The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-26
KENTUCKY SENATORIAL FIGHT Is
LIKELY TO BE EXCEEDINGLY
INTERESTING
FOUR CANDIDATES IN RACE
man Seems to Be in the Lead,
with the Field Out to
Beat Him
GoEBEL TRIAL JUDGE STRONG

FRANKFORT, KY, Dec. 25.-The Ken
lucky senatorship race is now the CEN
ter of political interest. The candidates
have engaged quarters at the Capitol ho-
tel, and will be in Frankfort early next
week to meet the gathering legislators.
The friends of Ex-Governor and ex-Con-
gressman from the Eighth District James
B. McCreary say that he has more than
fifty-one, the required number to nomi-
nate in Democratic joint caucus, pledged
to support him from first to last, that
they will force the nomination shortly
after the meeting of the assembly, and
that it will be a quickly finished contest.
The friends of Judge James E. Cantrill,
of the Seventh district, Congressman
Charles K. Wheeler, of the First district,
and D. II. Smith, of the Fourth district,
say the fight is an open one, and that
they have information that nobody mas
enough votes pledged to nominate, and
from the evidence they give in prosecut-
ing the contest it is apparent that they
believe what they say.
Judge Cantrill is from the Central Ken
lucky district, and his strength is located
in counties along the territory of Nc
Crearys district. 1t is thought by his
friends that for this reason he would be
more liable to fall heir to the strength OF
Wheeler and Smith in the event of long.
deadlock. Judge Cantrill, of Scott, was
lieutenant governor during Blackburn
administration. He has held several I'M
portant offices, and has had in his charge
the difficult task of trying the alleged
assassins Of William -Goebel. He is
man of distinguished ability as law
yer.
Congressman Smith and Wheeler come
from Southern Kentucky, and their
strength In the First, Second, Third and
Fourth districts will be large, owing to
the fact that this is the section which
rolls up the large Democratic majority
in state elections.
The McCreary men argue that 1t is I'M
possible for the opposition to organize
an effective combination. They say that
when either of the other candidates Is
dropped the Madison county man will fall
heir to the vote, and in this way prove
invincible.
The Blackburn Williams deadlock, the
Deboe-H Hunter, Blackburn fights Of
1867 are state political history, interest
ing as romance. Cerro Gordo Williams
came to Frankfort In December, 1858,
with large portion Cf the overwhelming
Democratic majority pledged to his sup
port which his opponent, j. c. s. Black
burn recognized, but asked for only
day or so delay until he could get ac-
quainted with the members OF the assem-
bly, before the caucus was held.
Williams famous message, Take all
the time you want which proved fatal
to his political ambitions, after long
and spirited deadlock, is landmark by
which Kentucky politicians have learned
of the uncertainty of f1attering outlooks
Of political events.
There has been considerable talk to the
effect of 1.-The field against McCreary
who was chairman of the campaign COM
mittee in the Goebel fight of 1899, and
Of the Beckham fight of 1900, and TOOK
a prominent part in the campaign man
agement in the election Of representatives
and senator's during the recent contest.
1t is being charged against him that ne
took advantage of his position to brlng
out men favorable to him in the Demo-
cratic primaries. He took an active part
in the election, and did much to assist
in organizing the party in the campaign.
The McCreary men will urge an early
caucus, while the opposition will fight
for delay.
Mr., McCreary has on several previous
occasions been a candidate for senator.
At the time of Senator Beek's death he
was a candidate against John>G. Carlisle.
He was again a candidate in 1894, when
Lindsay resigned to go into Cleveland s
cabinet.
A fight is being made on McCreary on
the ground that ne was not an original
free-silver man. His friends refute this
on the ground that he supported Bryan
and fell in line with the party. McCreary
is noted for his smooth, even manners
and power of organizing. He is affable
and attaches his friends strongly.
The coming session will be noted in
other respects, owing to much important
and new legislation to come before it.
Among the many new bills prepared to
be introduced is one for the erection of
a new capitol building; a bill for gen
eral board of management of the state
charitable institutions; a bill to erect an
institution for the pauper idiots of the
state; an amendment to the constitution
to allow cities to regulate the question
of municipal taxation and remove the tax
limit; amendment to the corporation law
so as to make more liberal the laws to
encourage the organizations in this state;
tie establishment Of a bureau OF m
formation to induce immigration and
the better advertisement of the resources
of the state; an increase in the tax rate,
and bill for the enlargement of the
State Historical society and provision
for the preservation of the state history.
Gov. Beckham is writing his message
to the legislature during the Christmas
holidays and has been urged by COM
mittees to recommend the above meas