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

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come common nowadays for the people
to vote for measures as well as men,
II is quite likely they we're unwilling
In this instance to commit themselves
TO any set Of men. however eminent In
character, without knowing also for
what they stood besides holding office
The failure Of majority of the Demo
Gratis to participate In the committees
primary made II easier for the com.
mittee to provide the result, as 1t lie
reasonably sure that all whom the
committee could control did partici'
pate.
In every holly contested primary
election or convention, unlawful means
are used to debauch such electors as
are vulnerable by that means The
fewer decent people who participate
makes II easier for the briber to get
In his work. He has fewer votes to
overcome in that event. That such
means were used In the late primary
there are many evidences How far
that affected the result can not now
be known. IL is pointed out as one OF
the great dangers attending a commit
tee primary, arranged, managed, and
executed in every particular in accord
with the previous purposes of the
committee. IL Is one Of the great dan.
gers of the machine system.
When the platform convention
was called the committee was careful
to protect its own tenure In Office
from the people by declaring In the call
that the committee should not be re-
organized by the State Convention, al.
though the party law provides to the
contrary. Without that safeguard in.
serted in the call by the committee by
the consent of the Democratic nomi.
nees, 1t Is certain the committee would
have continued to refuse the party a
platform at all, as 1t was mainly csn-
cerned with its own tenure in Office,
therefore of power. Thus do the nomi.
nees agree in advance to continue In
power over the Democrats of the State
a committee which is a veritable po-
litical machine, in spite OF the party
law to the contrary, and in spite OF
any desire on the part of the Demo
Gratis to change their committee. The
platform Is yet in doubt. So is the
fate of the State ticket. But not so the
Democratic machine. 1t has wisely
provided for its own security and per-
petuity, regardless of the popular will.
But that is the way of party machines.
The point | make is, the Democratic
party Is under the domination of a
party machine, which II has not a
chance to rid itself Of.
O'Rear Choice Of the People.
Now let us look at the other side.
You will easily recall my campaign for
the nomination. 1t was distinctly a
call to the people. A majority of the
Republican State Committee was OPP
posed to me- | never attended meet
ing of the committee before the nomi-
nation.
The Republican State officials. with
one exception, were all either opposing
my nomination, or we're so concerned
in their own as to be somewhat indif-
ferent as to me- 1t is supposed the
Governor did not desire my nomina-
ton Naturally and not improperly
he favored his Lieutenant Governor.
The Lieutenant Governor was himself
a candidate for the nomination. The
Secretary of State managed his cam
paign. The Attorney General man
aged the campaign of another one OF
my opponents. The Superintendent OF
Public Instruction supported energet-
ically his kinsman and county-man,
Mr.. Cox. The Treasurer, Auditor and
Commissioner of Agriculture were
each candidates before the con-
vention. and whatever their personal
preferences, were properly most con-
cerned in their own races, and whether
so or not, disclaim any part in the
final actions of the convention In pro-
curing the nomination of the present
Republican ticket That left support
ing me alone but one State official, the
Clerk of the Court Of Appeals.
Among Federal oficeholders, the
Senator was neutral, so far as | know.
There are five Collectors of Internal
Revenue in Kentucky. Two supported
one of my opponents; one the other,
one supported me, and one was neu-
trail. The two United States Marshals
offices opposed me; so did the Pension
Agent for Kentucky. The Surveyor OF
the Port at Louisville and the United
States District Attorney at Louisville
supported me. The postmasters, with
two or three exceptions, in the First
and Second Districts, where they were
also County Chairmen Ga bad policy
as well as unlawfuD were nearly solid
ly against me- In other districts that
support was fairly we'll divided among
the three candidates for Governor. Sc
you see that even If there was ma
chine in the Republican party, 1t did
not prevail in this instance. My nomi-
nation was most distinctly made by
the people in the country, in conven-
lions in which were gathered more
than fifty per cent of the voters In the
party The remainder of the ticket
was nominated by the delegates to the
convention, some 2,400 men, not d.
rected by any interest save the public
interest. and not controlled by the man
date of any man or set of men. The
purpose of certain partisan newspapers
to show that the convention was boss
ridden, though silly in the light OF the
facts, is aimed to distract attention
from the true conditions in their own
party. In one sentence they say that
Senator Bradley controlled the con.
vention; in another they say that
controlled II, and routed Bradley
Both statements are untrue. But what
ever may be unblushingly mis-stated'