The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-09-06
fLAYS
AA6ER ALIVE.
Says He. Talks More Like a
Ward Heller Than Gov.
Declares be wonld Refuse to Par
don Any Man Justly Convict
ed Of Goebel Killing.

In response 10 candidate Hsgers
inquiry AS to wnat he would do If
elected Governor, about pardoning Ca
leb Powers and others accused of inc
murder of Goebel Mr.. Wilson in his
Williamsburg speech Monday said:
II had anticipated thai some ire
sponsible person not expected to know
the properties Of the case, or some
mere political heller would ask mo in
some public meeting what would do
about the Powers case but | had not
expected That the nominee for Gov
ernor of Kentucky, who is 30 ask the
support Of the people of Kentucky for
himself, as man trained by executive
duties 90 understand the proprie-
ties in such matters, to ask such
question, much less had / supposed it
possible that he would seek in 1907 TO
revive the passions and excitement of
the tragedy which robbed the Rnpub-
Leans of the State Government, set
neighbor against neighbor, and seek to
substitute old hates, passion and pre-
jucies of which the whole state has
become inexpressibly wearied, by this
passage in his address which no read
from manuscript carefully prepared
by all the force of all the Democrat
ic politicians and press bureau writes
through all the days from the 18th of
August, when l made my informal ad-
dress at Maysville until now"
MIR. Hager knows, that the people
Of Kentucky known from my life and
my unfaltering support of law and Or
der, that / would refust an application
for the pardon of any man justly con-
victed-ef the assassination, and that
any upright man would do the same.
and his talk was more worthy of a
cheap politician or ward heller than
man aspiring to the noble office of
Governor of Kentucky, and his declar-
ing his intention in advance of trial
or record to refuse such pardon is con
elusive proof out of his own mouth
that he is unfit and unworthy to be
Governor of Kentucky or any other
honorable Commonwealth.
II would lose my good right hand
before l would knowingly sign the
pardon of any man guilty Of crime.
l have no party feeling in this
matter, and submit to you that there
is no page in the history of my life |
that would justify any such thought o /
IF Mr.. Powers should be convict |
ed by fair jury in fair trial, and
the record should come to me with an
application for pardon, / should con-
slider 1t without thought of party or
person with just as sacred feeling of
responsibility as any judge, and shoul
decide it according to law, the facts
and the right, without fear or favor,
looking only to my duty, my honor
and the convictions of all good men
and until the record be presented TO
me l could not answer il | wished
what my decision shall be, but it will
be calm, just and under the sacred
of my oath of office
ind by the high official duty under the
Constitution and the law. 4
"Mr. Hager may disregard the pro-
>rieties and l may say the decency
Of so serious mater as announcing
ais intention on the life and death or
liberty of a citizen yet to be lawfully
ried on criminal charge before the
'ecord is made or the case presented
according TO law, but l cannot SO for
get the right to the respect and conf
lence of the people of Kentucky, and
mall not, and leave him to take the /;
position Of Judge announcing his in {
ended decision in advance of trial |
md without the record, according to [
lis party necessities and political feel
ngs.
While / cannot honorably or Justly
eek votes much less the confidence
# the people by any partisan declara- |
ion nor by any indication that l shall /;
10 ON the one side what he will
10 on the the other l know shall
10 my duty as God-fearing, law-lov- [
ng citizen and Chief Magistrate. and !
n that spirit ask the trust and con- '
idence of the people of Kentucky ,
Without regard TO party, relying with
ut anxiety upon the just judgment
4 all the people of a great Common
1ealth in judgment to be given not {
n political meetings or under parti- {
an appeals to passion and prejudice, I
ut the calm, honest, thoughtful I