The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1912-05-31
FRIENDS
IN COMPLETE CONTROL
Overwhelming Victory Won In
Democratic State Meetinu--
Some Convention Notes


State convention which met in Lou
isville Wednesday. Eight out of
eleven congressional districts were
organized by friends of McCreary.
The governor was elected chairman
of the state convention over Senator
Ollie NJ. James by vote of 662 to
sci. James did the unprecedented
act of nominating himself for chair
man. and caused much astonish
ment. His friends evidently thought
that he would be able to stampede
the convention to him by n robble
rousing speech. lie made the speech
but the delegates only lar~hed at
him for allowing himself to be placed
in such ridiculous situation, and
then voted McCreary chairman.
After electhg McCrearv. friends
of the administration went ahead
and organized the convention. They
elected X. ii. VanSant. of Ashland,
chairman of the state committee to
succeed Henry X. Prewitt. The lat
ter. by the way, James man, ruled
very fairly and impartially on the
voting for chairman. He had it in
his power by recognizing certain
contesting delegations to make the
election of McCreary doubtful. and
when the pre-convention fight was
wagine warmest. manv threats were
heard that he would do this. While
such a course might have elected
James chairman. it would have for
ever disgraced him with the peJple
Even more so. when the true state
of affairs had become known. than
/ his alliance in this fight with the
whisky and other Louisville inter-
ests had done. As it is, great
many of the delegates seemed to
think that the senator has everyday
ed his game very greatly. Many
claimed to believe that with the SEN
atorial seat tucked safely away for
the next six years he had asniratiOns
to become the dictator to the demo-
cratic party that Bradley is the re-
publican party in Kentucky. If such
was the case. the senator had a
very rude awakening.
| The name of John NJ. Stevenson.
of Winchester. was never presented
for committee chairman against
INanSant. after IL was seen that the
administration forces were so COM
!ipletelv in control. Here is another
case of where good man allowed a
bunch of designing politicians and
would-be leaders at Louisville to
make a fool of him.
The last fight of the convention
was the election of John c. c. Mayo
of Johnson county a. national COM
mitteeman for Kentucky. Col. Trey
| Woodson, of Owensboro. who has
held this post with distinction for
10 wears was decisivelv beaten when
he carried his election 10 the state
convention. A. the general thing
the national committeeman Is elected
to the national convention. Seeing
THAT the blg majority of the dele
gates chosen in the district conven-
tons were against him. Mr.. Woodsor
had the nerve To take his case tC
the court of last resort. He was
beaten worse than james. and fol
the reason thar he was willing t.
make common cause with the dis
credited Louisville gang. Mayo i,
one of the group of capitalists OF
eastern Kentuckp who put up the
I,,,,,,.. A., f;n,,.a c.. M.T,aa,,.'.
campaign last fall after the demo
cratic leaders had declined u ac-
cent funds from the CORPORATIONS
and others with selfish interests t.
serve who are generally mighty elaC
to contribute, and thus secure i'm.
munity from sufficient taxation
land other special privileges. Nav,
asks nothing of the party for his
generosity. and was not even al
active candidate for the committee
manship. Those who knew what h,
had done and realized the unselfish.
ness of his interests in its welfar,
aud success. felt that such al
honorary place as the National com.
workmanship. was all too little 1
recognition of his splendid services
Mayo is in politics for the love of it
aud love of his PARTY. His immens,
wealth affords him the opportunit,
to assist in the party's cause. anC
has enabled the leaders to make it'
fights along clean lines. and without
the usual subserviency to the bis
corporate interests. the whisky in.
terests and others which so Otter
dominate partv policies aud III
actions. The more men like JOIN
c. c. Mayo. Rufus NanSant. John
son \. Camden. Justus Goebel, anc
their friends and associates that tn,
democratic party of Kentucky ear
enlist in the leadership. the BETTE
for the party and the people Of thu
state.
With complete control of ever,
feature of the convention in thei
hands, the friends of McCrear'
were not inclined to rub things in
uoou the vanauishad. and in tn,
lmake.un Of the delegation-at-laro'