The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-05
WANT SCALP OF BECKHAM Fight in Kentucky for
 Senator. TWO DEMOCRATIC FACTIONS Enemies of Nominee May Bring
 His Defeat.
TWO DEMOCRATIC FACTIONS
Black burn. watterson and McCreary are Against the Young Man. l Republicans win Nominate
 Bradley Tomorrow.
BY J. R. HoRNADY.

At the caucus of the Republican mem-
 bers of the Kentucky Legislature, to
 be held Monday night. former Governor
 w.. o. Bradley will be nominated for
 United States Senator in opposition to
 J. c. w. Beckham. the Democratic
 nominee. who recently surrendered the Eubernatorial chair to Augustus E.
 Wilison, Republican.
 There are a few Republican members
 of the Legislature who would prefer
 some other than Bradley. but on the
 eve of the canucus the indications are
 that the nomination of the former Gov-
 ernor Will be made unanimous. He
 has sufficient number of pledges to
 assure his nomination beyond all doubt. With the, nomination of Bradley the
 nEht for the seat now occupied by Sem ator McCreary will open in earnest
 and despite the fact that Beckham is
 the Democratic nominee and that the
 Democrats have a majority on joint
 ballot--controlling both branches by
 narrow margins--the result is in doubt This doubt is born of the fact that
 Beckhan. among many old line Demo-
 crats. is the most despised man in all Kentucky.
 Former Senator J. c. s. Blackburn, now Governor of the Canal Zone voiced the sentiment of this class when he SoA0s WOuIu see In9 IaIuOuS old State of Kentucky without any
 representation whatever in the Sena-
 terial halls at Washington than to see her represented by J. c. w. Beckham. i" Blackburn ia Kentucky.
 Tn this connection 1t is regarded as
 highly significant that Blackburn should have returned to Kentucky on
 the eve of the Senatorial fiEht Many believe that the long tourney from the
 scene of his official duties was inspired by q purpose to nav of an old score. It was Beckham who heaped humilia- tion upon him in 1906 by putting for mer Senator Pavnter. who defeated Blackburn. for another term as Sena-
 tor--an honor to which Blackburn and his friends felt that he was entitled.
 This defeat was a sore blow to the vet ersn statesman and there is no doubt 1t would delight Blackburn beyond measure to be able at this time to send Beckham into retirement He stilI has a strong following in the State and the
 weight of his influence will be thrown against the nominee.
 Another distinguished Kentuckian. | who, wh. He having nothing to say on the subject. would undoubtedly wit ness the undoinR of Beckham without | the shedding of tears. is Senator Mo- Creary, who was defeated by Beckham
 in the primary for United States Sena- tor. The friends of McCreary charged | and still charge. that this primary | election was carried by fraud and that Beckham's title to the nomination is | tainted.
 Henry Watterson is another noted l representative of the old school of poI- | itics who would doubtless throw his
 broad sombrero high in the air and
 shout "halleluiah" should Beckham be ! defeated.
 Small Democratic Majority. The Democrats as matters now stand
 have a majority of seven on joint bal 1 lot. Several contests may be present. ed. but it Is not believed that any | Democrat will be unseated. With a | majority of seven. it is clear that any
 four members on the Democratic side
 can. by lining uD against Beckham. ac- | complish his defeat.
 That the situation is extremely criti-
 cal is fully recognized by the friends ! Of Beckham and they have been con- l stantly at work since the retirement of the former Governor from office in an
 effort to hold the Democratic members | in line. The situation is complicated | by the fact that there are a number of
 hold-oyer members in the Legislature;
 men elected prior to the Beckham-M Me | Creary campaign. Some of these come l from counties which gave McCreary a | majority in the primary. and, it is ar | gued, they might claim that they are l not bound bv an election held after
 they were chosen by a constituency
 opposed to Beckham
 Unless he wins on the first ballot. fl ] is practically conceded by the Beckham l forces that their candidate will be de. | feated. but they claim that if he is de. | feated they will cause a deadlock thai will prevent the election of any other
 man.
 The indications are that the Republi. cans will present a solid front, and the
 probabilities are that they win place
 themselves in position to make ad- | vantageous trades with the Demo- | crats. It is not believed that they will
 make strong fight for any of the of. l fees in the gift of either the House or l Senate, The Democrats may clash on 1 several appointments and the RepubIi. cans 1t is understood. will hold them-
 selves In q position to throw their | strength to one or the other factions
 in consideration of support Ar meas
 ures In which they are more interested | The Democratic Factions. The Democratic party in Kentucky | is crushed and chagrined over the disastrous defeat of last November | Thousands of party men hold Beckhan | responsible for this defeat. claiming | that his wal" of elimination upon tho | old time leaders disrupted the party l ana they are Tn no nuHlOr 10 witness l the elevation of the man whom they
 feel is most responsible for their hu. | initiation. The influence of this ele. l ment will be felt in Frankfort wher l the Legislature convenes.
 | On the other hand the former Gov. ernor has a powerful following. He | has been a powerful factor in Kentucl, , l politics since the assassination of Gov. l ernor Goebel resulted in his elevation | to the office of chief executive of the ] Commonwealth He has never been | defeated for an office since his advent | into politics. He has played the game | with wonderful shrew wdnaSs and. while | this is the most critical stage in his career. he is standing squarely upon l his claim tO the office of Senator a, I tue Democratic nominee. and the 1 weighty influence of his following will
 also be felt when the lawmakers con vena.
 No man in the Democratic party is an outspo<en candidate against Beck | ham but there are a dozen or more able ! and influential members of the party