling
! face and making certain strenuous appeals
| to President Mckinley. and while the Pres
ident is holding his peace the breach be-
tween the two factions is rapidly assuming
| the nature of a bottomless pit.
To the outside world the fight presents a
situation Of unique interest, as the indie
pendent movement partakes in a striking
manner of the nature of the McLaurin
contest in South Carolina, and is being
opposed not by democrats. as in that in
| stance. but by the old republican machine
Of the state. The latter claims the indul-
gence Of the President because of past eff
fective work, and the former presents a
new growth along lines which it Is under
stood the President has quietly Endorsed.
Tho Direct Issue.
The direct issue between the two factions
Is whether Charles E. Sapp, internal reve.
nue. collector of the fifth Kentucky district,
shall continue to hold his office or be re-
moved. Mr.. Sapp is conceded to be the re-
publican boss Of Louisville and a power
| throughout the state because Of his thor
ough understanding Of machine politics.
Two years ago he successfully warded of
an attack on his official position by the
civil service commission. which made a
report to the President that he was using
his office to further his own political inter-
ests and to influence elections, contrary to
the spirit and letter of the civil service
law. This recommendation, however. the
President has as yet not acted upon. al
though it was again called to his attention
at the last cabinet meeting held at the
White House. Still further emphasis was
laid on the matter a few days ago when
Representative Boreing. republican. from
the eleventh district. went to Canton to
urge the President to turn down Mr.. Sapp
and appoint j. A. Craft to succeed him.
Mr.. Craft is considered in every sense to
be prototype of McLaurin, so far as pol
tiles is concerned. He has recently bolted
the gold democratic organization in Ken
lucky and is considered a valuable acqui-
sition to the ranks Of the growing inde-
pendent republican party.
To Appeal to the President.
Since Mr. Boreing went to Canton pre-
dictions have appeared in Kentucky news
papers to the effect that Mr.. Sapp's days
were numbered as beneficiary Of the gov
eminent. This claim has aroused Mr.. Sapp
to action. and it is understood that Senator
DebOe and Representative Irwin of the
Louisville district will each make pilgrim
ages to Canton in the near future and en-
deavor to convince the President as to the
inadvisability of taking action in the Sapp
matter. If the President ignores them al
together Mr.. Sapp will continue In Office
as there is no expiration of his term, and
unless successor is appointed he will con-
tinue to draw his salary.
In the meantime the Louisville election
Is drawing near and also the elections for
| members Of the state legislature, which
will elect a successor to Senator Deboe, and
upon the skillful manipulation of the mat
ter will largely depend the result in these
elections.
John w. Yerkes. internal revenue COM
missioner. Is being placed by his friends
in the column against Sapp. Mr.. Yerkes
however, is maintaining a silence on the
subject which he declines to break.