The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-10-03

Smith shows plainly that no one but
an expert could have discovered II, .
wherein, we fear, Mr.. Barley mods;
for Professor Smith was not engaged
to inspect the books until VIII Hus-
bands, state revenue agent, exposed
the shortage and Smedley was in
dicted. Another charge, that he set
tiled Smedley's shortages with the
bonding company for less than the
/ full amount, was not answered by
Mr.. Barley. He may however,
fully and satisfactorily answer these
charges during the campaign.
Aside from these questions as TO
Mr. Bark!ey's own conduct of Office,
which are pertinent to the issue; the
situation Is about this, involving all
the Democratic candidates for county
office in the issues:
1t is affirmed by Mr.. Hazelip and
admitted by Mr.. Barley that theft,
graft, gross Irregularities in the APP
preparation of county funds, illegal
dealings with the county, loose meth
DDS of keeping records and incom-
petence have marked the administra-
ton generally at the McCracken
court house. Mr.. Hazelip asserts
that the administration Is and has
always been Democratic. and Mr..
Barkley admits that. MIR. Barley
denies that he has had part
in the misconduct; but declares he
has been cognizant of the misconduct
and has protested against it, and
done everything he could to protect
the taxpayers. That he has failed to
entirely protect them is shown by the
Smedley shortages and expenditures
OF nany thousands, which cannot be
clearly accounted for. All the Demo
cratic candidates are involved in the
issue to this extent: we're they nomi-
mated by the court house ring, and
would it be better to elect them. or
make a complete political change at
the court house?
In their own contest, Mr.. Hazelip
and Mr.. Barley are making their
pleas on practically the same ground.
Mr.. Hazelip says the whole county
administration is corrupt and the
ring is In control. County Attorney
Barley says that because he has
been opposed to crookedness he
should be rewarded by being pro-
NOTED to a higher office.
Mr.. Barley thus has cleverly es-
capped the necessity of defending an
indefensible position; but Mr.. Haze
lip has turned his flank and put him
on the defensive again, by making
the point that in spite of Mr.. Bark
iey's asserted opposition to the
irregularities OF his colleagues. that
opposition was not bitter enough TO
cost him their friendship; for he was
nominated for county Judge without
opposition. after he had spent weeks
deciding whether he would rather be
judge or commonwealth attorney.
Mr. Hazelip suggested that IL Mr..
Barley had really earnestly opposed
official crookedness at the court
house. he would have incurred the
animosity of those he accused and
they, at least, would have opposed
his nomination with a candidate.
Hazelip insisted that Mr.. Barkley's
political affiliations speak more clear
ly than do his denunciations of his
affiliates ON the stump in the exigen-
cies of a political campaign.
Both speakers were courteous in
their debate, and. while vehemence
may be expected in the heat of 1t, Il
is hoped they will find IT possible "a
conduct az clean a campaign through
out the county, as they started al
Reidland; for the issues raised there
are the issues on which the voters
should decide the contest; whether
admitting misconduct at the court
house, Mr.. Barley has proven by his
course in Office that he is the man 70
straighten up affairs, or whether Mr..
Barkley's political Affiliations are
such that a complete change is ad-
visable. Both candidates are young
men of good personal character as
far as we know, and the issues are
well made up.
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