The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1914-06-11
KENTUCKIAN
FIRST
POLITICIAN NEXT.

Mr.. Arthur B. Krock, Washington
correspondent to the Courier Journal,
pays Senator William o. Bradley the
following tribute in last Sundays issue.
Kentucky and her people were first
in his heart.
Had Senator Bradley come to Wash
ington in his prime; had he been elect
ed to the Senate, say, in the early years
of the century, his vigor, his oratorical
ability and his industry would have
made him national reputation, and he
might have succeeded Aldrich as the
leader of the Republican stalwarts.
But Bradley came here in 1908 an old
man, broken in health and in strength,
his vigor more mental than bodily, his
ambition less keen than in the days
when he was the"perpetual candidate.
A high-tariff, rockribbed Republican in
the days when high-tariff, rock-ribbed
Republicans were making their last
stand, Senator Bradley contentedly
followed the Aldrich- Hale enrose
leadership and ran in their groove with
these exceptions;
When their leadership sought to de-
prive Kentucky tobacco growers of the
tax they wanted on tobacco, Bradley
flew at the threats of his superiors like
a tiger and prevented them from car
rying out their design.
When these leaders lost their power
in their own State organizations and
some of them were forced to retire from
the Senate, the Kentuckian, although
old and broken, maintained his grip, and
in 1912 held Taft to second place in Ken
lucky after giving him the delegate
vote of the State over the far more
popular Roosevelt. When battling
with other factions on his native heath,
he was always McGregor, and when
the interest of his State was attacked,
whether by Republicans or Democrats,
he was always Bruce.
After Bradley's row with Aldrich
over the 6-cent tobacco tax, he had no
great local adventures until the time
came for the passage of the Cantrill
Tobacco Statistics Bill through the
Senate, Mr.. Cantrill, a Democratic
Representative, had fathered this and
passed it through the House. and he
and the tobacco growers of the State
represented to Senator Bradley their
interest in having it passed through the
Senate. In those days the Republicans
held the Senate majority, and so Sena-
tor Bradley was selected to pilot the
measure. Republicans from Connecti-
cut and Pennsylvania. leaders of his
party, informed the Kentuckian of their
opposition. 1t made no impression on
him, They told him Kentucky Demo-
Gratis ESQ they styled the growers)
would profit and Pennsylvania and
Connecticut Republican manufacturers
would contribute that profit.
"All the more reason for passing it,
if it will help Kentuckians," said
Bradley, Penrose, chairman of the
Finance Committee and Bradley's
titular leader, served notice that he
would not permit the bill to pass.
Bradley treasured the information and
worked as hard as he could in the ways
he understood, counting on his tremend.
GUS personal popularity and watchful-
ness to overcome the power ofPenrose's
position.
The day the Cantrill Bill came up for
Senate passage Mr.. Penrose was in his
seat ready to repeat the II object"
which would have postponed considera-
ton indefinitely. Senator MARITIME, a
close friend of Bradley's walked up to
Penrose and whispered something to
him. The big Pennsylvania arose
laboriously and walked out of the
chamber with MARITIME. Bradley, who