The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1903-09-16
PHONE 50 4 E. c. WINES DRUG STORE A COR MAIN FIRST

dollars until the fiscal affairs should get
In normal condition again. That is the
present rate, but am happy to say, that
by reason of the prudence, economy and
business-like management of the demo-
cratic state officials IL will be possible for
the general assembly next winter to
either materially reduce the present rate,
or TO so apportion il In the interest Of the
school fund that thereafter it will be pos
sible, without additional taxation, to give
a seven months public school term in
stead OF i've months term. as now.
This l believe would be wise policy.
and 1t is made possible by the financial
management OF the present democratic
state Ofticials. And yet Mr.. Belknap talks
about giving the state business" ad-
mtnistratiOHi But We shall pay our re-
spects to him on that subject later on.
with all our debts and claIlas paId Chcre
viii be In the state treasury on the LIST
OF next January nearly $1,60O, 900. The
largest showing ever before made in the
state. There is not a state in the union
whose fiscal affairs can make a better
showing than ours Still Mr. Belknap
says you ought to have a change. What
will the people say? l think L know the
Kentucky people too well to be uneasy
about their verdict.
In addition to this excellent financial
showing II can also be proven that the
present administration has done more to
improve and enlarge the public institu-
lions of the state than any other admin
istratiOn ever did. We have 50 mt much
money in needed improvements in all the
charitable institutions, the state college,
the state normal school for cOlOred peO-
pie, the deaf and dumb institute, and the
two penitentiaries. All of thes insutu-
tons are in a better condition now than
ever before. The two prisons, instead Of
being great drain upon the revenues OF
the state. as they used to be under the
old management. are now under The bust
ness-like control of democratic officials
self-supporting, and am informed by the
commissioners that this year they will
pay small revenue to the state instead
OF being tax upon 1t. as was the case
before the present system was adopted
Let US make "A comparison upon Iues-
ton of prison management ami see the
difference between the republican and the
democratic administrations. During the
years OF 1870, 1879 and 1888 In G Brad
ley's administration, to run the two pris-
ons cost the state $500 157- OIL. During the
years 1901, 1902 and 1903, under this admin
istration, they have cost the state only
$l2, "a. This makes a saving to the
state in the three years Jt,yl3.of.
These figures speak for themselves. Sew
eral of the charitable institutions OF the
state have been so administered that they
have been able out of their allowances
under the law to save enough to buy con-
siderable additional land for tie insti-
buttons and to make other valuable i'm
provements-all out of their per capita
allowance. Much political ca gital has
been sought to be made out of the man
agement of some of these inst tutionss
but / can say and prove that never be-
fore were they more successful Or cap
ably managed than they have been dur
ing the last three years. There was some
trouble at the Hopkinsvine asylum over
two years ago. l made a most careful
investigation of II and concluded that the
superintendent was responsible for it. L
promptly removed him and put another
man in his place. Since then there has
been no trouble there. Last spring a big
sensation was attempted to be made out
of some charges of cruelty to patients at
the Lakeland asylum, and an effort made
TO hold me directly accountable for them
because I had appointed the head officials
of that institution. An investig ttiOn was
made by the board OF commissioners,
and also by myself in person and by my
representative. i found that in two cases
attendants had used unnecessary force In
dealing with patients, and when dlScOV-
cred the two attendants were promptly
discharged. The principal charges made
against the officials there, and about
whose testimony so much was said by
the hostile press. were made by two con-
Wet patients; George POrtwOOd and
Mary Noble, and to give some idea OF the
character of this testimony l VIII tell
who they are. POrtwOOd several years
ago killed man in Lexington, and upon
trial was sentenced TO be hanged. Gov.
bradley commuisd his sentence TO NE
Imprisonment. He made application to
me for a full parcOn. 1t was -etused-
He feigned insanity and was tried on
that question last winter The jury was
deceived and authorized his transfer TO
the asylum. He was taken to Lakeland,
but the doctors there quickly discovered
his purpose, and that was to escape.
They took extra precautions with him
therefore offended at them for no letting
him get away, and at me because did
not pardon him He was trying 20 get
even in his testimony. He las been
transferred back to the prison where he
properly belongs. The other witness,
Mary Noble, was transferred from the
prison to the asylum. She, TOO, had to be
closely watched. She was not insane.
Her prison term expired while she was at
the asylum and she was released. Since
then she has been arrested upon char &c
of housebreaking, and is now in the
Louisville jail. Such Is the testimony
upon which the republicans rely about
the terrible state of affairs at the asy-
lum. There are about 1,3OO patents in
the institution, the population OF a fifth
class town. 1t is impossible that in such
a large institution there should not be
occasional mishap or wrong, but there
have been remarkably few there during
this administration, for the supetGnJend-
ent and his assistants are men of the
kindest hearts and are as watchful and
careful of the comfort of these unfortu-
nate beings as It is possible to BE-. If 1
had had the slightest reason to believe
that any one OF them had been guilty OF
the least cruelty or negligeI wOuld
have been promptly removed. No one
visits that Institution who is not i'm
pressed with its splendid management
and the excellent care taken OF the IN
mates. But the republicans are exceed
ingly hard up for campaign material, and
are grasping at straws in their desperate
efforts. However, If they are anxious to
make an issue Of the management OF
state institutions 1 will cheerfully accom-
modate them and compare this adminis-
tration with the republican administra-
ton. with it's troubles at IN NIng
asylum, the Feeble Minded institute, the
prisons and other places. l have moth
ing to conceal and would be proud or the
comparison. The present administration
has established one additional public
institution, and that is the Home for the
Aged and Infirm Confederate Soldiers at
Pewee Valley, where the old veterans OF
the Confederacy who draw no pensions
from the government can be well cared
for and looked after in their old age.
We have also passed law giving ma
terial assistance TO the Children's Home,
one Of the most praiseworthy charities
in the state, where little orphans and
waits are gathered, and trained and pro-
vided with good homes. Such charities
as these appeal to the sentiments of all
good people.
This same Republican platform under
takes to criticiSe me for what IL terms
my abuse OF the pardoning power. Again
they have performed a great service for
me, for 1t calls forth an examination OF
my record and a comparison with the
records of some of my predecessors
These records have been very carefully
examined, they are open to the public,
and am very proud OF the showing
which they make. shall give the sta
tistics from the records of Gov. Brown,
Gov. Bradley and my own. In doing so
there is not the slightest desire or inten-
ton upon my part to reflect upon or
criticize the actions of these two distin-
guished governors; for L a. e that
they acted conscientfously in these mat
tiers and did what they thought was
right. But as this question been
brought up, and an unlimited number of
Misrepresentation and falsehoods have
been circulated about my pardon record,
and an effort made to create the impress
sion that I have used the power excess
sively. l must make comparisons and let
the people see how little truth there IS IN
what has been said and published The
figures shown by the executive journals
and the prison records reveal the fact
that 1 have exercised executive clemency
far less than either of these two prede-
cessors, and that with prison population
considered, my percentage of pardons
will compare favorabiy with any other
chief executive. The mendacity Of GER
tain republican newspapers about these
matters as well as others in the last few
months, has never been equaled. The
republican organ at Louisville, edited and
run by a gang of professional and dis
reputable blackmailers, has tried to see
how many falsehoods it could publish
about these pardons, and never makes a