Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-19
NEW LOUISVILLE DEAL
REVOLUTION RESULT
OF RECENT COURT DECISION.

LOUISVILLE, KY, July 19.-With the
appointment by Gov. Beckham Of complete
new boards Of councilmen and aldermen
in day or two Louisville will have reach
ed the elimination Of a political revolution
which in extent and effects has only been
paralleled by one or two other cities of
the first class in the history of the United
States. The upheaval Is the result of the
recent decision Of the Kentucky court Of
appeals overtu-ning the municipal election
of 1905. On the face Of the returns, as
counted on election day. the democratic
ticket for city and county officers Gefrer-
son county, had been declared elected, but
contest in the courts was instituted by
representatives of the fusion ticket, the
only one in the field against the democrats.
The court of appeals in the final hearing
of the case decided that gross frauds
in repeating. illegal voting. intimidation of
voters and Justification of the count had
prevailed to such an extent as to render
the election invalid. Under the terms Of
the courts mandate 1t became incumbent
on Gov. Beckham to appoint boards Of
council and aldermen and a mayor for the
city of Louisville and county judge. The
mayor and county judge were under the
law empowered to fill all the remaining
county and city offices made vacant by the
decision. All the appointees under the de-
cision hold Office until a special election Is
held in November Of this year to fill the
Appointed by Governor.
Gov. Beckham appointed Robert W. Bing-
ham mayor. Walter P. Lincoln was ap-
pointed county judge.
The new mayor and county judge pro-
ceeded forthwith to make practically q
clean sweep Of all the minor offices, such as
city treasurer. county sheriff. ETC.. to the
number of eighteen only two or possibly
three of those holding under the 1908 cleo
ton having been allowed to hold on until
November. Nor have any of the unsuc-
cessful fusion candidates been appointed to
any OF the vacant places; but one promi-
nent fusion leader was appointed sheriff.
The mayor also appointed new boards Of
safety and public works. The board Of
works Is reported to be contemplating q
general cleanup Of those holding positions
In that department, on the ground that In
common with a number of members of the
police and fire departments the chief work
timidation and cenniving at election frauds
which caused the overturning Of the 1905
election
Fierce Struggle Predicted.
The board Of safety has already made a
start by securing the resignation Of Chief
of Police Gunther and the reduction OF AS
sistant Chief Ridge and six captains, all
the commanding officers of the police de-
partment, to the rank Of patrolmen. SINH
lar sweeping changes are expected to be
made in the fire department. although
Mayor Bingham announced last night that
he would retain the chief, Fillmore TYSON
One of the results thus far of the changes
has been the putting OF the lid down tight
on saloons and gambling and the general
exodus Of small gamblers and tenderloin
habitues and suspects OF all kinds. Last
Sunday Louisville was absolutely dry
from midnight Saturday until o'clock
Monday morning.
The situation seems to be shaping itself
toward one Of the fiercest struggles ever
known in Louisville politics the coming au-
tumn, when the ousted officials and their
following hope, through the primaries and
election, to regain control.