Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-19
ACTIVITY IN KENTUCKY
BETTER ORGANIC
ED THAN EVER BEFORE.
Democrats and Populists at Outs and
Former Are Working to Hold
State for Parker.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

LEXINGTON, KY, October II. 1904.
The past week has witne ssed increased
activities the part of both the republic
cans and democrats in this state. The
campaign. headquarters of the two parties
in Louisville present lively appearance,
while speakers penetrating all parts of
the state. It is little early to make any
accurate predictions as to the outcome, as
the Kentucky campaign late in getting
started, but 1t is safe to say the margin on
either side will be close one. Kentucky
voted for Mckinley in 1896 by the narrow
margin of a little over two hundred votes
In 1900 Bryan carried it by a little less
than five thousand votes. In other elec-
lions held before and since this time the
vote has been rema rkably close.
The failure of the populists to make the
necessary certification to county clerks in
the various congressional districts of the
nominees for Congress will result in the
omission Of the names of all congressional
nominees OF the populsts from the ballots.
This removes one of the republican assets.
as the republicans have confidently relied
on the loss of popuist votes to the demo-
Gratis to materially assist them in winning
the closer districts.
Populist Electors All Right.
The populists were not so slow, however,
in regard to the presidential electors, the
certification having been made In time, and
all proper forms complied with to insure
the. appearance of the names of the preSi-
Dental electors on the ballots.
TIE: populists are very bitter against their
former allies, the democrats, for having
surrendered to the 'reorganzers and it is
thought probable that in a great many
instances the omission of the names of the
popuiist congressional nominees will re-
dound to the benefit of the republican nom
inees for Congress, If in fact it does not
have the effect of causing them to go the
limit and vote the straight republican
ticket
The democrats ara claiming as an offset to
the populist disaffcctiop the return Of a
great many gold democrats who have been
acting with the republicans in the last two
campaigns. This condition adds another ell
ement of doubt to the situation and the
politicians at headquarters are busy re-
ceiving reports from over the state, casting
up the totals, and endeavoring 10 strike
balance. The vote in the last two presi-
Dental elections was sufficiently close to
warrant apprehension over any unusual
complications.
Gains in Registration
Reports received at republican headquar-
tiers In Louisville from the registration over
the state, develops the fact that the re-
publican gains in the registration in Louis
Vile held good also in a majority of the
cities and towns, Lexington showing up
with republican gain of several hundred.
The registration Is now complete with the
exception Of the three supplemental days
the week before election, at which time
only those voters who were absent from
home or sick at the time of the regular
registration. are entitled to register.
Thomas L. Walker, secretary of the re-
publican state campaign committee gave
out the following statement in regard to
the result of the registration:
1--WE have every reason to feel gratified.
So far as we can learn the registration has
been extremely favorable, and we are con-
fldent that a much heavier vote will be
polled than might be thought from looking
at the republican registration table. Thou
sands of people registered as democrats will
vote the republican ticket. Every day our
committee becomes more pleased, with the
outlook, 49,. = - ~ :.
By long odds the republicans, not only
in Louisville, but throughout the state I'M
doubtedly have the best organization they
have had in many years. The preliminary
test given during the registration proved
that the organization Is more thorough. bet
ter schooled in its duties. firmer and more
determined than any which Kentucky DEM
ocrats have had to face in long time.
Fraud Discovered.
A gigantic registration fraud has just
been discovered in Louisville. In one pre-
cinct-the thirty-fourth of the twelfth ward
forty three names were frauduently en-
tered on the books after the registration
had closed. An investigation is now in
pr ogress to ascertain if possible who is re-
sponsible for this fraud. The discovery has
created considerable discussion, and the
other registration books are now being
thoroughly overhauled and carefully scru-
tinized.
United States District Judge Walter Ev-
ans, in charging the federal grand jury in
session at Louisville, called attention to
election offenses and said it may be neces-
sary to call the jury together again after
the election to consider them.
A commotion was caused in the demo-
cratic ranks during the week by the dis
covery that two candidates for elector on
the democratic ticket-E. E. Barton Of Pen
dleton and c. NJ Thomas of Bourbon-are
Ineligible because they hold incompatible
offices, Barton being member of the legis-
lature and Thomas president of a national
bank. They will be required to resign and
others will be named to take their places.
Contest Over Control
The democrats are engaging in what
promises to be a bitter contest over the
control of the state organization. The
state organization is to be reorganiZed in
November and it looks like the national
ticket will be sacrificed in the state in
order that certain elements may control
the party machinery. Democratic papers
in Louisville are charging, ON the author
ity of Secretary Woodson of the national
committee, that Auditor Hager, the chair
man of the Kentucky democratic campaign
committee, is the only state chairman in
the country who has refused to furnish the
national committee with list of the pre-
cinct and county chairmen. The national
committee, according to the published re-
ports, has therefore declined to do business
with the state chairman and is working di-
rect through county organizations. The re-
suit of this arrangement is that the state
committee is without the necessary funds
to make a proper showing, as was evil
denced in the registration.
1t has been charged that $4,000 was fur
nished the state committee to handle the
registration with, but every one in author
fty, including the party workers, emphati-
cally denies that any amount was fur
nished.
An Important Conference.
Senators Blackburn and McCreary and w.
B. Haldeman editor of the Times, who are
the recognized leaders of the anti-machine
democracy, and who have been given the
cold shoulder in the management of the
campaign, have become distressed and
few days since held an important confer
ence in Louisville at which ways and means
were discussed for saving the state for
Parker. State Chairman Hager and his
faction, which includes Governor Beckham,
were silver men, and 1t, is limited that those
in control of the organization are doing
about as little as possible for the national