The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1903-10-01

did not think he was ineligible and
said so, but there were some Of the
best lawyers and judges in the State
and 100000 Democrats who said
differently and l won't put my
Judgment against them. I'm going
to vote the Democratic ticket and If
you don't do it you are not as good a
Democrat as am. did complain
about Beckham's pardons. but when l
went to the records found that Brad.
ley had pardoned twice Is many men
as Beckham."
While speech Of any length can not
be well reduced to . few lines, Col.
Hendrick probably said in . substance
what he is quoted as having said.
His words, however, are palpably
luke-wsrm. They show that he is
not enthusiastic, and that he is no
more convinced now that Gov. Beck
ham is eligible than he was before.
This eligibility question is one at
which many q good Democrat is going
to shy. Dol. Hendrick is q good
lawyer and knows that no matter how
many lawyers say Gov. Beckham is
eligible, there are just as many and
good lawyers who say he is not. He
knows that a lawyer can usually give
any kind of an opinion you want. and
does it. Hence Col. Hendricks
argument that good lawyers think
Gov. Beckham is eligible is of no
force, 1t does not make him so, and
does not make Col. Hendrick himself
think so. Col. Hendricks statement
that 1884, 900 Democrats think Gov.
Beckham is eligible is little bit ex-
travagant. These Democrats voted
for Governor Beckham, or many of
them did, because Col Hendrick flew
the coop and left no one else to vote
for. They did not by their vote say
they believed Gov. Beckham was
eligible, however, and IL they did it
would not make him so. 104, 900 or
104 million Democrats do not consti
tute the courts, and about two thirds
Of them probably know about as little
law as did those who furnished advice !
to our own injunction crowd here in
paducah several months ago. This
was the kind Of advice the courts ,
failed to concur in when the time
,ame, Therefore Gov. Peckham is
BOT necessarily eligible because few
lawyers, judges and others say he is.
The courts are here TO settle those
kind Of questions, ard Col. Hendrick,
In Offering to the people, who heard
him speak at Murray the fimsy excuse
he gave for now advocsting the Dsmo-
cratic ticket, is Understanding their
Col. Hendrick knows
that Gov. Beckham is just as ineli-
gible now as he was when Col Hen
drick was using this as one of the
main arguments why he should not be
chosen nominee by the Democrats.
Further, if what Col. Hendrick said
about the Democratic nominee for
Governor was true before the primary,
and he now is sincere in asking the
people to elect him Governor, he
certainly has little regard for the well
fare of his state or the good Of his
people.
As to his reference to paydons, Gov.
Becknam's pardon record has never
been made public and verified. Like
the legislative records of few years
ago, his pardon record seems to have
been made to order. The number Of
men former Gov. Bradley pardoned
has nothing to do with the number
Gov. Beokham pardoned. Gov. Brad
ley is not running for Office, and his
pardon record has no bearing on that
of the present governor. and whatever
it was, il does not justify that of Gov
Beckhnm. 1t is to be hoped by the
Republicans that Col. Hendrick will
remain on the stump. lie ought to
help the Republican cause