The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1908-01-08
WARILY WATCHING
Both Sides In Interesting Senatorial
Contest Keeping Eyes Open
to the Main Chance.
PROBABILITY OF A DEADLOCK
Open Runners Of a Break From the
Beckham Ranks Creates Engrossing
Situation at the Opening Of Ken
tuoky's General Assembly.


tuoky's General Assembly.
Frankfort, KY, Jan. For many
reasons the present session of the
kentucky legislature promises to be a
memorable one, and Kentucky has had
several memorable legislatures, par
jdcularly in 1884, in 1896 and In 1900
OF course; the chief interest oenters
IN the race for United States senator
and the possibility of deadlock. Gov
ernor Beckham is the nominee Of the
Democratic party for senator, but
there have been persistent rumors that
some OF the Democratic senators and
representatives will not vote for him.
The legislature In joint ballot stands
70 Democrats to IS Republicans, the
senate having % Democrats and 16
Republicans, while the house has 81
Democrats and 40 Republicans. If as
many as four Democrats refuse to
vote for Beckham, deadlock will re-
suit. 1t has been frequently asserted
IN the newspapers that this Demo
cratic legislator or that one, would not
support Beckham, but so far no one
has openly announced that he would
vote against him.
On the Republican side II seems to
be conceded that Ex-Governor w. o.
Bradley will be nominated to oppose
Beckham. and some of ths Republi-
can leaders have declared positively
that the house would be organized by
them and not by the Democrats. If
this be- true then a deadlock is sure to
result.
The first vote for senator will not be
taken lillian. 81, although the legisla-
ture convenes on Jan. Z. The senate
1nd house will vote separately in their
respective chambers on Jan. Fl and
will meet in joint session in the house
the following day to ratify the election
II someone was elected. or to take an
other ballot IL no one was elected the
day before.
Each side is warily watching the
other now and neither side is doing
any talking as to plans, but. each is
willing to take advantage Of any mis-
take made by the others. The de-
plorable feature of II all is that II is
almost sure to bring about much bit
terness II a deadlock comes. There
will be number OF contests for seats
in the house filed by both Republicans
and Democrats. These will be fought
over bitterly, as the house is so close
that one vote may decide the fate Of
every contestant for a seat, for II one
contestant is seated he will naturally
vote with his party to unseat others.
If one Democrat in the house re-
fuses to vote with his party, the house
will be deadlocked and cannot be or.
EAnized till some other man deserts or
The deserter comes back. In such an
went James e. Stone. chief clerk Of
he last house. will preside. az the
law makes II his duty to "call the
house to order and preside TIL the
&peaker Is elected" II q deadlock
<omes Mr.. Stone will preside from
( day to day till someone comes over
81 goes over" and votes for the
other fellow" II all the talk about a
feadlook proves to be "mooAshine."
zen W. J. Gooch. Democrat. Of simp-
t6n county, will be elected speaker OF
eae house and James e. Stone chief
#srk.
There seems to be NO chance of a
4z3diock In the senate. but that body
~ have its troubles a. well ~ the
&<1se. II all Indications ara true. In
1118 when W. ]. WorthiHgtoo (Nep.)
Wee lieutenant governor, the majority
~ The senator's were Democrats, so
1Aex passed q rule providing for
eve>lal committee to select all the
eterding committees Of the senate.
Iheretofore It had been the custom for
TIE lieutenant governor, who is ex-
o11eio president Of the senate, to ap-
point all the committees, probably for
the reason that the lieutenant COVER
nor and the majority in the senate had
always been OF the same political par
~. since the war.
II has been stated that the Demo
Gratis in the present senate would re-
neat what was done in 1896, as VIM.
n. Cox, the present lieutenant COVER
nor, is a Republican. Cox has served
two terms In the senate and has been
very popular with the Democrats in
that body, so 1t is possible that they
may agree to let him appoint the COM
mittees. The senate and house meet
today. but 1t is probable the standing
eommIttees will not be appointed be-
fore next Saturday or Monday. so it
VIM be several days before 1t is deter
mined who will name the senate COM
nkittees.
Qne u the measures that WIN be bit
tsrly fbusht over this session win be
ne bllI OK bitis DnexAtns ~ srsdia-