The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1904-05-17
The Lexington Convention

greSS1Onal District, met IN solemn cOnclaVc
and unanimously resolved to defeat the
denomination of the Hon. South Trimble.
Plans were skillfully laid and schemes
cunningly devised to bring about this
"consumation ,devoutly to be wished.
The first fruits of this meeting were
seen when the Hon. Pres. Kimball, of
Fayette, the Hon. Campbell Cantrill, Of
Scott, and the Hon. Samuel DeHaven, of
Oldham, were announced as candidates to
succeed Mr.. Trimble The next thing de-
cided upon to assure the overthrow of
Mr.. Trimble was to have the district COM
mittee to call a convention and to
be held in the city of Lexington.
To encompass Mr.. Trimble's defeat, it
was further decided upon and agreed that
the party law must be violated in making
the basis of representation the last
Gubernatorial instead of the last
Presidential vote. The effect ofEthis was
to give Fayette county % votes in the con-
vention and to cut down Owen, a strong
Trimble county, from II TO IA votes. BY
this strategic movement it would give the
combined anti Trimble forces 90 votes,
enough to organize the convention and con-
troll nomination. When the District Commit
tee met at Frankfort and voted TO hold the
convention at Lexington, and to base each
county'S representation on the last Cover
nor S vote the politicians who had so adroit-
! ly devised this plan, felt sure of the defeat
OF Mr.. Irimble and equally as certain of
| Mr.. KlmbalFS nomination In fact it
seemed for gone conclusion that the
above scheme was so skillfully planned
that all that Was to be done was 10
| patiently await the coming of the
convention day, when it would
just as neatly be carried into execution.
Had Bourbon county been consulted in
in this division of party affairs and party
honors? Was she represented at this
meeting, and was she to get anything in
the divide? Nay! Nay Fayette county
and Lexington had come to believe and
look upon US as their contest owr,' ever
ready and willing to respond to Lexingtons
bidding. What cared Lexington if Bour-
bon county had ambitious sons, eminently
fitted to represent this grand old district
in. Congress? Bourbon county was not
needed to carry into successful txecu-
ton the schemes of Lexington and she
was ANONYMOUSLY ignored.
But Bourbon county had favorite son
IN the Hon. Claude M. Thomas, and after
a careful survey OF the difficulties which
ne saw in his way, he concluded to try to
secure the coveted nomination He and
his friends felt that if he failed at this
time, 1t would certainly put him In good
form to enter the contest two years hence.
They saw at least fighting chance for
Mr.. Thomas to win, even though it was
realized that every stroke was to be
against high tide. Good politicians began
to think Mr.. Trimble was hopelessly
beaten. They saw in this gigantic com
! bar
ize the convention and control the nomina-
ton. Fayette county had % votes, SEQ t
county had IL, Woodford 8 and Oldham 5.
making a total of SO votes, two more than
necessary for a choice,
| 1t was decided among Mr. Thomas and
his friends that his only chance to break
the combine was to go at once to the
county of Woodford and secure at least a
divide of its delegation. 1t was gener-
ally conceded that the votes of Wood
ford would be secured by Senator Camp
bell Cantrill. 1t was we'll known that
Senator Cantrill did not at any time expect
TO be nominated, nor was it his purpose to
secure the nomination for himself. He
was in the fight to aid his distinguished
tether in his Appellate aspirations. For
this he was highly commended. When
the Versailles convention gave Claude
Thomas four votes and allowed him to
name such delegates as DIR. Meet, Harry
McWilIiams, Harry Taylor and Henry
Jesse, from that good hour, only the
nomination of Claude Thomas or South
Trimbie was probable.
Mr.. Trimble had an eDviable position,
having 80 votes from Owen, Henry and
| Franklin, which no one could ever get
without Mr.. Trimble's consent, AMI he
was the second choice, politically, of every
one Of his opponents. Mr. Trimble could
have remained at his home asleep and
been nominated. 1t was evident Mr.
| Kinball didn't want Mr.. Thomas for the
same reason that Mr.. Thomas didn't want
Mr.. Kimhall each felt that to see his
opponent win would be to put out of con-
sideration any other man for several
terms The proposition of Fayette to
nominate that distinguished son of Wood
ford, Judge Robt. Stout, was never made
in good faith. and Woodford need not feel
unkindly towards DIR. Meet for being
shrewd enough to see through Lexing-
tons bluff, and for sticking to Claude
Thomas.
When the Bourbon delegation arrived
in Lexington they were confronted with a
proposition from Mr.. Trimble's friends to
.
liar proposition came from the friends of
Mr.. Kimball. To accept that of Mr..
Trimble's friends, Bourbon county be-
lieved she would be asked to seat one half
of the contesting delegates; from Wood
ford for Mr.. Trimble. This she was un-
willing to do. On the other hand, she de-
clined to enter into negotiations with the
Kimball people, for she believed they de-
sired seating one-half of the contesting
delegation from the county of Owen for
Mr.. Douglass. Bourbon heldsaloof from
any complication and decided to put up
Judge Henry c. Smith for Temporary
Chairman.
Bourbon county has no quarrel with
Fayette county, or with any one. She is
perfectly satisfied with the convention
She has no other choice laude NJ.
Thomas made gallant fight. He comes
through with clean hands, no pledges
broken, no promises unredeemed, all re-
ports sent out from Lexington to the con
trary Notwithstanding No candidate
ever went out in any district and in such
short time made as many strong and