Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-30
General Buckner of Kentucky.

General Simon Bolivar Buckner. candi-
date for Vice President on the ticket OF the
gold democrats in 1896, is a veteran of
eighty-ive years, and in fine health and
spirits. He was for long period one of
the democratic leaders in Kentucky. and his
term as governor of the state was excep-
tionally successful. The affairs of the COM
monwealth were never better administered
than by him. But when Mr. Bryan became
the democracy's national leader General
Buckner withdrew from the party. and has
not since affiliated with it.
He is greatly beloved by the ex-confed-
crates of Kentucky, many of whom he led
in the civil war. and while in Louisville the
other day, in attendance a reunion of a
portion of his old army command was in
terviewed by the Evening Post of that city
on the political situation. AS to Mr.. Bryan
he said:
81 think all that he says should be care
fully read and fully considered by the Amer
lean people. He is apparently the leader of
the democratic party and the most probable
nominee for President in 1908. His views
are therefore matter of national impor-
lance and should be given courteous and
careful consideration.
ION the whole, | think that Mr.. Bryan 8
recent speeches show that he is more rad
iCal more dangerous and more impossible
ment ownership of railroads is one of the
most dangerous ever put forward by an
American public man. 1t is. however, a
direct genesis from his free-silver views
He himself will be more dangerous to the
country in 1908 than he was in 1896. for to
free silver he has added the fallacy of gov
eminent ownership of railroads.
1t thus appears that General Buckner and
Mr.. Watterson are in full agreement as
to the proposition for government owner
ship and operation of railroads, Both re-
gard 1t un-American. and dangerous to
our institutions. They part company. how
ever. as to Mr. Bryan himself. General
Buckner continues to reject the Nebras-
kan's leadership, while with all Mr.. Bry-
ans faults, this latest included. Mr.. Wat
terson has decided to love him still. A
fair sample of how mixed things are at
present in this great country of ours.
A democratic primary will be held in
Kentucky in November to nominate a
state ticket and a candidate for United
States senator. The campaign is on. and
things are lively from "eend to eend'' of
the blue grass state. 1t is especially bitter
as to the senatorship, and, usual every
body is claiming everything. Beckham
man will tell you that the governor has
walk-over. while a McCreary man will de-
majority of forty thousand to succeed him
self Asked for his opinion as to the gen.
eral result of the primary, General Buckner
replied:
whoever does the most stealing. If this
democratic primary Is like the others. and
we are justified in assuming that It will
be- II will narrow simply down to a ques-
ton OF who can stuff the most ballot boxes.
do not know who the people favor. Prob
ably the politicians are as ignorant. more
Indifferent There will be a steal. IL not
all down the lne at least in many places.
The men who do the most stealing will win
out for their set of candidates. l do not
know the record or the past performances
of the operators of either side. and there
fore cannot say who will triumph. The
msn who succeed in doing the most steal
ing will surely win, however,
Interest in this statement outside Of Ken
lucky proceeds from the fact that no nom
resident democratic leader had half as
much to do with the Goebel steal, out of
which these conditions have grown. as Mr..
Bryan. He visited the state. and backed
the Goebel crowd up to the handle.