The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1910-06-03
Mr.. LeBus' Statement.

President LeBus makes the following
reply to Congressman Cantrill:
"In answer to Mr.. Cantrilrs state
ment, desire to state my position;
"Mr Cantrill began his TRADE against
me by ignoring the facts of the situa-
ton. He declares that the opposition to
him in this race was started by some
high priced orators at Owenton last
Monday during his absence, and claims
that he had no knowledge that he was
expected to be present at the George
town or Owenton meetings. He was
requested to be present by Mr. A. L.
Ferguson and Mr.. Ward Headley.
"A letter was written to him by Dir.
Headley on Tuesday preceding the
meeting at Georgetown on Saturday. in
which he was urged to be present at
both the Georgetown and Owenton
meetings
"A diFpatch from Washington to 8
Kentucky newspaper, purporting to be
an interview with Mr. Cantrin, stated
that be could not leave Washington TO
be present at either meeting: that his
presence was demanded in Congress.
1t seems that he does not consider duties
in Washington so important when MS
own interests are involved.
1T is the truth to say that for three
years or more l have studiously avoid
ed any connection with party politics,
and have tried to keep the society out
of all political entanglemento
Mr.. Cantrill represents d rival to.
baccO organization. He is the accredit-
Ell President OF the American Society
of Equity, and as such, has recently en-
gagged in the business of trying to di;-
rupt or divide the Burley Tobacco Soci.
ETY..
This trouble commenced about two
years ago, and we then made an effort
to obtain harmpny, knowing that two
tobacco pools meant the failure of both
and that we must get together in order
to keep from failing directly into the
hands of the Trust, so we made the best
terms we could with Mr.. Cantrill and
| his organization. aud paid HIM more
money for his services IN that and pre-
ceeding campaigns than was paid to
any other public speaker.
In The 1909 pooling campaign ne
pursued MS present tactics upon one
pretense and another, threatening a
rival pool, and in order to obtain har.
mony, and prevent the dissolution of
the movement, we tried to make terms
with MIR. Cantrill by agreeing to pay
him, as President of the Kentucky State
Union, Certain SUN of money.
They failed To carry out their part
of this contract in good faith, and we
were unable 10 get The services and as.
sistance OF the Amt rlcan Society oil
Equit. aocOrdiug to our terms of agree.
ment
In January OF this year, the Ameri.
can Society OF Equity held a meeting
at Frankfort. They decided in thar
meeting to postpone the consideration
OF the tobacco pool, or the signing OF
any pledge until the meeting to be held
in August of this year. The eviden,
purpose was to put off any action in re.
gard to this matter until Mr. Cantrill
secured his nomination for Congress.
Since that time we have endeavored
to find out just what Mr.. Cantrilrs
course would be in reference to this So
Getty We were led to believe that he
would let US alone if we would let him
alone. and we were inclined to do that
rather than drag the organization into
political contest.
I'VE were proceeding upon that idea
until certain letter was received from
Mr.. Cantrill that left no doubt in our
minds as to his intentions, that he was
antagonistic to the Burley Tobacco So
ciety
when we found that his purpose, and
that such action would injure our or
ganization. there was nothing left for
US to do but expose bis position and to
show the tobacco growers of this dis.
trict the danger of following his leader
ship, and what the result would be il
he pursued his present course.
''Mr. Cantrin was elected to Congress
by the tobacco people-Democrats anG
Republicans alike voting for him-noi
because he was the representative oil
any particular party, but because he
was supposed to be the friend of the
tsbacco growers of this district. l ar
not Democrat or Republican when il
comes to the welfare of this movement
IF my brother were candidate upor
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