Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-26
POLITICS IN KENTUCKY
THE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN Is
ALREADY WARNING UP.
Senator Blackburn Reported to Have a
Fight on His Hands for Re-
Election-Beckham Talk.
pecial Correspondence of The Sunday Star.

Special Correspondence of The Sunday Star.
LOUISVILLE, KY, March %, 1906
With the adjournment of the extra ses-
sion of the Senate, Senator ]. c. S. Black
burn will soon be coming home to look
after his political fences. A year or so ago
it looked like Senator Blackburn might not
be returned to the Senate, but the tide has
| turned again in his favor and if he is de-
| feated it will only be after a memorable
fight. The campaign is already warming
up, and the opposition to Senator Black
burn has decided upon a man to oppose
him. However, Senator Blackburn has al
ready made considerable Roadway and it
may be said that he is practically on the
defensive in the fight.
A couple of years ago it looked as if Gov.
Beckham would be the man to oppose
Blackburn, as 1t was known the young gov
ernor had ambitions in that direction. But
the senator, with the shrewdness that has
always characterized him, put the governor
in a corner, and forced statement from
him at critical time that he would not
be q candidate for the Senate. Since that
time 1t has been repeatedly said that Gov.
I Beckham would be a candidate, but the
governor himself declares he will not.
The Beckham Machine.
few weeks ago this Beckham talk re-
| burn gave out in Washington a sensational
| interview in which he scored the Beckham
| machine, and declared that he would rather
have the machine party opposition in the
| state than its support Gov. Beckham re-
piled to this, and for several days the con-
| troversy was waged, until each side wore
itself out with condemnatory words. Mean
| time the Beckham followers and the state
| machine had been casting about for a man
| on whom they could center, the result be-
| ing that last week Thomas H. Paynter, a
member of the court of appeals. announced
| his candidacy. Judge Paynter is a man
standing high In the state, and has strong
political following He was the only man
| In the democratic ranks who was able to
| defeat William Goebel. the man who later
OVERRIDE all precedents and principle and
had himself practically legislated into Of
nee. only to be assassinated before he could
take the seat
Judge Paynter has been in public office
since 1877. and his career has been UNIQUE
IN that ne has never suffered defeat. He
was appointed county attorney not long
after his admission to the bar, and one
year later went before the public. He held
| this office by election In Greenup county for
| four years. He was then made the demo-
cratic nominee for Congress from the ninth
district in 1888, and was elected. Judge
Paynter was reelected in 1890 and 1892
His last term was interrupted by his nom
|
court of appeals for the sixth district
A Memorable Campaign.
1t was in this campaign that Judge Payn-
| ter opposed the ambitions of VIM. Goebel,
| and the contest was up to that time, the
most exciting in Kentucky's history Goe-
bel, however. took his defeat good natured-
| ly, admitted the mastery of Paynter and
the two became close political and personal
friends. Judge Paynter now claims the
support of the remnant of the once DOW
| erful Goebel faction. Judge Paynter is
| still member of the court of appeals, hav-
| Ing been reelected upon the expiration of
/ his first term of eight years. He has the
reputation of being good campaigner and
] Q splendid mixer. and Is well remembered