Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-01-10
BecIxham--Haley Combination
Hurt by Affront to Lieuten-
ant Governor.
Impression Growing That Beck
Would BE Weak Candi-
date.
COMMISSION PLAN IMPOSSIBLE

The first skirmish for state
political strength took place in
Frankfort this past week during the
election of officials in both houses,
and events proved that the Beck
ham-Haley combination were in the
saddle, and furthermore that Gov.
McCreary, who has always ranked as
an astute politician, is being hood
winked by certain of his own
appointees, many of the present ad-
ministration giving secret aid to
Beckham and Haley in all their
maneuvers and knitting McCreary's
Senatorial aspirations at every turn,
one of our local Representative be-
ing authority for the statement that
80 per cent. of the present admins
tration is against McCreary.
The fact that they had control OF
both branches of the Legislature
probably turned their heads, figur-
atively speaking, causing the Beck
ham-Haley combination to lessen
Lieut.. Gov. McDermott's prestige by
taking from him the power of ap-
pointing help in the Senate, desiring
to use the patronage for the benefit
Of their machine, but their move
acted like a boomerang, the rank
and file of Democracy being dis
gusted with their petty politics.
which included an insult to one of
our distinguished leaders and the
second highest official in our State.
From an unbiased standpoint 1t
can be truthfully said that the op-
position to Beckham is growing
daily in the ranks and many of the
dyed-in-the-wool Democrats are GO
ing on record in saying that they
will not vote for him If given the
Tfnomination. this remark being made
here seycral times during the past
week by men c66Hs!dered staunch
democrats, in the face Or wnfcn II
would seem like political suicide for
the State Democracy to chose weak
candidate when 1t is taken into con-
sideration that President Wilson
only carried the State in 1912 BY A
PLURALITY OF ASS, and fell 1906
votes behind the combined Taft
Roosevelt vote.
Another move which is believed
to be strictly a political one is the
proposed Tax Commission measure,
which proposes to do away with
County Assessors elected by the
people and have the State divided
into fifteen tax districts, the head
assessor being an appointee of a
State Tax Commission composed of
three men, this board not only
naming the District Assessor, but
would probably dictate all his sub
ordinate appointments. What a Juicy
morsel for the present dictators OF
State Democratic politics If this
went into effect.
Our local representatives say
there if no chance of a commission
form of government bill being
passed at this session, as stated by
| the Evening Times, the advocates
from Louisville not receiving much
encouragement from the State at
large, out of town representatives
realizing that the proposers are
still probably writhing under the
sting of their recent defeat here.
Speaking of one of the advocates,
one of our local politicians remarked
that II he didn't cease making
politics a business all the year round
he would follow in the footsteps OF
others OF that class and be forced
to the necessity of wearing straw
hat in the winter time.
Louisville and Jefferson county
can justly be proud of their Senators
and Representatives at Frankfort,
they being found voting on the side
of economy and retrenchment in
every instance this past week. Their
combined strength is bound TO yield
good results in the passing of
beneficial laws. State Senators
Charles II. knight and Sam Robert
son are very jubilant over the vic
tory in the Senate OF Miss Jennie
Mcdonald as Enrolling Clerk, she
being their especial candidate. they
also voting for another winner in
Cash Shaw for Doorkeeper. George
b. (Cack) Barret, in the House, is
already hobnobbing with the lead
ers and is always surrounded by a
crowd OF country Representatives
listening 20 his droll stories OF
experiences on the ball field in the
role of umpire.