The sun., 1908-05-20
Is Governor Wilson a Failure q?

Our very good friends in Kentucky are
getting bored or impatient or Indifferent,
as the case may be. They are not realiz-
ing their expectations When last au-
tumn they elected a Republican Gov
ernor, the Hon. AUGUSTUS f. WILSON,
it seemed to them that their troubles
were at an end. They had been per-
picked and worried by various things
which as 1t seemed TO them no Demo-
crat could handle properly, so they went
over to the other side in the hope of
relief. Mr. WILSON was elected by
Democratic votes, chiefly in the city OF
Louisville. Everybody knows that.
Now the Kentuckians, after waiting
several months for results that ought to
have been visible, long ago, are slowly
but surely lapsing into discomfort. There
is, for instance, the case of CALEB Pow
RRs, in the penitentiary under sentence
for the murder Of Governor GoEBEL
years ago. He has been tried three or
four times, once condemned to death,
again to imprisonment, and 80 on. On
each occasion he has secured new trial
At one time Kentuckians were hot for his
blood. Their beloved Governor had
been assassinated in broad daylight and
they thirsted for vengeance on his slayer.
POWERS was arraigned. They settled on
him as a sacrifice. He was tried and
sentenced first, then again and afterward
once more. Doubts existed, and as the
years went by they revived. Finally
it came about that public sentiment in
Kentucky no longer demanded the head
Of POWERS on charger. People had
ceased to care about Powers. The orig
inal excitement had passed. After all,
GoEBEL was not native. He was only
O oarpetbagger about whom, in cold
blood. nobody cared very much after all.
Looking over the ground the people
sSh6 heGi been clansoring 80 loudly came
to the conclusion that POWERS might as
,wen be set free as not. OF course
democratic Governor could hardly do It.
I JOE BLACKBURN had once, over a new
made grave devoted himself to the pur-
suit and punishment of GoEBEL. Later
he. became one of, GoRBRL's most obe-
1ieat hepchmen, These complications
Nu&iplfedS and ranifed. GoEBEL had
reached the crest Of the wave. He had
the machine in his pocket and every
Office seeker In the party was compelled
to look to him. So, when he fell to the
bullet Of an assassin, common decency
held democrats together-of the Joe
blackburn type, at all events-and from
ono end Of the State to the other there
farose cry, for CALEB PowERss blood.
This cryS as we have shown, has been
sstilled. Nobody cares any longer what
gbecomes OF the quondam scapegoat.
What they want In Kentucky is to have
\ the matter disposed of at once and for
ever, and it is there that the new Gov
ernor hatts.
Governor WILSON Is procrastiDating in
other respects. he hasn't met the night
riders with the promptness and severity
they deserved. He treats then. as he
would a police court case--with solemn
|deliberation and prayerfu thought
sssHs5feas III Ills capacity as Governor he
.iiieeds TO show the iron hand, Here again
the law abiding nasses are stFieken with
'c6nstefnation. They expected prompt re-
lief from q condition Of brigandage and
,haye been introduced to q cool, dispas-
sion6te and unduly prolonged adumbra-
don. They want the outlaws dealt with as
such. He considers them an factors La q
somewhat complicated civilization. In
scther,words oil things wait upon Gov
ernor WI1AsoN'srp philosophical reveries.
He 10 examining the pepers Ia CALEB
PowHas's case with more than languid