The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-11-15
In Kentucky.

The election resul in Kentucky
are really not very surprising when
we recall the recent history of the
State. The true and tried leaders Of
the party have been gradually elimi-
mated, and the small fry have been on
top. There was bound to be an end
of this sort of thing at some time,
and the end is in sight.
Kentucky is normally a Democratic
state. With men like John G. Carlisle,
VIM. Lindsey, Henry Watlerson, the
late Col. Breckenridge and others side
tracked, ii is no wonder that the De-
mocratic ascendency in Kentucky has
been tot ering recently. When Will
iamtGeobel was assassinated several
years ago, the Republican party was
seriously damaged, and Democratic
ascendency was continued by that
deed. Goebel became a martyr, and
certain set of small fry politicians
have been thriving on that martyrdom
ever since. Had Goebel not been muir
dered, he would long ago have been
rciegaJed 10 private life with the dis
approval of the people Of Kentucky.
G1eLel was able, unamicable and en-
iirCly interruptions. lie canvassed the
state of KEN ucky for governor, with
ne result that he had only a trifle
over 100 votes in a convention of over
1000 delegates. Hardin and Stone to-
gether had eight or nine votes to Goe-
bells one Yet by dcceiving and be-
raging Stone, getting control of the
organization and nervily unseating
several hundred delegates, Goebel
managed TO secure the Democratic
nomination. 1t was the most artistic
piece of highway robbery ever perpe-
Irated against the Democracy of Ken
lucky.
In the election that ensued Goebel
was defeated and the state election
commissioners, who were Democrats,
issued a certificate of election TO the
Republican candidate, Taylor But
Goebel who was still state senator,
held onn TO his purpose and put up
contest before the legislature in order
20 pluck the governorship as he pluck
ed the Democratic nomination. In
short. he was planning a cold steal.
II is hardly necessary 10 say that both
parties lost their heads, and in the
midst of the general excitement some
fool Republican shot Goebel.
1t was only natural that this muir
der should react against the Republic
can party and make people forget the
political sins of William Goebel.
But the small fry collected around
Goebel have been living on his muir
der ever since. They have the real
murderer-Ienry Youtsey-go in a
measure, and have concentrated their
effort to bring about the hanging of
Called Powers, who wasn't in Frank
fort when Goebel was killed and who
has been connected with the murder
only by transparent perjurers. The
Powers case has been a greater stain
on Kentucky than the Dreyfus case
was on France, but France had the
courage to correct her mistake.
Kentucky, however, has evidently
grown tired of steady diet of Goe-
bel The Democrats have made so
many tactical mistakes In perpetual
ing the memory of that dastardly
crime that the people have elected a
Republican governor. 1t is likely that
Gov. Wilson will pardon Powers and
right what seems TO be great wrong.
We trust he will do this not only In
the interest Of justice, but in the in
terest Of the people Of Kentucky. 1t
Is time to put the Goebel case to sleep
and resume normal ways.
Kentucky can not afford to live up
or mepnory.-Commercial Appeal,
Dem.