The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1907-06-28
Democrats Ready For State
Contest.

field, and adopted and promulgated it's
platform, the issues of the campaign
are made, and the Democratic nomi-
nees and party leaders are ready for
the contest before the people of Ken
lucky. In no campaign of late years
have the prospects for Democratic
success been more fattering, or the
campaigners of the party more ready
to go upon the stump as the champions
of their nominees. Since making their
nominations the Democrats have been
impatiently awaiting the action of the
opposition party, the selection of their
candidates, and especially their party
platform. This meaningless document,
silent and dodger on the most i'm
portant question of the day in Ken
lucky, that of temperance and law en-
forcement, will put thousands of in
dependent citizens in the Democratic
columns in November. The Democratic
party needs no written platform to
meet it, and would not even were it
more strongly written, for the Demo-
cratic platform is written on the pub
lie records of the Commonwealth. on
its Executive Journal, its Assembly
Acts, its Court Opinions, and in the
management of its fiscal affairs for
the past seven years. From these
records the orators of the party will
draw their inspiration in campaigning
this year, and with the record put be-
fore the people of the State there can
be no doubt as to the result at the
polls in November. 1t has nothing to
fear from the closest scrutiny of the
public records in the matter of money
expenditures, and. throwing down
the gauntlet to the Republicans, it has
placed at the head of its State ticket,
Judge S. w. Hager, the man who since
1900 has had direct charge and control
of the fiscal affairs of the state govern
ment. This man, whose every political
effort has been crowned with success,
both at the hands of his party and
people at the polls, it is to be pitted
against man, who as the Republican
nominee for Governor, has never
known success in a political battle. and
who is known not only in his party but
to all who take an interest in pub
lie affairs as a good man to carry the
party banner when there is no hope of
being successful in the fight.
Something of Judge Hager, the
Democratic nominee for Governor and
head of the state ticket, will be Of
especial interest to the people Of the
State at this time when the picture of
his opponent is being heralded in the
Republican press Of the State. AS stat
ed above, he has the first time to know
defeat in political campaign. Com
ing into State politics about eight
years ago from the Office of County
Jugde of the most progressive county
of Eastern Kentucky, Boyd, whose
fiscal affairs ne made a record manag-
ing, he easily won the party nomina-
ton for Treasurer of Kentucky. Fill
ing that office for four years, he early
attracted the attention of his associates
in the other State Departments as a
man of affairs, and he had not served
half his term before his name was be-
ing urged by those who knew his worth
for the more important office Of Auditor
of Public Accounts. Entering that
race he easily took the lead for the
nomination, and added strength to the
ticket upon which he was placed as the
Democratic nominee. The record
which he has made as Auditor is
known to every business man in Ken
lucky who has occasion to come in
contact with him in business way,
and, as the party candidate for Cover
nor, he is most willing that his every
act while in that office shall be weighed
by the people in ascertaining his fitness
and especial qualifications for. the office
of Chief Executive of the State. In
nominating him, the Democratic party
feels that he has especial fitness to
be the chief officer of the Common
wealth because of the long service
III the fiscal department which he has
acquainted him with every depart
ment of the government, its conditions
and its needs, because, as Governor,
he will take position at the head of
the several important'State Boards and
Commissions, on which he has been
a ranking member for several years,
and is in better position than any one
else, certainly in better position than his
Republican opponent, to carry out pres