The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-03-01

OF tne DefnOcrauc platform would re
suit in some such evasion Of duty AMI
obligation as this. II is particularly
disappointing, however, TO find such
men as Terrell and Schobcrth, both OF
whom have made a bid for rccogni.
ton as progressive, minded leaders
counted among the supporters Of the
partisan bill.
Members of the House have boosted
Of their independence Of lobby influences
and some of them in conversation have
limited that the peril to good Legislation
lay in the Senate. This boast is now
demonstrated to be empty and vain--
| glorious. The Senate has not failed to
come up to expectations on any issue
yet presented. To the House belongs
the shame of having made the first
break.
II Gov. McCreary is correctly reported
as expressing satisfaction with the bill
we must confess to both surprise and
in an appreciation of the Governors
good intentions and determined pur--
pose. We had revised the view of him
that we took prior to the election, and
were rejoicing in the hope that he had
made up his mind to close long public
career gloriously by fighting for the
enactment of sound legislation. y
The fact that he is content with a
measure which brings to the face of Eli
Brown a smile Of pleased approval does
not accord with his often expressed desire
to remove the penal institutions from
contingent to negligible factors in Ken
lucky legislation.
The Governor will have to explain
why he has surrendered. His asquis-
cence in policy that is not even an
honest compromise strikes heavy blow
at the cause of reform,and will carry
encouragement into the ranks of those
who are seeking to achieve real results
for the welfare of the State. Every sell
fish interest that is hanging about the
Capitol will take new hope from the sign
that Gov. McCrcary is weakening. and
progressive members of both House and
Senate will feel that thy are deserted by
the titular of the party.
oh nf OF ,A,.ta,
from the Capitol is significant. Mr..
Atherton was sponsor for the bipartisan
bill which has been knitted by his party.
We are not in a position to speak for
him, but we are at liberty to guess that
he resents the manner in which he has
been treated by his Democratic col
leagues. We surmise this resentment
will extend to the Governor from whom
he had the right to expect support.
We trust Mr.. Anterior will return 20
Frankfort. Louisville and Kentucky
need him there. and he ought to be on the
excuse for his temporary absence. but
the rumor that he intends to stay away
during the remainder of the session is
surely not to be believed. 1t is his duty
to get back into the fight, and, If he
cannot win, at least to make the other
fellows realize that they are inviting pub
lie condemnation and party disaster by
violating the spirit of their pledges.
The present peril is that in conflict
between the House and Senate over
prison legislation, the Eli Brown faction
may be able to save itself We will then
have a victory scored to the credit of
the Third House at the very moment
when we were rejoicing over its defeat
1t is bad enough to be faced with the
probability Of victory for partisan pol
tiles in the enactment of the House bill;
but worse than partisan triumph would
be the success of the prison commission
ers in re-establishing their authority over
the General Assembly.
The issue now is-Will the people rule
or Eli Brown?
Gov. McCreary ought to declare just
where he stands OH this issue and why
Louisville Herald