The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-03-13
THE KENTUCKY FlASC0
DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED FOR
BRADLEY GUILTY.
Republican Political Headquarters at
the Capital Are Numerous and
Varied.
BY WILLIS j. ABBOT.


The reelection Of former Governor
Bradley to be senator Of the United
States from Kentucky has created
much regret in the Democratic party In
Kentucky and in Washington. The
outcome of the Kentucky senatorial
election is most unfortunate one. The
Democrats had plurality Of four and
should have elected some candidate.
That they could not all unite on Beck
ham is perhaps not without reason.
While Mr.. Beckham had his fifty-elSht
or sixty votes. there was always Il
small faction bitterly opposed to him.
But when at the last moment Governor
Beckham offered to retire and to throw
his overwhelming votes in favor Of any
Democrat the four men who prOfcSscd
allegiance to the Democratic ticket. but
who refused then to accept his PROPOSE
ton and joined in electing 4 Republic
an. were guilty Of party treason and
should not again be recognized as lnem-
bcrs Of tie Democratic party III ken-
lucky. They could have done nothing
more trcaSonable. If Il man elected by
the Democratic party in Kentucky as
il presidential ciector should at the last
moment cast his vote for the Republic
IN candidate for president. he could do
nothing more diShOnorablc or more dis
creditable than these men did when
they cast their four votes for 4 Repub-
lican senator.
Here in Washington there are two
explanations given Of the action Oh
these four former Democrats. One Is
that If the senatorial election was
hung up" and the Legislature adjourn
ed without elccting senator the next
state election would turn on the issue
Of Beckham and aAti-Beckham. anu
for that reason these four men, pre-
sumably Democrats, cast their votes
for the Republican candidate.
The other suggestion, which was
made to ME recently by a Republican
senator. was rather more suggestive.
He called attention to the fact that
Becklam had beaten j. G.. S. Black
burn. better known us Joe Blackburn.
for reelection to the senate and that
Blackburn was very bitter about 1T.
He also pointed out that former Sell
ator Blackburn, who had been a DEM
ocratic leader in the United States SEN
ate. had received from the Roosevelt
administration a public office which
pays him $4,000 4 year. Should not
Blackburn give u little quid pro quo
for that?" asked the man who spoke
to me. Il notice that the votes noml-
nally Democratic. but which finally
went to the Republican candidate,
were all Blackburn votes. or course
he held off before making payment for
his comfortable job on the Panama
canal commission long enough to make
1t appear that he was not really inter,
estcd. but the final result is very S'lg'
gestive to me. 1t looks as If he was
getting even with the new power IN
Kentucky which drove him out of the
senate"
The story seems plausible. do not
myself stand for it. but it is being
talked about in the clOakrooms OF both
the house and the senate. Many prom
incnt men in public life believe that
this is the true explanation OF the Ken
tucky fiasco.
That Second Elective Term.
washington is getting very much
iadcd about political headquarters. Ot
course the Republican party. being al;
ways rich and having reduced the mat
ter of raising funds to a SYSTEM always
has its headquarters maintained here
and a we'll pnid and comfortable lot OF
clerks, stcL0 sraphcrs, secretaries and
assistant chuirmen in charge. How
ever poor the country may be, however
empty that famous dinner pail. the peo
ple who work for the Republican ma
tional committee are prosperous, vel
paid and sure Of :; permanent job. But
that Is not the point. We are getting
here in Washington more kinds OF po
litical headquarters than ever known
TO politics. Right next To the RepuD
lcan headquarters Is suit OF rooms
filled with press agents. cartoonlsts
stcnographerS and secretaries, all palu
bv the Hon. Jonathan Bourne, senator
from the state Of Oregon, and all work
ing with one accord for the renomina
ton of Theodore Roosevelt. In an
other building only two blocks away
headquarters were established for Sch
atur KAoX and maintained for some
time. though it is to be noted regret
fully that now the Knox headquarters
are not as active as they were SlS
weeks ago. In third building the
Cannon headquarters nave been start
ed. although the real headquarters OF
the speaker are in the speakers room
1T the capitol. Nobody can possibly
touch the influence which is eXertcd
when Il country congressman with his
two delegates in his pocket is asked tt
call on the speaker. The Fairbanks
boom is being conducted from Il suit OF
rooms in Il hotel widely KNOWN through
out the United States. 1t is moro
quietly pressed, more modesty pushed
than either Of the others. My own Iud@
mcnt is that il is not making muc!
Roadway and that Mr.. Fairbanks HIN
self does not regard this year rs Il pro
pitious 0uc for his election. Rut Of al
the noisy. brass band candidates. now
being urged that Of the president him
self is the loudcst. Senator Bourne