The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1911-09-13

tlOu, ana SnOulQ not De maze par
tisan issue between political parties,
and favors the extension of the pres
ent local option law as applied to the
sale of liquors, which has been upheld
by our highest court as valid and con.
etitutional. so that the citizens of each
and every county in the State may de.
termine for themselves whether spirit.
uous, vinous or malt liquors may be
sold therein.
| voted for and | endorsed every
section of this platform, and it is
proper l should say in this connec-
ton that | voted for the first local
option law passed by the Kentucky
Legislature in 1874, | then being a
Representative from Madison County.
At a local option election held III
Richmond | was absent attending 10
nv duties as Senator at washington.
except the local option election neid
March last, and on that day was
compelled to be in Louisville TO at
tend meeting of the State Demo
cratic Executive Committee called Tor
that day by the chairman. the main
business of which was to call on the
urinary election which | had advo'
Gated. and in which | was deeply IN
terested.
AT the recent Democratic State
convention | advocated at the Demo-
cratic candidates meeting a declara'
tion TO be placed in the platform IN
favor of extension of the present local
option law. and it was agreed to by
the Democratic candidates. and was
nut in the Democratic platform.
On this platform of principles Dem
ocrats appeal to all Kentuckians, IRE
spective of previous political affilia-
tions. to support our State ticket and
all other Democratic candidates.
Judge ORear in his speech at May.
field on the 31st day of August asked
me to answer the following questions:
Are you now in favor of the extern
sion of the county unit law in Ken
lucky, etc. and when did you come TO
that conclusion?
have already said in my speech to-
day that | endorse every section OF
the Democratic platform at the state
convention at Louisville on the 18th
of August. 1911 but I will say now
specifcally-I am in favor of the ex'
tension of the present local option law
as applied to the sale of liquors, so
that the citizens of each and every
county In the State may determine for
themselves whether spirituous. vinous
or malt liquors may be sold therein
These are the exact words or the
State Democratic platform.
came to this conclusion some time
ago when the question OF the extern
sion of the county unit law became
prominent. and l regard 1t as the best
plan to settle an important question
If Judge O'Rear had read on the
day of the State Democratic conven-
ton the published account Of the
Views of the State Democratic candi-
dates for office. he would have known
that I and all the other candidates
FOR State offices were in favor or eX-
tending the county unit law.
Judge O'Rear says he proposes, II
elected Governor, to remove the in
huence Of the liquor lobby in the Ken
lucky Legislature. and its allied lob
bies, and asks me what | propose to
do about It? My answer is as stated
in the Democratic platform, and is as
follows:
81 favor such laws as will under
appropriate penalties destroy all cor
rupt lobbying seeking to influence any
legislative body in the commonwealth
on the subject of legislation, or the
election of officers by II, or in any
other matters" and I will do all In
my power, if l am Governor, to carry
out fully the statements in this Sec
ton of the Democratic platform. and
If the county unit is not enacted at
the first session Of the Legislature. II
I am Governor. | will determine then
whether the Legislature shall be
called into extra session to con
slider it.
Judge O'Rear asserts in very strong
language what he will do with the
Legislature if the members do not
obey his dictation. and ii is proper in
this connection to say that each
branch Of the Legislature is certain to
he Democratic. and will be more in
sympathy with a Democratic Gov.
ernor than with a Republican Gov.
ernor.
Before I finish my speech will
ask Judge O'Rear to answer some inn
POI tant questions. hut they will be
more appropriate when I discuss an
other question.
Republicans Have Seized Some of the
Most important PRINCIPLES OF Both
State and National Demo
cratic Platforms.
Republicans after years of opposl
ton to Democratic policies and prn-
ciples have in the last few years
seized some of the most importan'
principles and policies advocated by
Democrats in Kentucky. and some OF
the most important principles in Ma
tional Democratic platforms.
Many of the declarations in the Re-
publican State platform are in favor
Of principles which Democrats have
advocated for years, notable among
them being Improvement of our edu-
cational system, revision of our tax
system. better roads. enforcement o!
penal and charitable institutions |
from politics thorough inspection OF
State banks, arbitration of labor dis
putes, prohibition of peonage and
slave traffic; and it may be said IN |
this connection that the first local op |
ton law was passed by a Democrat |