The Washington herald., 1908-03-03
what Has Happened in kentucky?


Mr. Bryan regards the election OF Will
liam o. Bradley as United States SEN
ator from Kentucky as a great mis-
fortune" 10 the Democratic party. That.
however. IS not the view taken by the
four Democrats who refused to be bound
by the party primary which nominated
J. c. w. Beckham. and who. after making
every effort TO compromise on another can
dldate, finally voted for Bradley. Those
four men have given reasons for their
action that. assuming the facts TO be
as they state them, are creditable 20
their judgment and illuminative OF polit-
zeal conditions In Kentucky. They be-
Heved that Beckham was the poorest as
set the Democratic party had He had
built Up a subservient and corrupt politi-
cal machine-a machine so obnoxious that
party revolt against il cost the Democrats
the governorship. he was in complete
control Of the party organization. and
had used his power TO place in the United
States Senate man Of his own choice,
prefeTing TO serve out his term as gov
ernor before comforting the toga on him
self. Yet he took care TO have the Sena-
torial primary held two years before the
legislative election. In that primary his
enemies believe him TO have been beaten
and they aIlege that only by his control Of
the count was he able to show a majority
in his favor
When the legislature met, it quickly de-
veloped that BeckhEm could not be elect
ed He would consent to no compromise,
though il was clearly demonstrated that
II he withdrew a Democratic Senator
could be chosen. Beckham's plan was 10
deadlock the legislature until adjourn
ment and make another Senatorial cam
paign. His enemies and many Of his
friends felt that such campaign would
be disastrous 20 the party. They declared
that it meant the election Of d Republican
ASSEMBLE and the loss Of the Senatorship,
anyway. II the Republican legislature
should redistrict the State that party
would bo able 10 continue in power in
definitely. Il was reasoned that. from
purely partisan standpoint, it would
be well 60 get rid Of Beckham. As one
Democratic State senator said, in cast
ing his vote for Bradley: 1t was for
the best interest of the Democratic party
" PANfNAAL ANtlhU4lNau hllLDLlto III Lue
future. We broke the machine by elect
ing a Republican. and that was the only
way that could have been done" An
other Democratic member who voted for
Bradley said it would be good thing
for both parties to get rid of the profess
sional politicians. but that in supporting
Bradley he was casting the best Demo
cratic vote Of his life. These men believe
they have delivered their party from the
rule Of an obnoxious boss, and that they
have saved the State from bitter politi-
cal fight for the Seuatorship that would
have resulted disasTously 10 the party.
The Kentucky reaction against machine
rule appears. therefore. 70 be similar In
its nature To those revolts against boss
ism which have been characteristic of
American politics I'm the last decade The
yoke of party regularity, when il sits
too heavily on mind and conscience. is
apt to be thrown off by the average
American citizen, and a boss who leads
his party to disaster is treading a dan
gerOus path. OF Beckhams downfall. the
Louisville Courier-Journal says that I'll
1t is also the end Of Beckhamism il will
be the beginning Of terminated De-
mocracy." Should that prophecy prove
true. the election Of Bradley may be
a hollow victory for the Republicans.