New-York tribune., 1903-07-16
KENTUCKY IN LINE.
INDORSES ROOSETELT.
almost a Stampede for Bradley an
Convention.

Louisville July 15-spectacular in the extreme
was the opening session of the Kentucky Republi-
can State Convention at the Auditorium this after
noon. and the situation full Of possibilities for
more interesting occurrences The two salient
features OF the afternoon session were first,
dorsement Of President Roosevelt's candidacy in
1904; second. almost stampede to former Governor
William o. Bradley. who is not an announced can
didate. for Governor.
The Endorsement OF President Roosevelt's can
didacy in 1904 upset the calculations OF several
shrewd leaders who, IL is charged. were figuring
on ignoring that point.
The convention was called to order this afternoon
by State Chairman c. NJ Barnett who announced
the business before the convention to be the noni-
nation of a full State ticket. There are three
candidates for Governor-Colonel Morris b Bel
knap. Louisville merchant: Augustus E Wilson,
a Louisville attorney, and State Attorney General
Clifton j. Pratt, the only man on the Taylor ticket
in 1889 to secure his Office after the bitter legal
contest
Chairman Barnett announced that the State
Central Committee would waive its right arbi-
trarily to name the temporary chairman and
called for nominations Major William c. Owens
was named by the Belknap forces while Charles
hlahIoro received a large part of the combined
strength OF the Wilson and Pratt forces The re-
suit was a vote Of 151 to SO in favor of Owens.
This vote in the contest for governor would enable
Belknap to win even should he lose the contested
Louisville delegation of 249 votes.
The committees credentials. rules and order
uons were then announced. In announcing the
names OF the members of the resolutions commit
tee Chairman Owens called attention to the rule
that all resolutions be offered the committee
without being read unless unanimous consent
snouId be obtained for promulgating them the
floor Of the convention 1t had been openly charged
during the day that fight would be made against
lndorsement by the committee OF RooseVelt's can
oldacy. This state of affairs was charged to the
former collector Of internal revenue, Charles E.
Sapp, and former United States Senator Deboe,
who led the Belknap forces and organized the con-
vention
Immediately after the committees were an
Hounced, Ex-Governor Bradley took the floor and
offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That We the Republicans of Kentucky.
Theodore Roose1et 9 6PpFSga4 "a ana adnraT9n 6 eI
him for the Republican nomination for President in
The resolution was read by Ex-Governor Bradley
without having first obtained consent. but it was
UNANIMOUSLY adopted by rising vote. every dele
gate springing TO his feet and cheering. Imme-
dlately afterward Ex-Governor Bradley had a
tremendous ovation After FIVE minutes uninter-
rupted cheering he consented take the stage and
speak. The pth Of his remarks was an appeal
Ior honest elections and honest conventions, and
he referred indirectly the contest over the Louis
vie vie oelegatlon by pleading that the delegates
Oty d man whose nethoos had Deen Ialt
support The speech was powerfully put and there
stampede to Bradley. Hundreds Of delegates gath
eIec ABOUT MIN ana declared that he was the man
who most nearly resembed the picture he had
himself drawn. If Bradley had been placed in
most unanimous vote on the assumption that his
domination would wipe out any bitterness caused
supporting A. p. Wilson, who Is contesting the
entire Louisville delegation Credentials were
given the Louisville delegation by the men at the
mead OF the local party machine.
presentation Of the Roosevelt resolution was i'm
promptu His oratory is of the rough and ready
took the delegates by storm: He said the Republi-
r. @ ~ Was Was aI~ays Ior the country and TO-DAY
racy was merely organization opposition and that
ment by injunction in order govern itself in ole
hentucky- he then scored the Democratic ad-
ment Of the states affaiTs
Never was there such an opportunity for Re
publican success in this State now" sale
Ex-Governor Bradley. in conclusion. There ma!
never be such opportunity again The Demo
Gratis have shown that they are not ft to holC
offices. and have even sunk low enough TO stea
If we are TO denounce dishonesty among Demo
the best man and vote for him, and let him be
who IS honest.
told what to do after he is elected. We want tn
strongest man in the party, and the Wht
There We're loud cries Of Bradley is the man
The speaker continued. saying that the party
would not tolerate man who ran for an office by
proxy. As Governor Bradley returned TO his sea-
among the delegates in the With District the con
vention rose and cheered him for fully five min
utes. The chairman tried in vain 70 restore order
The former Governor was finally forced TO return
to the stand; Speaking briefly, he begged for order
anC thanked the deegdteS Tor their applause
After hour OF steadily growing excitement the
convention suddenly adjourned until o'clock to
night.
The report of the committee on credentials y
was announced at the night session. would not b
ready tonight and adjournment was taken unit
Q o'clock tomorrow morning. The delay in tn
committee caused by the contest the
Louisville delegation the Wilson forces develop
ing unexpected strength. While waiting for new!
of what the committee would do, the delegates
called necessarily for Bradley, showing that th'
effects of the outburst of the afternoon had no
been dissipated- The Bradley sentiment so SUD
denly, but strongly developed, unsettled the cal
culations of the politicians and silenced pre-
dictons 70 the outcome. Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue Yerkes made a speech at the even
ing session indicating his preference for Belknap
4 ballot for the gOvernOrship nomination may
not be reached until tomorrow afternoon