The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1907-10-16

DldQlOy hnCW VI luC CAlbbCnCC VI tilto
claim because he approved vouchers
for $4,000 for expenses for having It
investigated. In a letter signed by
his assistant Acknowledgement, whom
he appointed, that official says: 81
will state that In the year of 1896
learned of the decision in the New
York case, and at once set about to
enforce the collection of the claim of
Kentucky and for the purpose went
to Washington in January. 1897, and
collected data and decisions which
convinced me that Kentucky could re-
cover something near one hundred
thousand dollars. came back 10
Frankfort and laid the whole matter
before the governor and II seemed
little faith was placed by the state
administration in the success of pros
ecuting the claim and the governor
and auditor decided that they would
not advance expenses, etc, and the
matter was dropped as | did not feel
justified in advancing my own money.
1 had no doubt If l had done SO
could have received a contingent fee
of 20 per cent If l had taken the risk
Of collections"
If such a contract had been made
by Gov. Bradley and the same amount
had been collected then the fee for
its collection would have beer $780,
900 instead of $71,000 But nothing
further was done by that administra-
ton toward the collection of this
money, and when I came into Office
| employed Capt. Calhoun to collect
it, After that employment the dis
tinguished ex-governor who had failed
in his duty in the matter as governor
sought to get employment with Capt.
Calhoun and secure a part of the fee.
He wrote the following letter to Cal
houn:
February 18th, 1902
Dear Captain Il notice that a bill
has been passed authorizing the EN-
ployment of counsel in collection of
Kentucky war claim.
81 write merely to suggest that I
might be of some assistance and will
thank you if you see fit to make
some suggestions concerning the mat
ter. Your friend,
(Signed) "W. o. BRADLEY"
Facts Speak for Themselves.
These facts speak for themselves,
and it is not necessary to aid anyone
in forming a sensible conclusion about
them. After his dereliction of duty as
governor in regard to this important
matter he sought to make amends by
an attempt to divide the fee for col
lection with Capt. Calhoun. And get
he boasts of the "many worthy things"
and the splendid financial achiev-
ments" of his administration! He I'M
dertakes to justify his action in the
election of 1S99-his use of the mill
tary then, and at other times-but his
tory has stamped with its vigorous
disapproval those acts of his and his
usurpations of power. No excuse
whatever can be given for what he
did, and time cannot wipe out the
disgraceful blot of his unwarranted
action in those matters. He says thai
Goebel and the Democratic ticket were
not elected. The general assembly
of the state said that they were. The
courts, from the circuit court of the
state to the supreme court of the
United States INDICATED that decision
of the general assembly. In the cleo
ton of 1900, when | was the candidate
of the Democratic party. to fill out
Gov. Goebel's unexpired term, the Re-
publicans made that question an issue
In the campaign. They had a corrur-
ton fund. furnished by the National
Republican Committee, of 1907, 900 to
defeat the Democratic ticket and yet
the people in that election Endorsed
the decision of their general assem-
bly, by electing me with nearly 1000
majority. They further Endorsed that
action in the election of 1903 by elect
ing our state ticket with nearly $4,000
majority. That question has been set
tied by every possible earthly tribunal,
settled in every instance in our favor.
He has the hardwood to boast of his
action in using the militia at the polls
in 1899, and yet he could not spend
his remaining years with better grace
than in the continual effort to apollo
gize to the people for that crime
against free elections, and that blow
at civil liberty. He spells his areu
ment by undertaking to refer to tho
election of 1905 In the city of Louis
Vile, which was declared void by the
court OF appeals last spring. The his
tory of that case shows that remedies
for fraudulent elections may be found
in our courts, and not by the use al
military at the polls. His reference
to that case was most unfortunate for
there II was shown that Democratic
court would remedy such evils even
where Democratic oficials should lose
their places, and in the opinion OF
the court In that case It was held
that the use of military at the polls
would invalidate an election.
His attempt to make fun of the
election in the Baily's Mill precinct In
Franklin county, where 1t is claimed
there we're 104 votes fraudulen'lv
cotnfad for the nnpnorrafiC tiCkate