Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-09
BLACKBURN'S FUTURE
Ex-senator May Re-Enter
Kentucky Politics.
GOVERNORSHIP POSSIBLE
BLUEGRASS Politicians Looking Over
Field Of Eligibles.
BOSS WHALLENS INFLUENCE
The State Is Now Regarded as Fair
Fighting Ground for
Both Parties.
BOSS WHALLENS INFLUENCE
Special Correspondence Of The Star.


praised and applauded him enthusiast
caIly. OF course. he made speech, and
1t was in key betting the occasion.
He said he was at home again. and glad of
ii. Honors and large emoluments in a
post at a distance were as nothing COM
pared with the society and cheering COM
forts of those he held nearest his heart.
He had done his duty where assigned.
but now he was back among his own
people, and intended to remain.
Such sentiments. well expressed, always
have a happy effect. They honor the
speaker and delight his hearers. Verify,
there is no place like home. Mr.. Black
burn may be accredited with perfect sin
certify. 1t would be strange If he did not
feel warmly toward those with whom
he has spent so much Of his life. and who
have accepted every draft he has drawn
upon them. He was a favorite from the
start. and in all Of his contests for Office
has had the support of his home town
and county. At the same time. 1t is
happily phrased speech II Mr.. Blackburn
still as 'opes Of further political success.
1t Is an excellent way to grid up for an
other try at fortune. The veteran In
mellow mood with the world. expressing
thankfulness for what has come to him
and disclaiming any bitterness toward
those who at any time have opposed him,
makes an attractive figure. 1t Is the spirit
which should possess a man who has
given and taken the hard knocks OF pub
lie controversy, and looks back upon
years of storm and stress in field where
quarter Is seldom asked and never
granted.
Considerations Involved.
Three considerations appear in this case
II Mr.. Blackburn's name is to be asso-
ciated with further political activity: 1.
His defeat for reelection to the Senate
through the agency of ex-Gov. Beckham.
If Mr.. Blackburn has forgiven Gov. Beck
ham, has ex-Gov. Beckham forgiven him?
The former governor, though missing the
senatorial prize for which he contended.
still has a following, and were he to
turn hts thumb down his friends would
try to deliver the death stroke to Mr.
Blackburn's aspirations. 2 The accept
ance Of office by Mr.. Blackburn at the
siderations of a political nature passed.
The President surrendered none OF his
Mr.. Blackburn none OF
his democracy, In the arrangement. The
Office bestowed and accepted was not po-
litical. Still there are men who think that
Mr.. Blackburn injured himself by that
act. 3. Mr.. Blackburn's age. He is
past seventy. and describes himself as an
old man. But his vigor remains, and as
a stump speaker he probably would show
him popularity and prestige on the blue
grass hustings. A score Of years ago he
was the most popular democrat In Ken
lucky, largely as the result of his speak
ing tours and personal address.
The Governorship in View.
1t may be a little surprising to hear
that the governorship rather than the
next senatorship Is suggested for Mr..
Blackburn. He liked Congress, and. AS
you know, served in both houses. He had
admirers who regretted his departure
from the House, and who today, survey
ing his service in the Senate, think il
would have been better for his fame
had he remained in the House. These are
the men who hope to see him brought
forward for the governorship II he cares
for another office His brother was Gov
ernor OF Kentucky for one term In the
late seventies. and the office appeals
strongly to all Kentuckians with politi-
cal aspirations. The man who fills 1t has
the anxieties and responsibilities that go
with all important public trusts, but he
lives for his term in a typical Ken
lucky town. situated picturesquely on the
Kentucky river, full of good people IA
miliar with local history and traditions.
and who look up cheeringly to those in
state authority. A visitor to the capital
from the interior Of the state who knew
the then governor and had observed the
difference and attentions paid him said
to him upon bidding goodbye: IF you
don't like this you won't like Paradise.
And I'm thinking you are cutting big
ger figure here than you will there"
Others Mentioned.
Other men are mentioned for this guber-
Material nomination. Representative Ben
johnson of the fourth district. Represent
alive James OF the first district. Repre-
tot ira Of ha
trict. Judge Lassing OF the court of ap-
peals and Mr.. Head. who has just been
elected mayor of Louisville. There are
ambitious democrats scattered all over
the state. But none of the younger men
In the democratic party has inspired the
enthusiasm that marked the careers OF the
leaders who have but lately retired. There
Is no pessimism on the subject. IT is no.
where held that the glory Of the Ken
lucky democracy has forever departed.
New times. new men. and doubtless these
times have the men suited TO them. Capa-
BILE youngsters may now be in training
who when the hour strikes may do big
things. But II Is fact that today Ken
lucky Is without potent voice in coun-
ellis where she once figured conspicuously.
leader in the Senate when Mr.. Carlisle was
Speaker of the House. and serving in the
House with distinction in the past forty
years have been Henry McHenry. John
Jung bIO"H, w. -
James A. Mckenzie. Boyd Winchester,
James F. Clay and Oscar Turner. Mr..
Carlisle. Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Winchester
survive, but all are out of politics. and
neither could be induced to re-enter.
Whallen's Future.
The new boss and the governorship7
AS / told you the other day, there is an
impression here that Col. Whallen must
be reckoned with. He undoubtedly is
machine politician OF ability, and his tri-
umph here in the mayoralty contest was
pronounced. He nominated the demo
cratic candidate. drew the fire OF the
opposition on himself during the whole
OF the campaign, was raked without rest
or mercy from first to last, never replied,
never complained. but all the time work.
ed twenty-six out Of twenty-four hours.
and when the ballots were counted his
man had the most Of them. He isn't
growing at all. When asked about the
new administration he answers: ASK
Mr. Head. He'll he the mayor" When
asked about his ambition TO control the
state he replies: Don't let them other
fellows kid you. This town is big enough
for me-" Nevertheless, Col. Whallen and
Mayor-elect Head have gone together to
Tom Taggart's Indiana spa" for a little
rest, and while there are certain to talk
over the meaning OF the democratic VIC
tory and how to utilize II SO as to do
the organization the most good. 1t Is the
New York way of doing things, and re-
calls the visits OF Richard Croker and