The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-25
WILL IMPEACH BECKHAM
SENATOR HARREL, OF KENTUCKY,
WRATHFUL AT THE GOVERNOR.
Says He Was Elected by Reason of u
Written Agreement with the TOuts
and Gamblers Of Louisville.

NEW ORLEANS, March Ex-senator S.
b. Harrel of the Fifth senatorial district
OF Kentucky, who formerly was an ardent
supporter of Senator Coebel and later of
Governor Beckham, of Kentucky, is in
New Orleans. The word formerly is
used advisedly, in so far as it applies TO the
boy Governor for the senator is his sup
porter no longer He stood by him long
after he succeeded to the executive chair.
but he was one OF a large and growing ele-
executives acts. began to lose faith in his
worth and ability. The final rupture came
when Beckham and Judge Barker, of the
criminal division of the Jefferson Common
Pleas Court, locke4 horns over the Louis
vile gambling cases. In this encounter the
Governor got the worst of it, as is in evil
dence in the report of a committee of the
Jefferson county bar, fled yesterday, exon
Grating Attorney Kinkea6, who had been
attacked by the Governor. and supporting
Judge Barker in his stand against the ex-
ecutive.
When the storm broke Senator Harrel
was in New Orleans, as he is now, and he
was interviewed by a correspondent of the
now defunct Louisville Dispatch. The in
terview appeared Sunday morning, two
weeks ago to-day, and fell like bomb in
the camp at Frankfort. They quit squab-
bling about what wrong Judge Barker had
or had not done, and began to discuss some
thing good deal nearer to the rural viii
lage where Kentucky laws made and
altered.
You may say for me- said Senator
Harrel. that 1 have positive evidence that
Governor Beckham, before his election en-
tered into agreement with the gamblers
and touta of Louisville that he would par
don them out of prison If any of them got
into trouble, provided they would support
him in the election. He is merely carrying
out his part of the agreement, as they car
ried out theirs on election day.
Another thing you can say 1 said" he
continued, lis that Governor Beckham
never would have carried out that agree
ment, nor any other he ever made, but for
the fact that the gamblers had 1t in black
and white. and they could whip him into
his part.
Il have evidence of all this that is in
disputable," continued the senator, land
that is not all. /. myself. met a promi-
nent Louisville representative in Frank
fort some time ago. who was going TO get
a pardon for felon who was in the peni-
tentiary. He told me that he had Gov
ernor Beckham where he had to put ur.
and he would give him just three hours
TO get in line.
THE pardon was signed in the time
limited" said the senator, land Governor
Beckham would never have done it If he
had not been bound hand and foot.
Now. then." continued Senator Harrel
to the Dispatch correspondent. 81 want
you to say another thing for me. 1 have
written 10 Governor Beckham an open let
ter, telling him what think of him, and
have told him OF the evidence I have
against him. III have any influence In the
Senate when 1t meets. l shall see that Gov
ernor Beckham is impeached. 1 shall i'm
peach him just as sure as there is a God In
heaven"
This interview was copied in all the
Kentucky papers, and by Monday morn
ing IL was the talk of the State Ii created
more talk than any phase of the situation
up to that time. and Judge Barker's griev-
ance was lost sight Of
A reporter of the New Orleans Picayune
saw Senator HarreI in the lobby of the st.
Charles Hotel last night and asked him IL
authentic.
YES" said he. 'I said every word of il.
and mean it. The fight is on now. and
am in II 10 win, or be found making an eff.
fort"
He took package of letters from his
pocket. and extracted one from leading
editor OF Louisville.
You see this? Read it. You see,
says that he thinks the fight will be strong
for control OF the Senate. and advises me to
come up and get into IL, and not to say any
more until am ready 10 strike.
well. L am ready 10 strike now, and /
am In the fight now. Honest men are
bound 10 control the Senate. and when
they do, Beckham will have no chance
whatever. My case Is made, the evidence
10 closed, and am now sitting by awaiting
the time to cali for verdict. l am going
tc impeach Governor Beckham, SO he had
just as well get ready for it,