The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-13
Lively Times Are Promised Among
Kentucky Democratic Guber-
Material Candidates.
FIVE ENTRIES UP TO DATE.
Governor Beckham, John X. Hen.
bricks, James ID. Black and Gen.
X. j. Breckenridge Will Add
to Interest in Campaign.


SPECIAL.
Frankfort, Ky, April 1.-THE candidacy
Of Editor Henry Watterson for the guber-
material nomination is being discussed gen.
orally among politicians and 1t Is being
passed around on authority Of the friends Of
Mr.. Watterson that the star-eyed goddess
is a candidate and they have 1t direct, and
In that connection the national feature OF
MS Candidacy is always mentioned as a
mark of good faith. His candidacy is taken
with a degree Of uncertainty and misgiving.
His editorials from Washington when he
declared 1t to be political suicide to re-
nominate Cleveland, and his noted ~prophesy
OF marching through a slaughter-house to
an open grave" which was followed by tha
election of Cleveland: his telegram from
Europe TO his paper on the adoption of the
silver platform at Chicago. Make no COM
promise with dishonor''; his later support
of Palmer and Buckner, and Hindman for
Clerk of the Court of Appeals. make up a
record of bad politics with Kentucky Demo-
Gratis that is counteracted by his previous
long party service when he was the party
spokesman and his word was law in party
councils; his gallant fight for the martyred
Goebel in 1899, and for Bryan and Beckham
in 1900.
Viewed With Interest.
The conduct of the contest is looked for
ward to with great interest, by K~entuckians,
who enjoy a hot fight as much as. a horse
race. Is he to go on the stump and meas
ure lances with his less eloquent, but more
consistent opponents or is he to speak
through the olum of his newspaper? Is
he to go through the State with John X.
Hendricks. Governor Beckham, General f.
]. Breckenridge. and James D. Black and
speak to the mass of Democrats assembled
at the county seats?
II so there will be fun for the boys on the
huskings. and gatherings similar to those in
he Goebei contest are promised.
The campaign Of congressional elections
this fall is already second In interest to
that of the Democratic nomination for Gov
ernor TO be voted for in November. 1903.
The question of the eligibility Of Cover
nor Beckham for reelection has caused
considerable discussion, and this tends to
show that he is regarded as a strong factor
His wise discretion. conservatism and
skill in the management Of affairs during
the troublous times of 1906, and his tri-
umph and vindication lave proven him a
man to be trusted in affairs. as well as an
able ~campaigner. His administration has
been one of the most popular since those
of Governors McCreary, Knott and Black
burn.
Letter From Carlisle.
The statement that Mr.. Carlisle had writ
ten friends Of Mr.. Watterson that Gov
ernor Beckham was ineligible for re-elec-
tion has called forth criticism Of that opin-
lon from friends of the latter and able
lawyers. and Is challenged as a .'curbstone
opinion"
Ex-Chief Justice William S. Pryor, Cor
twenty-five years on the kentucky Court
of Appeals bench, and who is regarded as
a Breckenridge man, said. in speaking on
the subject:
There is no doubt as to the meaning of
the words of section Il of the Constitution:
He shall be ineligible for the succeeding
tour years after the expiration of the term
for which he shall have been elected Gov
ernor Beckham was Lieutenant Governor.
and was so declared elected in the con-
test, and succeeded to the governorship on
the death OF Governor William Goebel. His
election in 1900 was for the unexpired term,
he Is now serving out that unexpired
term. The wordAterm' refers to four years
"a full term. NE language of the Consti-
tuition can have but one m~eaning--that a
of a term is not to be considered In this
connection"
Candidates in Race.
John K. Hendricks, ex-Congressman from
the First District; James D.. Black OF the
ridge Of the Eiehth District and Governor
Beckham are regarded as candidates, and
are all practical politicians.
has the largest Democratic majority. He
was one of the lawyers in the Goebel con-
test, and an admirer and supporter or Will
lam Goebel from the beginning of his oandi-
dacy.
Iames D. Black IS from the county from
which Caleb Powers halls and the strong
hold of Republicanism. Judge Black is an
General Breckinridge will on Monday turn
over the office of Attorney General to
Clifton J. Pratt. Breckenridge was on the
the State Contest Board. and in Judge
Cantrills's court, but General Pratt failed
to appeal his case until a year later. when
the Court of Appeals had become consti-
tuted Of four Republicans and three Dem
ocratic Judges, a reverse of the status OF
the court being the situation when the other
cases were appealed; and won ndr by 9th other o.t
won his case. winning back the office which
he had lost in the contest. General Brock
inridge has already announced mis- candi-
dacy. In that connection Pratt Is. being
alked of for the Republican nomination
for Governor.
Governor Beckham has not yet announced
his candidacy. but his close friends say he
will be a candidate.
National Issues.
The friends Of Mr.. Watterson expect him
to pitch his candidacy on the issue Tor 1874,
and Mr.. Bryan will figure in the campaign,
and as in 1895 Wat Hardin and Joe Black
burn blazed the way for the platform of
the Chicago convention. so In lg3 Is the
first gage of battle to be sounded In Ken
lucky, for the national Democracy in 1904.
1t has become a saying in Kentucky that
Kentucky leads, and what more opportune
field is there to contest the coming issue on
which the national Democracy Is to go to
battle than among Kentucky Democrats. in
the broad. open field. In the daylight Of
season. to choose a standard of paramount
principles. and would not the success of the