The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1909-08-11
FORMER GOVERNOR
Says lie Can Find No Defense
For the Combination Between
WdtterSOn and WhdIIen.
Ex-Governor Beckham in an ed
itorial in the State journal, says:

The Lexington Gazette in an
editorial in excellent spirit and
temper somewhat berates the
State journal for its attack upon
the Whallen-W atterson combine.
1t makes a strong plea for party
harmony and for the elimination
of all factional or personal issues
in the discussion and settlement of
party policies.
The Gazette is incorrect in as
Stunning that anything said by us
was inspired by any grievance
towards the editor of the Courier
Journal. Mr.. Whallen or anyone
else. To such a charge or intima-
ton we can plead an unbEoken
record of party service and party
loyalty. What we have said about
them has been free from any per-
sonal bitterness, for, so sweet are
the peace and happiness of private
life that the editor of the State
Journal is inclined to thank rather
than oensure. those who brought
about the opportunity for him to
enjoy it.
What they may have done to
him does not concern this discus
sion, but what they have done to
the Democratic party is matter
of serious Importance, when they
now come, not as true penltentS
seeking reinstatements as party
workers, but boastfully an AFRO
gantly demanding the party lead
ership-not the leadership in the
city of Louisville alone, but the
control and domination of the
party organization in the State.
We give the Gazette credit for
being too good a newspaper not to
know that these men, Mr.. Whallen
being the emisary in the field,
Mr.. Watterson being the editorial
hacker, have for many months
been and are now actively at work
to secure control of the party or
ganization and of the next Gen
eral Assembly. As long as they
confined their operations to the
city of Louisville, we said moth
ing; it was purely a local matter
with which an outsider had moth
inc to do. We certainly could
not object to, or crltlcise, their
support Of the Democratic ticket.
If the Louisville Democrats could
stand their domination of local
affairs, we certainly could. But
when we saw their sinister hands
reaching out into the State we ut
tered "a warning and we shall con-
tinue to do so as long as we see
cause for it. We told the truth,
and if the truth hurt we could not
help it.
We repeat that Mr.. Whallen
is seeking to get control of the
Democratic organization of Ken
lucky, Just as he has it in Louis
vile. Does he deserve to have it?
Is he such a man as the Democrats
of the State want to have the
power to direct and control the
party policies and principles9
Isn't it fact that since 1896 he
has been Republican and the
worst enemy the Democratic party
has had in LOuisville9
Did he not finally fall out with
the Republican administration in
that city because it enforced the
laws against the open saloons on
Sundays Is such recruit de-
sirable as a leader to the Demo-
Gratis of Kentucky9 Is he not the
proprietor of q theater so indecent,
with its saloon annex, running
seven days in week, that no
woman, with any regard to her
reputation, ever dares to enter2
Was he not indicted few years
ago for attempted bribery of a
State Senator, to get him to vote