Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-28
KENTUCKY SITUATION
Chances in the Congress- onal
Districts
FAVOR THE DEMOCRATS
COMPLEXION OF APPELLATE
COURT MAY CHANGE.
According to Present Outlook There
May Be Several New Men From the
State in the House.
COURT MAY CHANGE.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
LOUISVILLE. KY, Ostober %, 1902.
Both sides claim to be satisfied with the
registration, though the republicans are
charging that frauds have been committed
by the democrats. With 10000 registration,
in round numbers, there are 5000 independ-
ents, 81 OGO democrats and 5000 republic
cans, giving the democrats a slight major
ity over the combined independent and re-
publican vote. However, the city has gone
overwhelmingly republican when the re-
publican registration was not much better.
The great bulk of the independents vote
the republican ticket, as do many who reg
lister as democrats.
In the sixth appellate district, in which
w. c. bearing, a former democrat, is the
republican nominee against Judge Paynter
the incumbent, democratic success Is not
certain. The counties of the district gave
both Taylor and Yerkes majorities of about
5000, and if there were a gubernatorial or
presidential election to get out the vote
bearings chances would be much better.
The campaign has been conducted very
quietly. bearing has been seriously IL for
two weeks, and he will not be able to get
out before the election. Present indica
lions are in favor of Paynter the demo-
crat.
OF the four appellate judges to be elected,
the democrats sure of one. The repub-
licans must hold their two districts and
Guffey and Durell, or, if they lose one of
them. beat Paynter, to hold their maj GRITTY
in the court. There is less doubt about
Paynter's district than about either Du-
re1l's or Guffey's, which means that the
chances are in favor of a democratic court.
Congressional Districts.
The congressional election is somewhat
complicated by the judicial contests, but
it is a simpler proposition. Ollie James will
be elected in the first by the democrats,
practically without opposition. He will sue
coed Chas. K. Wheeler, who declined to run
for another nomination. The first is democ-
racys Gibraltar, and Bryanite stronghold
as well. James was a populist in 1895, who,
by his support of Petite for governor, did
much to aid Bradley in the defeat of P.
Wat Hardin. He was a Bryan leader in
1896 and the boy orator Of the Purchase,
who, on behalf of Kentucky, seconded the
nomination of the boy orator Of the Platte
at Chicago. He is thirty years old weighs
about $50 is ruddy checked and bald head
ed, rather mature looking for his years,
and when he gets to Washington will at
tract attention physically If not by his
mental efforts
The second will also send a new man, A
Crosley Stanley of Henderson. He will sue
coed Representative Allen, who declined a
Governor Crosley, still in his thirties. with
some reputation as an orator and evidently
a man of some parts. Though only two
years in the district he won a decisive tri-
umph over two older opponents in the dem
ocratic primary last summer. The repub-
lican nominee is r. w. Slack, a former
democrat and a man Of strength and abi-
ity. But he can at best do no more than
ity
A Battle Ground.
The third district is a battle ground Nc
Kenzie Moss. who won the seat In the
House. in the recent contest with John
Rhea, is again the republican nominee, with
Rhea as his democratic opponent. The dis
trict is really very close. In 1898 Rhea was
elected by a decisive majority on a light
vote, but in 1899 when there was a revolt
against Goebel, Taylor for governor car
ried it by nearly 1900. In 1900 presiden-
tial year, and a special election for gov
ernor, Rhea was given the certificate by a
majority of about 80 and unseated In favor
of Moss. Moss was undoubtedly elected on
fair vote. but his majority was small.
The district is certainly in doubt this year,
and to say who has the advantage is an i'm
possibility. The fact that this is an off year
with the prospect of light vote undoubtcd-
ly favors the democrats. but this Is offset
somewhat by the contest over the cour. Of
appeals judgeship. and advantages claimed
for Moss by reason Of the changes in the
election laws.
The greater part of Moss district is in
Guffeys appellate district. Rhea's strength
has always been largely with the populist
element. which Is considerable. This Is also
one of the elements of Guffey's strength.
Many voters who have been voting for
Rhea for Congress will vote for Guffey for
judge. If they vote the straight ticket Moss
will gain that much. On the other hand,
there is a considerable part of Settles sup
port for judge against Guffey that prefers
Moss over Rhea for Congress, but as they
more interested in the judge If the
court of appeals than in the congressman
they may vote the straight democratic
ticket. This is a new complication, the ef-
feet of which cannot be estimated now.
However, Guffey's home county, Butler,
also the home Of eXiled Governor Taylor Is
the strong republican county of Moss dis
trict and this may mean that the full re-
publican vote will come out. enabling Moss
to maintain. If not increase, his vote there.
The two strongly democratic counties Of
the district are Logan, the home of Rhea,
and Warren. the home of Moss. The re-
publcans claim that the Logan majority has
been largely fraudulent. and they expect 20
reduce 1t OF wipe It out entirely this year
That the Rhea family has lost much of
its strength at home was shown ~ the de-
feat of one of the brothers for sheriff of
Logan county last year. Under the new
election law the sheriff of the county is the
arbiter of the county board, and this means
republican control of the election machinery
in Rhea's home county. The fact that the
vote in Logan between Goebel and raylor
was almost a tie in 1899, where the Rheas
were not much concerned for the fate of
Goebel. lends some color to the republican
contention that Logan is not after all a
democratic county. If Guffey gets out the
vote of Butler, with Logan about r. tie,
Moss. by reducing the democratic majority
in Warren, will have good chance of re-
election. There is. too, talk among demo-
Gratis that 1t might be good thing for tile
party II Rhea were eliminated by defcst
But for the judicial race the advantage in
an off year would be with the democrats.
However it is impossible to say to what ex-
tent this will help or injure either of the
congressional candidates.
The fourth district will re-elect Mr.. Dave
Smith, democrat. practically without cppo-
sition.
In Other Districts.
The fifth district in the congressional. as
in the judicial. contest is claimed by both
sides. AS already pointed out in discussing
the situation relative to the former the
fight is for the judges rather than the con-
gresham. The republicans have renomi-
mated Representative II. 8. Irwin, who,