Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1911-09-07


have methods for the nomination OF
the party candidates which will IN
sure general participation In the cleo
ton. and believe a primary election
according 10 the statutes OF Kentucky
Is the best plan to select the nomi'
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 ofices. There Is no statute regu-
, lating State conventions or county
conventions.
Success Is always greatly promoted
II we have equal rights for all and
special privileges for none. and OPP
portunities given TO all Democrats to
assist IN nominating the candidates
they will support at the general cleo
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 tn
Democrats in a town or city. Com
parativey few persons attend court
house conventions, and often 100 per
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 10 the people. and there can be
no bosses or rings or machines In con-
nection with a primary legally and
honestly held, and all who know me
know would not accept a nomination
unless II 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
ell except one favored primary cleo
tions. and thirty-seyen we're present.
The State Democratic Executive
Committee ordered 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 direct primary cleo.
ton law at the public expense.
How Were Judge O'Rear and His
Ticket Nomnated7
Judge ORear and his associates on
the Republican ticket were nominated
by convention held In Louisville
Ky. He wrote the platform, and he
says the provisions of the platform
were I'm the main set forth in the an
nouncement of HIS candidacy three
months before the convention was
held. According to the statements OF
Republicans, 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 we're nomI
mated.
| Very little perception is required tc
see that Judge O'Rear's 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 or
the Democratic ticket by a primary
election.
II ever there was in any State a fail
primary election wherein the people
uncontrolled and uninfiuenced. as
sembled at their respective votinI
places and nominated candidates @
their choice. it was at the Democratic
State primary election held on the Is
day Of July last.
Turbulent Times and Disgraceful
Scenes.
| We all remember the turbulen
times and dsgraceful scenes tina
marked Kentucky's history about tel
years ago. when a motley crowd o
Republicans marched to our State Car
itol, and cannon were placed in tn
the Capitol grounds and legislators an,
Judges of the Court Of Appeals wer
driven to the city Of Louisville 70
safety and protection. Where was Judg
O'Rear then and why did he not rails
his voice then as now for clean pol
tics and law and order? Why did h
not refer to these times in. his plat
form. adopted by the Republican cor
vention, as did Democrats In thei
platform, adopted by the Democrat
convention?
While | am speaking of the late r,