The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1914-03-20

administration of such laws is just as
important as the character of them,
and the demagogue who would seek
to blackmail railroad company or
other corporation with the threat Of
hostile legislation, or with the unjust
application of the law, is felon de-
serving of the severest punishment.
Urges Fair Play.
con the other hand, we must not
f1atter ourselves with the delusion
that a railroad company is charit-
able organization, and that without
wise restriction it would not take
every possible legal advantage. Be-
tween these two extremes will be
found the fair, honest and equitable
ground upon which this grave and Inn
portant question should be settled. The
law passed by the general assembly
in 1900 on this subject gives to our
board Of railroad commissioners am
pie power, 80 far as intrastate COM
merce is concerned, to remedy any
wrongs that may exist, with due re-
gard to the rights of the people and
of the railroads. We have reason to
hope that the present board in the
general investigation on the subject
Of rates it is now making will reach
conclusion that will be just to all
alike. The power of a railroad COM
pany to levy an extortionate rate, sim
ply because of a lack Of competition
or by an agreement with a competing
line, should be restrained; and the
authority to do this now rests with
our board SO far as rates within this
state are concerned.
Il suggest that you give the report
of this board serious consideration.
It's recommendations should be fol-
lowed as far as possible"
In the last three Democratic ma
tional conventions, st. Louis in 1904,
Denver in 1908, and Baltimore in
1912, as the member for Kentucky on
the resolutions committee, / helped
to shape the party platforms on that
subject At the time l served as such
at Denver and Baltimore. was one
of the local attorneys for the Louis
vile & Nashville Railroad company
in Franklin county. How far that
employment affected my views on the
subject may be seen by looking at the
railroad planks in those platforms. I
helped to write the Denver platform,
and it's declaration Of principles on
that subject was the most advanced
position ever taken by one of the
great political parties. II I shall be
elected to the United States senate, /
shall be guided by the principles an
nounced in those platforms, and shall
assist, wherever possible, the presi-
dent and his administration. in deal
ing with this great and important
matter; and in doing so, l shall use
the same fair, honest and intelligent
spirit, with which / have always tried
to deal with every public question.
Now as to my employment as an at
torney, of which Mr.. Stanley seeks to
make an issue After my retirement
from Office and my defeat for the
senate in 1908, had no means upon
which tc live and support my family,
except to depend upon the practice Of
my profession. In the spring CT that
year formed a law partnership with
Mr. Lewis McQuown, for the general
practice Of law, and located in Frank
fort. Our firm was offered the local
attorneyship for the l.. & N. railroad
in the courts of Franklin county We
accepted 1t, and held it until the first
of last January. We were engaged in
the general practice of law, and we
accepted all legitimate and desirable
business offered to us. Owing to i'll
health, my partner had to retire from
the practice a few months ago; and
following that retirement, and owing
to my intention to devote most of my
time to the campaign this year, gave
up that employment, and also our po-
sition as local attorneys for the Illi-
nois Central Railroad, which had very
little local business in Frankfort.
Not Paid Regular Salary.
Instead of drawing a very large sal
airy from the L. & N. Railroad corn-
pany, or any other railroad company,
as Mr.. Stanley charges, have drawn
no salary at all, but have been paid
on a fee basis; and what l have re-
ceived altogether from all railroad en-
pigments, has not averaged as much
as eight hundred dollars a year. Our
employment had not the slightest po
litical connection or significance; and
the gentlemen in the railroad service,
under whom We did our work, never
sought, directly or indirectly, to influ-
ence our position on any political or
public question, or IN any manner of
railroad policies or legislation. We
served them just as we die other
clients, and tried to discharge our
duties to them as lawyers, conscien-
tioussy and satisfactorily.
My position upon these matters is
too well known to take up more time
in discussing them. On this question
and upon others, am in accord with
the principles Of my party, as declared
in it's platforms, and with the policy