The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-04-14


awakens the soul, stimulates self dis
covery and prompts human efficiency.
Most OF our troubles OF all kinds
are inherent in the individual We
may look the world over for an easy
way to build up great state. We
may employ mechanical means AMI
artificial methods Of reform: we may
make laws and appeal to the law TO
find. In the end, that great state Is
In the people: that II is q spiritual
life. an aggregate human thought that
must grow from within. II grows be-
cause it has the contagion Of good
citizenship; because 1t is Itself a
great lesson in progressive life; be-
cause Its public officials, Its public
sentiment, its vision. its ideals, its
patriotism It's laws am ITS citizens
are moral, patriotic and just. II grows
/ because II is living, growing organ
ism, nourished by a spiritual atmos-
phere. a spiritual soil. a spiritual
sunshine and a spiritual shower. We
can not force the growth of a great
state through a quill, a human ma
chine or a legislature. Human growth
will cease when the people rely upon
the government for happiness and
prosperity. / fully value the impor-
lance Of safeguarding the intellect
ual, moral and Industrial life of the
people through the enactment Of law.
| am not minimizing in the least the
importance of needed legislation, but
am rather emphasizing that any en-
deavor to improve life that Is not
founded upon individual character
will result in failure and DO harm. At
any rate, IL is possible for us to EN-
| plastic the outward nj the cost Of the
| inward, the statute at the cost Of the
citizen. | believe that the need for
the making of a few vital laws and
for the strict enforcement OF the laws
already made is greater than the need
for the making of many new laws.
We are not in need Of more laws so
much as we are in need OF more men
who respect and obey the law-men
who are straight decent and fearless
and men who do right without having
a law flashed in their faces.
No democracy can last without in
visible government; without the ST.
lent rule of human lives. Noble and
expanding visions and ideals that
rule in the citadel OF the soul can not
be fully oppressed in written laws
and political platforms; neither can
they be effectively transmitted to the
lives Of the people through laws made
by partisan legislatures; and yet they
are the invisible things that largely
make and govern every great state.
There is no greater work that can DE
done in Kentucky than the crystal
izing of human ideals and noble de-
sires that are frequently silent and
inactive into a positive public senti-
ment that will proclaim tc the world
that Kentucky is a land OF optimism,
magnetic progress and opportunity,
unfit for dead men and knockers and
suitable only for live men and boost
ers. We shall never have the greater
state until we develop a public senti-
ment that will be fire under the feet
of every reactionary in the state,
public sentiment that will brand, ban
fish and disgrace any citizen who would
corrupt a great state; public senti-
ment that will insure clean elections
and the rule of the people. The chief
executive of the state enjoys many
opportunities to take the lead in the
development of public opinion, and IL
am elected governor | shall use
every proper influence within my
power to develop and maintain high
standards OF private and public con-
duct through the development of an
active and sane public sentiment
There Is an invisible government
that is the greatest foe to free de-
mocracy. 1t is the secret control Of
the spiritual and Industrial properties
of the people. 1t is a government by
machine manipulators who pool the
peoples vote and sell public Offices to
the highest bidder. II Is government
by the representatives of great corpo-
rations and other special interests
who put burdens upon the people and
muddy the fountains OF Justice by
using corrupt methods of securing leg
islation offered in the interest of the
few and preventing legislation offered
In the interest of the many This form
of control will destroy the self-reli-
ance of the people. put burdens upon
their lives and make them slaves Of
the INSCRIPTIONS and autocratic boss.
believe In the rule of the people; in
civic righteousness, in social and in
dustrial justice. and II I am elected
governor, shall use every influence
within my power 10 nave corrupt
practice act passed that will destroy
the influence of the corrupt lobby and
keep the Offices and the government
under the control of the people.
Favors Railroad Regulation.
In developing a greater Kentucky
there is no agency that plays more
important part than the railroads Of
our state They are the great arteries
OF commerce that make possible mar
kets for our vast resources They add
greatly to the civilization and educa-
tion Of country and are entitled to
every encouragement possible and to
a fair return on their Investment. II
is, however, TOO often the tendency OF
public service corporations to use the
great corporate powers they have to
impose unjust burdens on the people;
and to prevent this. | would favor a
proper and adequate regulation of all
public service corporations TO the ex-
tent that the people may not be bur
4 dened by exorbitant and unjust rates
and regulations. AS section 1877 OF the
state constitution, which the COVER
= nor and all other state officials swear
TO support. makes II unlawful under