New-York tribune., 1901-07-29
THE KENTUCKY CONTEST.
ELECTION WILL DETERMINE WHETHER
DEMOCRATIC GERRYMANDER
IS CONTINUED

IS CONTINUED
Louisville, KY. July IS (SpeciaD.-while this is
not year for the choosing of State or national Off
GERS and the drafting of State platforms in Ken
lucky, yet the most important political
quences attach to the election which will be held
next November Both parties laying plans for
a campaign which they feel may settle their reia-
i've positions in the State for least tan years.
nc officers to be elected in November the
iuli sets OF county and municipal authorities to-
setner with the members of the General Assembly
Inc Assembly meets in biennial session the
nrst of next January. and. politically speaking
VIII be the most important held since the OF
!S9l- ", which accepted the constitution 1t
mas the power of choosing a United States Senator
ana or redstrcting the State for the election of
congressman, members of the General Assembly
judges of the various courts and the county magis-
rates The organic law of the State stipulates that
tl1ls redistrlcting Is to be done every years
though limited powers given to change of
'he districts in off years 1t is only in the tenth
year when all may be rearranged at the discretion
OF the legislature and both parties have eye
10 the advantages of judcious gerrymandering.
II VIII be an easy matter to district the State
as to- give control to Democrats Republicans,
hehce the Importance which attaches to the legis-
Iative contests in the different counties. The Dem
ocrats have heretofore held power In the legis-
natures, and the different counties have been
grouped as to give them every advantage in the
past. However. party lines have been loosely
drawn since 1895, and partisan Democrats are not
now at all satisfied with the present apportion-
ment. II they control the legislature there will
be some and effective gerrymandering that will
revolutionze Legislative, Congress and judicial dis
tricts
HOW STATE IS GERRYMANDERED.
The Republicans. on the other hand. are eager
to wipe out the old districts. which the Demo-
Gratis so cunnIngly and arbitrarily arranged in the
past. Some of them represent every sin involved
in the ancient practice of the gerrymander The
HIth Congress District. for instance. nearly
across the whole length of the State. in order to
group the strongest Republican counties and make
1t possible for Democrats to be elected in adjoin
ing districts. All considerations of pOpula-
ton and geographical contiguty have been disre-
garded in the eleven Congress and the APP
pellate Court districts besides which Senate and
Representative districts have been similarly twist
ed out OF shape and convenience to the voters for
the same reasons. Two Republican Senate dis
trcts have populations high 100000, while
tiny Democratic counties. with only a few hun
dred voters, send each Senator and Repre-
sentative. The scheme has been worked as
practically to disfranchise thousands OF men in
every part OF the State because they do vote
with the dominant party.
The constitution of the State provides that the
redstrctng Shall be approved by both the Sen
ate and tEe House of Representatives. thus max
ms complications possible that would not be pos
sibie on Joint ballot. For this reason the principal
struggle will be made the SenatorEhips.
Senators elected for four years, and ccnsa,
quently half the Senate is composed ~ old NOM
bers- There nineteen holdover Senator'S. or
the nineteen the Republicans have nine. and
is an independent Democrat, who may be trusted
to act with them This gives the Republicans
advantage in the Senate contests since they need
not capture majority OF the seats to retain
control.
WHERE STOUTEST CONTESTS WILL. BE.
In consequence the battle In the doubtful dis
trcts Will be stoutly waged. and there four
which viii decide the control. Two of them in
Louisville. which is entitled. with jefferson Coun-
~. three Senators. John ]. Barret. a Repub-
ucan OF high standing. IS the holdover member
and represents the richest and most important
district In the State. which district is Republican
The upper Senate district. which includes the
county and n part OF the city has been represented
by Thomas H. Hayes. an ex-Confederate soldier.
act with thr rartT in tbe Goeb"I administration
He has accepted the Republican nomination. and,
being an able and experienced politician expects
reelection. To oppose him the Democrats have
chosen representative OF the liquor interests in
in the heart OF the city and s president of the
State and city liquor leagues. with all their nfiu-
and money at his back
In the lower city district the advantage IS ordl
went Republican AT the last election. w. l. Wei
Ter, who has been in the liquor business until
few years ago. when he engaged in politics, Is
the Democratic nominee while J. J. Hays Is his
tritts one is composed OF Breckinridge. Meade and
Hancock counties. and has been Represented by
and experienced and influential politician who
has repeatedly carried the district though It has has
remaining pivotal district has been represented by
Senator George Farris. a Democrat, who is seek
ing reelection, and is OF former Governor
McCreary's lieuterants In his candidacy for the
Creary's home he VIII have the assistance OF that
powerful politician. but the Issue will be doubtful
Senators. so Il will be seen how important IS the
fight that viii be waged in these four districts The
party that gets three of them will control the stu
alton In the Senate and II necessary, can balk or
complete the gerrymander!ng bill that comes from
the House.
Less interest attaches to the election OF Repre-
sentatives. though the Republicans are putting Up
the best In their ranks candidates This Is
notable feature of the campaign. An effort is
so as to strengthen the county tickets as wei as
10 try to get influential men in the legislature. The
Democrats. however. are sanguine of securing
majority Of the hundred members in the House,
though they don't feel sanguine TO the Sen1;e.
SENATOR DEBOE'S SUCCESSOR.
The legislative elections will be materially in
huenced by the fact that the next General Assembly
viii elect successor to United States Senator w.
J. Dehoe. who is a Republican So far Mr.. DebOe
is the only announced candidate the Republican
sde though Vincent Boreing at present Represel-
tative from the XIth Congress District. is trying to
arrange matters to enter the Ex-Governor
Bradley IS also likely to oppose Deboe. to whom
he is personally opposed. Mr. Bradley is now
practising lawyer In Louisville. and says he Is out
Of politics. but he cannot easily give up the leader
snip snip ot ms party. especially II shouId De neGes.
does not scrupe TO say. Is unworthy Of the high
extensive farmers In the South and at present Fen
sion Agent for the State. Is also tentative can
The Democrats are so confident OF controlling the
legislature that there are no less than four
most prominent OF these Is former Governor James
B. McCre9ry Mr. McGresary has served several
Is possessed of wealth and knowledge of the
Sha * wheer at hs m
Paducah district in Congress D. II. Smith, Repre-
j. T. Cantrell. former Lieutenant Governor are