The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-03-04

on That EventfuI Friday and Were
Taken Unawares.
Frankfort, KY, March 3.-The sena-
torial race came to an unexpected
close last Friday, when the four Dem
ocrats, Charlton, McNutt and Mueller
of Louisville and Lillard of Boyle. who
have persistently refused to vote for
Beckham, voted for Bradley and elect
ed him. The finish was an exciting
one, as the Republicans quietly set
trap for the Democrats and caught
them mapping. It takes seventy votes
to make a quorum Of the joint assem-
bly,, and II all the Democrats but those
who voted for Bradley had remained
out of the joint session Friday there
would not have been a quorum, as
several Republicans were out OF the
city. The Democrats knew this, but
as the absent Republicans and Demo
Gratis were paired, they thought it
would not make any difference, and
that thesday's ballot would be just like
the others that preceded it. When the
roll-call began the Democrats voted for
| Beckham and the Republicans for
| Bradley When CharltOn's name was
called he voted for Wheeler Campbell
as usual, but after five or six Demo
Gratis had voted for Beckham. which
insured quorum, he arose and chang
Ell his vote to Bradley. The Demo
Gratis realized then that they were in
the meshes of the trap, and as the roll.
call proceeded there was much sour
rying about and hurried whispered con-
ferences. but when McNutt, Mueller
and Lillard all voted for Bradley the
race was over The Democrats fought
for time to try to get together and al
low the boiling Democrats to select
some other Democrat and unite on
him, but it was too late, the die was
cast Governor Beckham came inside
the hall and whispered to e-of his
leaders. Senator Combs OF Lexington
announced that Beckham was no long
er a candidate and all Democrats were
at liberty to vote for any other Demo
crat they might choose, but they could
unite on no other man. Senator New
man of Woodford announced that he
was authorized to say that a caucus
of the Democrats would be held that
night and another nomine selected II
the boiling Democrats would come
back and keep Bradley from being
elected, but 1t all did no good, and af-
ter more than an hour OF wrangling
the result was finally announced and
Bradley declared elected. sixty-four
having voted for him and sixty-three
against him. 1t was the first time in
the history of the state that Legislators
elected by one political party had gone
completely over and helped elect the
nominee Of the other party Many in
stances are on record where legisla-
tors refused TO support their party
nominee, but they always cast their
votes for another member OF their par
ty. OF course there is some bitterness
and charges that money was used are
being made. but the public has grown
so accustomed to money being used In
politics that It is looked upon as a
matter Of course. Anyhow, II It was
sought to prove who paid the money
or who received 1t, the witnesses
would likely testify like the negro wit
ness when asked what was the color
of the suit worn BY the man he had
seen running through his house. and
he replied: We'll, sir, It seems as II
he had on a dark. red-checked, wine
colored, brown suit" The public will
be ready to believe that money was
used, but as to who paid. who receiv
ed 1t or how much was paid, nobody
will ever tell.
There is much speculation as to
what effect the result in the senatorial
race will have on the county unit local
option bill. but no one seems to know
as one side says it means the defeat
OF the bill, while the other side says
II means the bill will surely pass. The
bill has already passed the house and
is now in the senate awaiting what
ever fate may befall it. 1t has been
the current UNDERSTANDING dDOul
Frankfort that the bill would be pass
ed by the house whenever it came tC
vote, but that it would be held VI
and killed by delay when IL reached
the senate, as that body has been con
sidered about evenly divided on the
question. The senate committee OF
religion and morals, to which such
bills are always referred, is largely
composed of anti-county-unit senators
and If the house bill is referred to thai
committee it may refuse to report II
at all. This being the case, fight will
likely be made to refer 1t to some
other committee more favorable to 1t:
passage. 1t is believed here that II the
bill is not passed. Governor Wilson