The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-04-02

MtTaI1,,y TANNED.

nston HeraiaNo Democ ic paper
demands more kplieis Oh sss and an
investigation. says thu Statements
have appeared } quite number Of
the country payers that reflected upon
unnamed members OF the legislature
and intimations of the success Of un-
named but described. lobbyists 1t has
been said that the owner and editor Of
well known Democratic paper and
perhaps two equally we'll known Off
cials were in some sort of partnership
in schemes and plans to influence
legislation; and were openly there to
be employed to aid in the passage or
IN the defeat of measures pending be-
fore the legislature. We know moth.
ing personally concerning the doinf
at Frankfort; and we are always re-
luctant to believe such reports. But
when grave accusations are made by
respectable editors as OF their knowl-
edge, the charge assumes, a graver i'm
portance. In recent number of the
Glasgow Times appears the following;
mot for many years have the lob
byists assembled in so formidable
numbers, or their labors borne such
fruits, as through the sessions OF the
Kentucky Legislature just closed.
During the two preceding Legislatures
the third house kept we'll under cover,
but in the present general assembly it
threw off all conoeslment and defied
even the small restraint Of decency,
Lobbying was an open business, and
the lobbyist boldly proclaimed his
profession.
1.-The editor of the::Times is Jas p.
Richardson, a member of the legisla-
ture Of some years ago; and was then
elected one of the prison commission
ers, and was reelected by this legisla-
ture. His duties as representative and
as commissioner have required him to
be in Frankfort at the sessions of
the legislature for the past six years;
and he knows whereof he speaks.
His statements, therefore, are both
charge and the testimony TO SUP
port the charge.
"who were these lobbyists, and
what were the fruits" which were
born of their laborsy Can not this
editor do the state service by frankly
and courageously making pubic the
names Of these brazen lobbyistn and
slso publishing what he means by the
charge that their labors bore "fruis?"
What measures did they succeed in
having passed? What measures did
they kill?
"T'his is not political or party ques-
ton. This is far above mere partisan
politics. or personal self-seeking. 1t
is due to the honest and incorruptible
members that the guilty be exposed.
dead flies maketh the apothecsries
ointment to stinK"-who were these
dead flies?
"If there be any admixture OF poll
tics in this matter. 1t is that IL is due
to the Democratic party that the
names of the corrupt be made known
and the reputation of the majority be
not spotted or the party be held re
sponsible.
"a prejudiced, bigoted, violent,
partisan, blinded Legislature has been
known in the history of our state. But
an openly corrupt legislature is not in
digenous to Kentucky. Through pas
sion. anger, excitement, incense po-
litial passion. wrong acts ami eensur-
able deeds have been done. But not
through coarse and vulgar bargains
have our Legislatures disgraced the
state and themselves. For the honor
of Kentucky, for the good name OF
the Democratic party those who have
knowledge Of corrupt transactions
ought to publish the names Of the cor
rupt members and equally corrupt lob
Twists -