Evening star., 1901-10-23
FIGHT FOR OFFICES
Campaign in Kentucky This Fall
Without Strong Issues.
HARMONY AMONG DEMOCRATS
Republicans Appear to Have
Neglected Their Opportunity.
L. s. SENATORSHIP AT STAKE


sues upon which the democratic and re-
publican parties are conducting the cam
paign in Kentucky this fall might be sum-
med up in this platform, I'VE need the
Offices If any other issue either substan-
tial or inspiring exists it has not thus far
developed.
There have been some surprising and re-
markable changes in the political situation
in Kentucky within the past two years.
chiefly in the decadence of the republican
party and the dissipation of what at one
time seemed a promising prospect for
building up in the blue grass state a new
party which would combine the best ele-
ments of the old bourbon democracy and
the latent whig sentiment of Kentucky.
The republicans have certainly thrown
away stupidity neglected some good op-
portunities. Today they find themselves a
divided faction within their own ranks,
bereft of the promised support of the con-
servative democracy. and in this condition
are facing practically an unbroken front of
united democrats.
Tay1Or's Bad Precedent.
Since that foolish and unfortunate gun
play of former Gov. Taylor the republican
party has been going down hill at a rapid
rate in Kentucky. Mr.. Yerkes. the exponent
of the highest type of Kentucky repubn-
the active ranks is filled by no man of sim
liar caliber. Ex-Gov. Bradley who gave
the state absolutely clean administra-
tion. showing it to be possible for an honest
republican state government to exist in
Kentucky, notwithstanding the charges of
the bourbons, has been driven out of pol
itics by men whose names are not even
thoroughly known in their own state.
In Louisville disgraceful partisan tactics
have been employed, disgusting to both
democrats and republicans alike. Two
months ago the city was certainly republi-
can No democrat would have wagcred a
hve-dollar bill on chances of democratic
success Now. owing to the mismanage-
ment Of local republican managers the
democrats are encouraged to believe that
they may elect mayor in what should be
normal republican territory.
Legislature to He Chosen.
In the coming November election the leg
islature is to be chosen which will name a
successor to United States Senator Deboe
The lower house, consisting of 100 repre-
sentatives, and nineteen senators, being
one-half of the upper body, will be elected
There are nineteen holdover senator's, of
whom. eleven are republicans The mem
bership of the present house contains sixty
democrats. This legislature will also reds-
trict the state for assembly and congress
sional districts The fight for the legisla-
ture will be close. but with the chances in
republicans do not expect to carry the
house. They would be glad now to be as
sured OF majority of two in the senate,
which is possible In fact, the whole fight
for the republicans will center upon the
senate. There are reasons why 1t would be
very advantageous to them to control the
upper branch of the legislature.
There is now vacancy in the Office Of
lieutenant governor of Kentucky The
president of the senate will be acting lieu
tenant governor, and if anything should
happen to Gov Beckham would assume the
executive chair with all that that would
mean to the republicans at this juncture.
Furthermore. by controlling the senate the
republicans could prevent a gerrymander
OF the state, or, at least, gain valuable
concessions by way of compromise in the
red'strfcting bills.
Candidates for the U. s. Senate.
number of gentlemen in Kentucky are
ambitious to go to the United States Sem
ate, and the efforts of these to carry the
legislature for their respective parties lends
the campaign the principal interest which
1t possesses. If the democrats should win
Ex-Governor McCreary, who represented
the state in the United States House of
Representatives for many years will be
their principal candidate. and he will be
vigorously opposed by Representative Da-
Eld n: Smith and Representative Charles
w Wheeler both of whom will contest
his claim for election
Judge Cantrill. who is conducting the trial
of the Goebel murder case is also spoken
OF as a possible candidate. II the repub-
Hcans should win Senator Deboe would
ask reelection and would be opposed by
Representative Vincent Boreing Mr. Les
lie Combes, collector of customs at Iouis-
vile. may also enter the senatorial lists
Neither the republicans nor the democrats
are well organized this fall. The repr1b-
hcans are notably deficient in organization
and the lack of harmony that prevails I'm
the rank and file of the party is ALREADY
making itself felt in the campaign The
bitterness which two years ago existed in
the democratic ranks has disappeared in
large measure. Ii seems now to have been
transferred to the republican column
No Independent Ticket.
There will be no independent ticket this
year, and no sloughing off to another ticket
of a faction to either party The dissatis-
fled republicans will show their displeasure
by staying away from the polls There is
no great dissatisfaction in the democratic
ranks
One very important feature of the cam
paign is this In the past two elections
the republican tickets have been voted by
democrats in considerable numbers First
there were the gold democrats, who seeded
from the Bryan party in Kentucky; then
there were the anti-Goebel democrats who
voted the republican ticket outright rather
tnan waste their votes for the Independent
democratic ticket There is no prospect
that the republicans will receive any demo-
cratic votes this fall. Silver and Bryanism
Is not an issue and the financial question
Is not talked about The Goebel machine
mas gone to pieces and the specter of Goe-
bel no longer haunts the bedside of the
bourbon. '"e
Better feeling prevails among the demo-
Gratis than has existed for many years. The
absence of national or state issues Is
largely responsible for this The present
campaign is for offices and control of the
set. There is nothing in the present aspect
of republicanism in Kentucky to commend
that party to men of democratic proclivi-
ties, and the rank and file perforce are
thrown back upon their own candidates
Old Favorites i'm the Campaign
Ii happens also that some of the old Ia
miiiar names are figuring in the campaign.
Men who laid low while the storm of fac
tonal dissension swept through the state
are now emerging from their cyclone cell
lars and are IN the saddle. Names that
have been good to conjure within the past
are again doing fetch service. and some
thing Ike the oid-time democratic enthu-
siasm Is beginning to appear. II the demo-
Gratis win this fall. now seems likely,
they win probably enter upon a long period
OF power in this state. Nowhere on the