The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-11-15
MACHINE Politics
Was The CUSAE.
Silver Craze First Step To-
wards Dissolution.
Increase of Taxation, Misman-
agement of ASylumS,
the Fruit.

The causes affecting the overwhelm-
ing defeat at the recent election of
the Democratic candidates for State
offices should, if intelligently set forth
form an interesting chapter in the his
tory of Kentucky politics While au-
thorities will differ at least as to the
prime cause of the wreck of the State
Democracy l shall point out what
seems 10 me the leading causes-for
large results are rarely attributable
to single cause-leading up TO that
result. The injection of the free silver
issue into the State campaign of 1895
may very properly be said TO have
been the beginning of the end of the
Democratic party in Kentucky. 1t not
only drove thousands of Democrats
permanently into the Republican par
ty but so loosened party lines about
many thousand others that they have
not since been a dependable quanti-
tity. However the Democrats might
have weathered the free silver storm
but for the appearance on its stage of
Senator Goebel. Unfortunately ambi-
tious for political preferment and al
most totally lacking in thosee ele-
ments of character that make for per-
sonal popularity, Senator Goebel fol-
lowed the corrupt political practices
of the times to ridiculous excess both
in the enactment of the odious election
law that dishonored his name, and
in the Music Hall convention where
he forced his nomination. Notwirh-
standing the then prevailing tolerance
of corrupt political practices and the
full control of election machinery de-
signedly constructed for stealing cleo
tons Senator Goebel led his party 10
lose to the Republicans. II is fair to
assume that the defeat of the Demo-
Gratis in 1899 was final but for the
tragic and ineXcusable death of It's
defeated candidate for Governor. The
inac ivity of the Republicans in the
effort to uncover the identity of the
assassin-now known TO have been
a grievous political blunder-lent color
to the false charge of the Democrats
that the Republican party planned and
executed the foul murder, and made
possible a further lease of power 10
the executors of Senator Goebel's fraud.
ulent political estate. AS the auto
cratic master of the music hall con-
vention Senator Goebel very material
ly assisted with himself on the State
ticket men of like ambition, and like
Willingness to sacrifice their partys
claim to popular confidence to further
their own political fortunes.
When Governor Beckham, as the
beneficiary alike of the Infamous act
of a Democratic Legislature and a
criminally insane patriot, became the
leader of the State Democracy he as
tutely saw that his political future de-
pended upon maintaining intact the
political machine fabricated by his
daring predecessor, and when three
years later he received an almost I'M
precedented majority in his race for
Governor he saw in it, not reversion
against the assassination of Goebel
and the vaciliating policy of Govern
or Taylor but, an endorsement of his
machine, and forthwith began tight
ening the screws for his ascension to
the United States Senate. Age and pub
lie service had hitherto been quail
ifications TO election to this August
body. Possessing neither Governor
Beckham invoked the aid of the ma
chine to which he owed his eminence
in public life. By judicious DISPOSE
ton of public patronage and pardons
among the members of his State Cen
trail Committee Governor Beckham had
called State primary year in ad-
vance of the election and by meth
DDS now we'll known had himself en-
dorsed as his party's candidate for
United States Senator. In the language
of the versatile Watterson the result
of that primary was not left to chance.
Having chosen himself as his party's
nominee for the United States Senate
and his faithful devotees for the State
offices his youthful triumphs were
heralded beyond the boundary lines
of the State and some bold admirer
even offered his name to the Demo-
cratic National Convention.
But unfortunately for the eKntucky
Democracy "a revolution" as Governor
Folk so tersely puts 1t, was being
wrought in the conscience of mankind
wrought in the conscience Of man
kind" In New York, In Ohio, In Mis-.