The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-10-08
A CAUTIOUS CRITIC.


Governor Wilson Is not the peer of
his predecessor and complains that he
talked too much about his Office and
performance. Let us see IL this criti-
cism Is Just or captious. AS to the
comparison with his predecessor. we
have only to say that our contempor-
airy raised no voice Of protest when
his predecessor, after twp terms in
Office, was contemptuously kicked out
OF the Democratic organization.
As to Governor Wilson's repeated
references toi his own performance.
We ask what better subject for dis
cussion between the man to whom
the people delegate those functions
apd the people? II was his first visit
to Paducah since his election. The
people have right to an accounting
a of his stewardship TO date and his
pans and purpose. And who better
to make the report than the governor
himself? II that monster crowd did
not go to hear just that, then IL
gathered there to hear Republican
speaker discuss national issues, and
the News-Democrat may enjoy what
ever satisfaction i can from that re
markable demonstration Of interest.
II the people desired to hear from
their governor what he Is doing for
them. then the News-Democrat must
admit 1t was guilty of a mean, parti-
san spirit in criticizing him. What
ever the crowd went there for, IL Il
a self-evident fact that il went. and il
heard and enjoyed both the account
ing and the political speech.
1.-THE governor spoke at some
length upon night riding, and
showed no desire TO hide the light of
his own activity under a bushel. He
spoke over much of what he had done
as governor to correct the evils that
exist in certain portions OF Kentucky.
of what he intended 10 do to suppress
lawlessness: but failed TO disclose the
fact that what has been done along
this line has been done largely by the
courts, with Democratic judges on the
bench and Democratic prosecuting
attorneys at their posts of duty"
says the News-Democrat.
II the courts and officials had done
their duty we would not have had
soldiers on guard.
We presume it refers to Judge
Cook and Judge Gordon and Gem
monwealth's Attorney Denny Smith,
let al. The only county officials in
the Black Patch. who are trying to
do their duty. are protected by state
guards, for which they asked to pro-
tect them against the other county
officials. Governor Wilson's refer
ence to what he has done and in
tends to do to suppress night riding
was but part OF his accounting and
he did not minimize the expense of
IL, chargeab,e to the night riders. He
very justly resented the fact that
Democratic campaign orators have
been making incendiary speeches and
denonncing the state for sending SOL
diers into the Black Patch. an act of
which our contemporary says:
Governor Wilson's ideas regard
ing the suppression OF lawlessness in
Kentucky and the establishment of
order meets with our fullest ap-
prevail"
Yet our own Ollie James in a
speech in McCracken county said the
state will go Democratic II Governor
Wilson's soldiers will let us vote"
impugnlng the motives Of the gov
ernor, rejecting on the character OF
the state guard attempting TO arouse
popular feeling against the effort to
restore law ana protect Kentucky
homes from violence.
In the Second district Congressman
Stanley is being accused by his oppo-
nent on the stump of being a night
rider orator and he does not deny It.
Is Il any wonder Governor Wilson
mentions these overt efforts TO en-
barrass the forces of law and order ?
Everything that does so encourages
the outlaws. especially when they
think men in official positions sympa-
tbize with them and will protect
them.
! Western Kentucky will have TO
give the night riders and their judges
and officials beating at the polls.
and the forces OF law and order an
Endorsement this fail. II She would
free herself from this awful reign OF
anarchy. II they win a victory 1t
viii ciinch their hold on the Demo-
cratic organization by indicating that
the faction which gets their votes
will always win without losing the
better element and night riders will
constitute the balance Of power.