The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-08-23
HIGH-CLASS ENTHUSIASTIC ADDRESS
DELIVERED BY AUGUSTUS E. Wilson

tive part in all the public and party
affairs, not only have been disregard
ed and set aside, but they do not even
think they have any part In choosing
the candidates of their party.
1--WE are treated to real political pol
tics, in which the combination of mer
who may not let their right hand
know what their left hand doeth,
very practical idea Of it, have taken
posse ssion of the State and the Demo-
cratic party, body and "britches,' and
divided it up among themselves for
their personal, private and peculiar
enjoyment. Gov. Beckham took an
office, which he knew he was not elect
ed to, in the rush of a fierce storm
of passion, and held itand once in
power, with all the influence of that
great office, used IL TO force his re-
nomination and reelection and all
along the line we are treated TO the
spectacle of a fixed set in a sort of
game of progressive politics, in the
sense in which they speak of progress
sive enchre. where the progress is not
in general and open to all, but con-
sists in moving up the same people
without letting anybody else into the
game.
For example, Governor Beckham
began as a member Of Legislature, and
then Speaker, and then Lieutenant
Governor and then Governor and first
the death of the Governor and Sec
ond by election, when he had himself
chosen, and then nominated by the
premature primary for United States
Senator-not that we would complain
of so handsome and winning man
being promoted from modest begin
nings TO noble distinction, for that is
the kind of progress that We dangle be-
fore the eyes of all American boys;
but then-there's Judge Hager. Coun-
ty Judge, then Treasurer of Kentucky,
then Auditor OF Public Accounts, then
nominated for Governor at the primed
primary-he isn't running for Sena-
tor now, but We may expect it in
four years from now, unless the
machine sets the clock back, more
than eighteen months for the next
primary.
"And then there's Mr.. Bosworth,
don't just exactly recollect where the
drill first dropped his kernel of corn,
but l suppose he was sheriff, or
something like that, and then he was
nominated for Treasurer, and then
just naturally got the still-born pri-
mary's nomination for Auditor of Pub
lie Accounts.
IF this progressive game goes on
nominated for Governor next, and thsn
for Senator, even if he has to use his
influence with the State Committee
two or three years ahead of the cleo
tion-now don't think have any idea
of arguing against mems being pro-
noted, by reason of showing their Ca
pacity for useful work. Most men
who have become distinguished have
come up just that way. But these
fine fruits don't happen on every tree,
nor happen every day, and when a
whole bunch of them keep happening
together, and follow exactly the same
steps, the doctrine of chances lends
some doubt to the providential charac-
ter of the development and gradually
breeds the suspicion that human
scheming and endeavor have taken
the trouble of arranging these things
out of the hands of Providence.
GRANDSTAND PLAY.
ct is a remarkable grandstand
play, the sudden awakening of Gov.
Beckham and Auditor Hager to an
intense desire for fair election. and
to a serious rebuke about frauds on
election day.
"Gov. Beckham took John MarshalPs
office, when he was never elected to
it, and he used the power Of the
peoples Governor to force his renomi-
nation for Governor and to secure his
election and as his term passed on, he
used his power as Governor to give
places and arouse hopes of places to
make over the State Central Commit
tee; and when he had reconstructed
it TO suit his purposes, he caused 1t
to call primary for the nomination
of State ticket year and a half
before the election and put into that
primary an Endorsement for Senator,
taking his pains that the decision by
the Democrats should be made while
he was in full power as Governor and
Mr.. Hager in full power as Auditor,
to rotate Mr.. Hager from Auditor to
Governor, and Mr.. Beckham from aOv
ernor to Senator, by the unscrupulous
use of the power given them to serve
the people.
"Mr. Hager illustrates the Beckham
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