The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1905-05-05
TRIUMPH OF THE RING
About $50 Democrats Meet
and Ratify Machines Choice
Secret Conferences Held Among
the Ring Leaders During
the Proceedings.

According to previous announce
ment a Democratic mass convention
was held at the Court House here
last Monday at which the nominal
tons of candidates for the various
county officers were ratified. The
meeting was called to order by coun-
ty Chairman I. j. Smith who per-
formed his part of the program with
an air of consciousness of the ultl-
mate outcome of the meeting. AS
a further part of the program, Mr..
G.. b. Likens was elected permanent
chairman and on assuming the duties
of that positions took occasion to dis
claim knowledge of the fact that ne
was to act in that capacity. AT this
juncture little diversion from
the rings program was necessary.
Mr.. Heber. Matthews was too i'll TO
assume the duties of Secretary and
in his stead some one else had to be
substituted
A committee on resolutions was
appointed by Chairman Likens who
directed the.members thereof to re-
tire to his office where they procur-
ed the resolutions which the Ring
had previously prepared and in a few
minutes were ready to report.
The resolutions are rather lengthy
and bear the ear-marks of the midi
vidual in whose praise they speak
loudest. The major part of the re
markable resolutatory document
was devoted to discussion of the
financial affairs of the county and
forlorn attempt to deceive the pub
lie as to the status thereof. II also
lavishly praises Judge Miller but fails
to cite an instance in which he has
portrayed any extraordinary ability
or more than passingly performed his
duties in the conduct of public af-
fairs.
There were present about $50 to
300 Democrats and in several of the
races desperate attempts were made
by those Democrats who believe in
an open, free, and fair choice of the
nominees to break the slate agreed
upon by the Hartford Ring" but
all efforts were Unavailing and the
ring candidates to a man received
the nominations. When non-ring
man seemed about to win nomina-
ton the proceedings were stopped
long enough for the manipulators
to have a secret conference and eth
er scare him off, pursuade him off
or buy him off.
1t was a cut and dried affair from
first to last and the third term man
was to even a casual observer the rul-
ing power behind the thrown. His
bidding was done in the finest detail
and the apparent remarkably harm
monious proceedings were due to the
, fact that all the candidates had been
; nominated by the third term man
and his ring several days before the
convention day and the Publications
made easy by simply passing the
word around on the morning of the
convention. The ring crowd run
everything highhanded and the poor
fellows who happened not to be on
the slate were routed in every i'm
stance
The ticket as nominated will how
ever serve all purposes of the min
ority party. There is of course no
hope on part of the nominees or the
party that any of them will be elected,
and waving the questionable means
by which the nominees were chos-
en-, it is composed of about as good
men as minority party usually sue
ceeds in naming.
The ticket is as follows: j. d.
Cooper, Fordsville, Representative;
j. P, Miller, Hartford, Judge; Lon
Smith, Westerfeld, Clerk Tom But
Ter. Shreve, Sheriff; w. H. Barnes,
Hartford, County Attorney; A. P.
Taylor, Beaver Dam, Superintend-
ent of Schools; T. C. Park, Clear Run,
Jailer; j. T. Moore, Sulphur Springs,