The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1911-10-06

tniHks III Tue StfuttfdtiS Ildtioihi'
There was some adroit phrase in this
platform; but it smacks OF insincerity,
and it is not the expression of strong
conviction and purpose, the determin-
ing factor Of most paragraphs seems
to have been how many votes will we
catch. II we do, how many will we
lose if we don't1
There are many contributory causes
making the County Unit" the domi-
nant feature of this campaign; but in
large measure it was due to Judge
O'Rear's forceful advocacy of this
issue, and Mr.. McCreary's studious
avoidance of this question; notwith-
standing the fact that it was about
this question alone that the Democrat
ic party was driven to call conven-
ton, tits remarkable that the express
sion County Unit is not written in
their platform; this is unaccountable
unless on the hypothesis that there
was some Interior motive. 1t was not
the result of an oversight that County
Unit was eliminated and Local OPP
ton" substituted. To contend that
the thirteen men composing that Com
mittee on Resolutions did not know
that there was distinction which at
least left the matter of their intention
debatable, is to discredit your own
intelligence. In the initial sentence OF
this Local Option paragraph they by
implication confess they were driven
to take some position on this>1nestion
and deplore the necessity of hamper
ing a Democratic platform with any
moral proposition. They claim that
the question has no place in politics
and intimate that you SHOULD get rhe
liquor forces to join you in further
rial of the efficacy OF prayer
The Prison Commission is at pres
emit partisan board elected by the
legislature | think the plank in the
Democratic platform which relates to
this subject will appeal to you. In tine
first place they wish ito remove the
Prison Commission from politics" but
that committee on resolutions being
inexpert in the use of language. did
not know that either OF the words
non-partisan or bipartisan would have
committed them on this question, and
consequently they had recourse to
neither.
They commend the present Board of
Prison Commission for the wise man
agement of the institutions under its
care, but consider the method of selec-
ton under which such beneficient re-
suits were obtained as unwise. They
suggest that the appointment be left
in the hands of the Governor with
the mental reservation, of course. that
he be Democrat) which would only
change the method of selecting the
Commission, but affording no relief in
the manner of conducting the insti-
tutions., For fear the Governor will
not be Democrat, they reserve an
option by inserting cor such other
method as the General Assembly may
provide" The same General Assem-
bly,, whose wisdom as electors is dis
redited, can be thoroughly relied upon
to provide a method which will be
universally satisfactory. 1t is still to
remain part of political machine,
but the choice of machinist is to be
transferred to different authority.
theoretically they are in favor OF
clean elections; they flavor corrupt
what campaign expenses shall be legit-
innate" but it is not clear whether
this includes or excludes the -Four
Thousand Dollars the candidate for
Governor is expected to pay. 1t is
peculiar in this connection that it had
not occurred to someone of the thir-
teen who composed this Committee on
Resolutions to offer practical sug-
gestion by avowing a purpose to re-
peal the law requiring registration GER
ti6cates. The committee were posi-
bly, not aware that there is market
value for every vote sellers certificate
in every city in the State; but remem-
bering the committees forgetfulness
in other instances, it is only a fair
supposition that they had once known
OF it, but it had escaped their memory.
The Lobby to them it seems has a
reciprocal side, under some conditions
the Lobby appeals to them and doubt
less under some conditions they appeal
TO the Lobby
In the matter Of changing our arch
aic revenue laws, so satisfied are they
with the unquestioned wisdom and the
past achievements OF our legislatures.
that they propose to amend the Con-
stitution by broadening the powers OF
the General Assembly, so that it may
classify property for taxation, at which
Il C.. IL.