Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1903-04-28

am nov hllng | wrote to Governor Beck
ham this lr'ter:
frankfort, KY. March 26 1908
Dear Governor enclose you a list OF
my appointments and cordially invite yot
20 atterd them. and promise that In the
event you accept the invitation you shall
be treated with the utmost courtesy, and
be accorded such division OF time you
may desire II for any reason you can not
attend and should make a list OF appoint
ments OF your own, l Will regard it as a
great personal favor II you do me the kind
ness to notify me OF the time and place OF
your speakings.
Sincerely your friend,
JOHN X. HENDRICK.
Hon. J. c. w. Beekham, Frankfort, KY"
LETTER UNANSWERED
enclosed that letter in an envelope TO
Governor Beckham with u printed return
card on the corner of the envelope. The
letter has never been returned to me, nor
answered by Governor Beckham. That 1t
was written In the language given and
mailed rs | have stated can be 0ttested by
| two gentlemen In Frankfort. He may call
/ that courteous and gallant treatment OF
an opponent, but / am glad to say that
/ was taught pOiteness In a different school
After falling to receive a response 10 my
! letter | sen Governor Beckham, from
| Springfield last Saturday, telegram word
/ ed * follows:
Governor J. c. W. Beckham, Frankfort,
! Ky:
"WiH you divide time with me at Owens
borot Please answer
JOHN n HENDRICKS.
Now 1t comes to pass that this telegram
turns up VI h the prefix, Governor"
omitted, and the word Boss" inserted az
ter Mr.. Beckhams name. As soon as /
heard Of this / went 10 Manager charles
Smith OF the Western Union Telegraph
company, at Louisville, and asked TO see
q copy OF my message as 1t was reayed
at that office Nr. Smith very kindly pro
cured II for me, and IL was found precisely
as I had sent 81 from Springfield. The
word Boss" did not appear. Mr.. Beck
ham aud his followers have sought 10
make campaign material Of this, but the
circumstance is too silly for serious con
slderation. ] have witnesses to prove that
| sent no such message, even II the records
Of the Louisville office did not show the
same.
After refusing 10 answer either my let
ter or my telegram or to furnish me with
a list Of his appointments he ran away a
distance OF 80 miles and attacked me i'm
most vicious and ungallant way when
| was not present to defend myself, and
msrePresented me so grossly that even his
friends felt chagrined al the cowardly as.
ssult / have made some % speeches dur
ing the campaign ana have not in any one
OF them uttered word even his fastiu-
Gus excelency could complain Of wlthou,
IL be- an oTensc 10 comment on the public
acts OF an oficial and give the record
touching his administration fully and
fairly
AS no BECKHAM'S ELIGIBILITY.
In his speech at Owensboro the governor
gave birth 10 this wonderful piece OF
logic:
Il can. therefore, say in all truth and
candOr that ] would not be a candidate
one minute for this office II there was the
slightest doubt Of my eligibility, or the
least danger OF controversy about my cleo
ton; nor. would The court OF appeals have
ordered my name placed upon the ballots
for the primary II that court had believed
me ineligible"
The public will rejoice to learn that
that there is no doubt about his being elig.
iblc. And after The governor had thus de
liyered himself he proceeds IN the discus
sion Of the question by asserting that ms
two opponents opened the issue before the
people with the purpose of raising confu-
sion and doubt in their minds about it.
wonder with what purpose the governor
opened the issue when lac went to the trou-
BILE and expense OF employing lawyers and
insurlng court costs for the express pur-
pose of having the question tested. He
certainly would not have gone to such ex-
traOrdiDary expense IL he had no doubt
about his eligibility. as he now grayely
i1furms the public If he had doubt
enough Ia his own mind TO sue his bosom
friend, Allie W. Young, he should not
blame tho voter II he likewise entertains
a fhat oil fp,t
am at loss to know why the governor
did not back his opinion up by reading in
his Owensbc"o effort the decision OF tae
court OF appeals touching his eligibility.
Ii Will be nored by even a casual observer
that the court WIS not favorable 10 the
idea OF his eligibility. While II Is true
the court emphasizes the Idea that they
do not pass upon his eligibility. and thst
very fact suggests to thc legal mind to
pause and think and inquire why the court
said that the decision must not be under.
stood as passing upon his eligibility. l
read from the opinion this interesting Ian
gpage; THE governing authority of the
party has no right to determine who Is elig-
ible under the laws OF the land to hold
office. THE PERSONS WHO
ARE ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE
PRIMARY ARE THE ONES no DETER.
/ NINE WHO SHALL RE SELECTED AS
\
LAR OFFICE" The court certainly by
the use Of this emphatic language after
I they had said thar they must not be un
derslOOd az declaring him eligible meant
to sound note ~ warning. when n de
/ clarcd Ia so many words that the voters
must look out for themselves. / have hor
/ toforc published The opinion Of some -
lawyers, four Of Them being circuit judge,
/ and all Of them standing high In the Er,-
/ fcssion. to he effect that they dld not
consider Governor Beckham eligible to re-
/ election. I'm fact, have never seen di--
interested lawyer. who has given the que
/ lion any attention. who did not believe
/ that The governor is Ineligible to re-elcc.
! ton
THAI his nomination and reelection
would again embroil the party In another
contest and bring great cost upon the PEG.
pie. ana further embitter and disrupt The
party no one but smpleton will doubt.
II the people are willing to pay such "a
price to violate the spirit Of the constltu-
lion ! VIII not complain
II is strange that the governor. in face