The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-02-12
Women are Stripped and
Lashed Numerically.
Ell Brown Charged With Exacting
) fees From Corporations by
Reason Of His Position

nee for the Legislature from Mercer
county. has prepared the following
signed statement which contains
number of sensational charges about
the management of the State prisons
under the present Democratic prison
commission: ~
81 was nominated for the Legisla-
ture by the Democrats OF Mercer coun-
ty ON a platform that is rather unique
in Kentucky politics, Reformed con-
ditions I'm the State peniteDtiaries and
investigation OF the brutality and ras-
cality that now prevails under the
present Board OF Prison Commission
ers'
There is no preosna1 feeling in this
matter. There is no politics in 1t.
am a Democrat and for forty years
fought the BATTLES of the party often
2 at the risk of my life, without reward
or profit. 1t so happens that the men
whom accuse are Democrats, but
that should not shield them from con-
domination even if half what | say
about them is true, and | tell you That
all of it is true.
81 hold that a man owes his State
more than he owes mis- party, and II
the exposure that will follow my
course brings disgrace upon Demo-
Gratis that will be their fault and not
mine. because If Democracy expects
20 live i'm Kentucky it must rid itsef
of the men who have helped to de-
grade It,
.I like a man that deals square,
looks every other man in the eye and
n,ays his cards on top of the table.
I have got no use for a CRATER wheth
err the monogram on his back spells
Democrat or Republican. have no
natience with a man who will use a
public office to fitch fees from corpora
tions that would never think of COM
ing to him If he was not on the States
payroll.
.I turn with scorn from a man who
CONTROLS LEGISLATURES for unworthy
ends. packs committees with his par
tisans. dictates speakership and de-
feats legislation--if the corporations
can pay the price he demands. IL
nauseates me to see a man burrowing
Through the Capitol's dark ways and
turning up in either House or Senate
lust in time To kill some worthy bill
with votes that he has purchased with
money paid him by some corrupt cor
poratdon.
at only makes matters worse when
such a man poses as Democratic
leader, a Though the slime of the dolby
smears him from head TO foot and he
can be trai,ed by the odors, that fol-
low him. Such man Is never the
champion of measure that might
helm the unbortunates he Is paid to pro
tect. but he Is always the willing TOOL
of some individual or company seek
ing to dodge its legal responsibilities
My purpose in going to the Legs
lature ds to keep a pledge that l nave
made TO the people of my county 10
never rest until the scandals that pre-
meate the State penitentiartes and the
brurtalities that are practiced there are
shown to the world. My first act VIII
be to offer joint resolution ito appoint
a committee of the House and Senate
with power to send for persons and
papers and 10 go into the matter thor
oughly.
'nhis is of necessity an unpleasant
business, but am not going into IT
70 satisfy any personal revenge. That
is not my way. II / had a personal
quarrel l would SETTLE 1t man to man.
/ take this step because the wretched
and the unfortunate skulking in cold
prison. cells. with acemted backs and
manned hands chopped of In the
agony of despair, cry out for protec-
ton.
II intend to unmask the graspdng
shylocks and erafters that are coming
the blood Of convicts into money for
their own pockets SO that Kentucky
may not longer cover in shame when