Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-02-11
Democratic Party Given Awful Blow if Charges Of
Nelson County Statesman Stand Test
They Should Be Given.

The political situation in Ken
lucky, and there has always been
political situation in this State,
seemed to be struck by lightning last
Saturday morning when the with.
drawal of Hon. Ben Johnson from
the Gubernatorial race was an
nounced. The shock was occasioned
both by his withdrawal and by the
reasons he assigned therefor. He
declares Enthusiastically that he with
drew because he had arrived at the
conclusion that the Democrats of
Kentucky would not support a Cath
olic for Governor. This is terrible
arraignment of the Democratic party
in this State. One can but hope that
Mr.. Johnson is mistaken, that he has
been misinformed. If his conclusions
are proven correct, Kentucky will
drop back another fifty years. Cool
heads, warm hearts, hearts teeming
with charity, are necessary now to
bring order out of chaos. There Is
no doubt about Mr.. Johnson's
earnestness, no doubt about his hon.
esty.
/ Col. Johnson has been honored by
Kentucky and by the nation in the
past. He has never proven recreant
to any trust. His ambition was to
be Governor of this State, an ambi.
tion worthy any man. Now he sacri-
fees ambition to party patriotism.
Clay would rather be right than
President. Johnson would rather be
Catholic and sacrifice his ambition
than sacrifice his party.
/ Col. Johnson is little over fifty
years old. He comes of one of the
oldest families in the State. A ma
tive and resident of Nelson county,
he enjoyed the confidence of his
home people. He served that county
in the State Legislature, as a mem
Der of the House of Representatives,
as Speaker of that house, as State
Senator, and is now representing his
district in Congress for the third
time, and has been elected for the
fourth term. From 1898 to 1897 he
was United States Collector OF In
ternal Revenue at Louisville, an APP
polntment he received from Grover
Cleveland. then the nations Chief
Executive. All this the people
know. But Mr.. Johnson says he has
aseertained that he can not be
elected because he is a Catholic His
statement is clear, distinct, scathing
and, II true, deals a mortal wound to
the Democratic party in Kentucky.
1t is only necessary here to quote
passages from his statement. Near
the beginning he says:
| Tn tof, ~
sent out that l must be opposed be-
cause | am Catholic In this State
there are number of people who
seek Catholic votes, but who them
selves will not vote for a Catholic.
At. Nrst I did not believe there was
a sufficient number of these to de-
feat me in the final election II |
should be nominated. AS to this I
recently changed my opinion. Three
Judges upon the bench of one of
the highest courts in the State have
been heard to say that they would
not vote for Catholic for Governor
One OF these has but recently been
elected in district where the Cath
Ollie vote is SO heavy that he would
have been defeated even II that vote
had done nothing more tran remain
at home on election day. Others In
high position in the State have ex-
pressed themselves with equal em-
phasis, until great number of those
in the rank and file OF the party have
followed this leadership. and have
declared that they, too, would not
vote for a Catholic.
"At first the mutterings were half
concealed. But during the last
! thirty days they have, with encour-
agement from high places, become
boldef and louder. Upon my return
to Kentucky from Washington
Thursday night l had reports from
my friends In many parts OF the
State that there are, In all proba-
, bility, enough OF these misguided re-
ligious bigots TO defeat me In Novem-
ber II should be nominated. Not
= withstanding the obstacles that are
now In my way, confidently believe
l would receive the greatest number
OF votes In the primary. II counted
as cast, should continue In the
race, yet am too loyal party man
too good a Democrat-to further
ask my party for this nomination II
! 1t carried with II the possibility thai
, l would lose any vote OF consequence
which another Democrat could get IN
! the final election. Therefore, I now
say that will not further be .
J candidate for the Democratic nomin
! alton for Governor.
II feel, however, that the Demo
} Gratis OF Kentucky will hear me wher
I ! recall to their minds that this ma
ton, now the most powerful OF
earth, has grown to be such upor
the foundation laid 1875 years ago
when the one oyersbadowing princi