The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1911-09-13

the party candidates which will in.
sure general participation in the cleo
ton. and I believe primary election
according to the statutes OF KENTUCKY
Is the best plan to select the noml-
nees for the various Offices
The statutes of Kentucky prescribe
the rules and regulations for nominal
ing in primary elections candidates
for State district, county or munich
pal Offices There is no statute regu-
lating State conventions or county
conventions.
Success is always greatly promoted
If we have equal rights for all and
special privileges for none, and OPP
portunities given to all Democrats to
assist in nominating the candidates
theys will support at the general elec-
ton are encouraging to the voters.
The humblest Democrat has as much
right to participate In the nomination
of Democratic State officers as the
most prominent and influential Dem
ocrat, and the farmer in the country
should have equal chances with the
Democrats in a town or city. Com
parative'y few persons attend court
uOuSc COHNcuJlOIS, OllCn lVO pei
sons, or a less number. In a court.
house convention choose delegates or
instruct for candidates, while several
thousand Democratic voters of the
county are absent at their homes.
Advantage Of Primary.
The government should be brought
close to the people, and there can be
no bosses or rings or machines in con-
nection with primary legally and
honestly held, and all who know me
know l would not accept a nomination
unless 1t came to me honestly and
fairly. Experience has taught the
people to appreciate primary cleo
lions. In every Democratic county in
Kentucky primary elections are held
to nominate the county officers, and
every State south of Kentucky holds
primary elections to nominate county
and State officers and many of the
Northern and Western States nomi-
nate their county and State officers in
primary elections.
A few months ago there was a con-
ference of Governors and Governors
elect at Frankfort and Louisville, and
In a discussion on primary elections
all except one favored primary cleo
lions, and thirty-seven were present
The State Democratic Executive
Committee ordered a primary election
to be held on the first day of July,
1911, in every precinct of the State,
under the primary election law of the
State of Kentucky, to nominate can
didates for the State offices and a
United States Senator.
was nominated, as were all the
other Democratic candidates for State
offices. at the primary election held
July 1. 1911, according to the plan
suggested by Judge O'Rear as a rem
edy for machine rule, except that the
State did not pay the expenses, but
the Democratic platform recently
adopted at the State Democratic con-
vention contains a resolution declar-
ing in favor of a direct primary cleo
ton law at the public expense.
How Were Judge O'Rear and His
Ticket Nominated7
Judge O'Rear and his associates on
the Republican ticket were nominated
by a convention held in Louisville
Ky. He wrote the platform, and he
says the provisions of the platform
were In the main set forth in the an
nouncement of his candidacy three
months before the convention was
held According to the statements Of
he named the candidates
to be nominated for the various State
offices, and he also named the chair
man of the State convention. About
1000 Republicans voted in the Repub.
lican convention which nominated
Judge O'Rear. Over 100000 Demo.
Gratis voted in the primary election in
which | and other Democratic candi
dates for the State offices were nomi.
mated.
Very little perception Is required to
see that Judge O'Rears nomination
and the nomination of the other can
didates on the Republican ticket
looked far more like boss rule and
machine rule than my nomination and
the nomination of my associates on
the Democratic ticket by a primary
election.
II ever there was In any State a fair
primary election wherein the people
uncontrolled and uninfuenced. as.
sembled at their respective voting
places and nominated candidates of
their choice. 1t was at the Democratic
State primary election held on the LIST
day Of July last.
Turbulent Times and DIsgracefuI
Scenes.
We all remember the turbulent
times and disgraceful scenes that
marked Kentucky's history about ten
years ago. when a motley crowd of
Republicans marched to our State Cap
itol. and cannon were placed in the
the Capitol grounds and legislators and
Judges Of the Court Of Appeals were
driven to the city OF Louisville for
safety and protection. Where was Judge
O'Rear then and why did he not raise
his voice then as now for clean poll
tics and law and order? Why did he
not refer to these times In his plat
form, adopted by the Republican con-
vention. as did Democrats In their
platform. adopted by the Democratic
convention?
While l am speaking Of the late Re.
publican State convention I must re.
fer to conspicuous events In that con.
vention, which have attracted wide at.
tention.
That convention approved and in.
dOrSed the Republican administration