The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1908-04-28
To the Democrats OF the Seventh
Congressional District.


Congressional District in calling off the
primary election for May 18th and SUBJ
shutting therefor Mass Conventions at
each county seat on August % to select
delegates to attend the District Conven-
ton at Lexington on September 3, COM
pels me as a candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination to tax your patience
with another letter.
Although the original call of the Com
mittee was very unfair and unjust and
drawn altogether in the interest of the
present Congressman, l accepted it pro-
visions in good faith and began can
vass of the eight counties of the District
although 1 had but 30 days in which to
make the fight.
spent a considerable amount Of
money in advertising my candidacy
over the District and was in the field
making my appeal to the people for fair
play and a square deal. Your Com.
mittee, seeing that the people of the
District were determined to stand by
me at the polls on the 18th day of May,
IN order to nulify the will Of the voters,
rescinded its former action and ordered
Mass Conventions for August Goth. 1
desire every voter to know that l was
opposed to this change.
was strongly in favor of a primary
election and the change to Convention
was made over my protest. The pur-
pose of the Committee is to endeavor TO
disfranchise as many of the farmers and
country people as possible by dragging
them miles to the county seat in order
that they may cast their votes in this
election.
The majority of the District Com
mittee seems willing to adopt any arbi-
trary rule which will deprive me of this
nomination, and therefore come again
before the people under the new call of
the Committee and urgethem to stand
by me in protesting against such I'M
called for and unfair action.
The first call of the Committee al
lowed but As days for canvass of eight
counties, taxed each candidate $4,000
to enter the race and placed all details
of holding the election in the hands of
the friends of the present Congressman,
denying me any representation at all
and taking the entire matter into their
own hands.
In the face of these unfair and unjust
conditions | entered the race and was
making my appeal to the voters of the
District. The Committee seeing that
the people were standing upon my side
and that they had fallen into the pit
they had dug for me, changed their
plans and ordered Mass Conventions for
August 29th
1t seems they were afraid to pull the
trigger on the gun they had loaded for
May 18th. If had controlled the Com
mittee and had set the trap for my op-
ponent and had got caught in it myself
1 would certainly have swallowed my
medicine and gone to the post on May
18th regardless of my fate.
The time has come in Kentucky when
the farmers and those in sympathy with
the farmers must stand up for their
rights and use the power they have in
every legitimate way. This action of
the Committee in ordering Mass Con-
ventions at the county seats put the
farmers and people in the country at
great disadvantage in casting their votes
and having voice in the councils of
the party.
However, l trust that you will agree
with me that the issues involved in this
contest are of sufficient Importance for
you to take time to attend the Conven-
ton and that you will register your pro-
test against the action of a Committee
which seeks to handicap you in the ex-
ercise of your suffrage
/ hope to meet you in person before
the Convention and to have an op-
portunity to discuss fully all of the
questions involved in this race So far
as l am concerned the canvass will be
made IN good humor and upon a high
plane. trust you deem me worthy of
the honor 1 seek at your hands and that
will have your influence and support.
Sincerely,
j. CAMPBELL CANTRILL.