The Stanford interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1911-1912, 1911-10-24
TRYING TO COMBINE ON
CONGRESSMAN HELM
Opponents May Try to Call a Noml-
natinu Convention To Thwart
Will OF the People.

Rumors Of formation of q
combination "of a number of candi-
dates for congressional honors to
defeat Representative Harvey Helm
of Lincoln. for recollection next year,
are floating about the Eighth Con-
gressionsl district, and are growing
more persistent of late when the
progress of the state campaign show
ed both the large parties committed
TO enactment of the direct primary
law by the next Legislature. The
plan of the opposition to Congress-
man Helm is said to be to have
district convention called Immediate
~ after the state election has been
held. aud before the General Assem-
bly, can have an opportunity to place 1.
II primary law uuon the statute
books by which congressional nomi-
nations will be governed in the flu
ture. Through favorite son candi-
dates in majority of the counties
of the district the opposition to Mr..
Helm hopes to be able To control
| enough of the county chairmen to
call convention, to organize it
against him and then nominate the
strongest man in the combination.
This is daring piece of politics
but Mr.. Helms opponents. so his
friends say will have to play every
angle of the game to take the nomi-
nation away from him.
Friends of Mr.. Helm declare that
there Is not man in the Eighth
district who can defeat him in a
primary before the people. lie has
made himself wonderfully strong
with the voters during his three
terms in Congress. tor. his friends,
say. the people have found that he
has been working for their interests
at Washington, and has not been
doing most OF his work dealing
with the politicians. For this rea-
son, they say his opponents are
afraid to oppose him in a primary
realizing that it would be futile. vet
hope to get the upper hand of him.
and nullify the will of the voters of
the district, by juggling him out of
the nomination thro' the tricks of
convention.
AT present there are/ about six
other prominent democrats in the
Eighth district being prominent
IN mentioned" by their friends as
candidates next year against Mr..
Helm, and who are said to have en-
tered into "gentleman's agreement
regarding the proposed call for a
convention and side-tracking of the
pres ent congressman. Several of the
other prospective candidates have in
fact already announced their cam
didacleS and are now engaged IN
working up interest in their causes
Eamong their people. Among them
are Hon. William Jennings Price, of
Boyle. who made the race few
wears ago but withdrew before the
nomination was made; Judge John
W. Hughes. of Mercer county, who
was also in the race ut the same
/ time but was forced to cease his
, canvass on account Of illness. State
Senator W. +. Downing. of Anderson
county. j. said to be n sure starter.
and has already been announced as
, an entrant at the proper time bv
= his home newspaper. Cot. John ii.
= WEIGH. of Jessamine county, is
another, who is very anxious for
| congressional honors. II j. said Hon
| Jerry Sullivan, who was strongly
mentioned as u candidate at the
| last primary against Mr.. Helm is
, also said To be strongly urged by
his friends to get into the race at
this time. So far the only counties
in the district which are not said to
have embryonic candicies growing
! in their midst are Rockcastle and
Spencer which are said to be very
= strong for Helm. Shelby county
may launch Judge Ralph Gilbert into
: the arena, it is said. il the matter
: really becomes as complicated as
+, now seems probable, and the effort
is made TO beat the direct primary
; law To the barrier.