The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-08-16


the constitution Is the correct ana
representa- YES Of the Democratic
party assembled 10 write a platform
for this campaign. inspired by certain
powerful newspapers desire 10 attack
the courts construction OF the cOnsti-
tuition; II they dare appeal from the
Court Of Appeals TO party voters put
ting the question Of party expediency
first, that is their privilege, to he
sure In that event, ! will feel called
upon. and will undertake, 10 defend
the courts construction as the legal
construction. as the logical construc-
ton. and as the best policy for the
state to adopt, even II the constitution
were silent on that point. But the
liquor interests will not abide the de-
cision Of the question adversely TO
themselves no matter who decides It,
II the Legislature so declares the law,
Il Is attacked as unconstitutional II
the courts sustain the legislation. the
courts are denounced and the members
ma'igned II the executive officers I'M
| dertake to enforce the laws thus en-
| acted and construed these interests
defy the officers. violate the law. and
seek 10 dehauch Justice. Then they I'M
blushingly assert that the law is inn
polite because II can not be enforced.
Then they attempt to appeal from the
Legislature. from the constitution. and
| from the courts, by packing political
committees, manipulating conventions.
| and finally by corruption, by hired
| press. by the boycott. to elect a body
OF magistrates who will enact and con-
strue the laws as they demand. 1t is
| this interest, reckless of means and
| Indifferent of all save its own ascend.
ancy. which has controlled the politics
and legislation Of Kentucky for more
than a quarter of a century, and which
is now proposing to continue that dom.
nation, which is leading as well as
backing the fight against our ticket
1t may not matter so much to the peo
pie of Kentucky aside from the means
of selection. whether set of men ca
ing themselves Democrats, or another
set calling themselves Republicans, be
in possession for a term of the State
offices. But It is a question of the
largest concern what interest selects
and dominates those men. The con
Germ is more than ethical. 1t involves
more than pride, and decency in poll
tics. 1t involves your tax rate; it in
wolves the efficiency and sutiiciency OF
your school system; it involves the
States power and resources to grow
in material development. 1t involves
whether we shall stand still as a peo
| PIE, or go forward IN industrial prog
| ress.
Our party is not fighting the liquor
business as a business. We are fight
ing its methods in politics. We are
proposing to put it out of politics We
are proposing this because it de
bauches politics; because it corrupts
politicians; because it perverts legls
lation; because it is destroying popu
lar government in this State.
To be sure, this is not the only ques
tion involved in this campaign
number of others, equally important
are presented by our platform of poll
ass iney will each be discussed IL
order hereafter, each making a sep
1859 tnOnu Iou will be readily able
to summarize them all in one sentence
as containing one significant, elementa
principle, which is, the enlargement o
the peoples power in their govern
ment.
At the very threshold of any polio!
for improving conditions in the Stat,
is the prime cause for those conditions
the corruptionist in politics. Unless
he can be removed from his position
CT advantage all our other efforts will
be in vain. Otherwise, legislation o
a remedial nature is impossible. Man!
important provisions of your consti
tuition have lain dormant for thes,
twenty years because of his presence
and pernicious influence. EntrencheI
in power, accustomed to its successful
sway, backed by unlimited means,
political strategist and public enemy
he will fight bitterly every effort to dis
lodge him. His utility to party bosse
Is so essential that they will be hi
allies in the fight. They know full wei
that party platforms, public speeche
of candidates, even party and persona
pledges, are impotent if they can main
tain their position of vantage. Clea
legislation can not flow from a pc
luted source. Remove the pollutio
from the fountains of political power
. and all other reforms are possible
But not otherwise.
Whether Kentucky will undertak
that kind of cleaning up is the que:
. ton. Whether you will follow tn
. course of New Jersey and California
, ridden by political bosses and made
: serve powerful monopolistic interest
or whether you will allow continl
ance of those conditions, is the 81
preme matter.
This campaign is to unfold that pre-
gram Hear NOT alone one side no
> one speech. Hear all. Then decide 10