The bee., 1915-09-10
MORROW FfrES re .
OPENING GUN
~ OF CAMPAIGN
Republican Nominee for
Governor Speaks to Big
Crowd in Bowling Green.

Somerset, the nominee for Governor,
who addressed a large crowd from
Warren and the surrounding counties.
Mr. Morrow made a good presentation
of the issues. His address in full
follows:
Ladies' and Gentlemen
Political campaigns are primarily for
the benefit of the people, not the poll
ticians. The period preceding an elec-
tion Of the states executive and leg
islative officers is the time Of investi-
cation and discussion; a time in which
an accounting for stewardship should
be demanded and given, in order that
responsibility may be fixed-the good
and faithful servant rewarded, the un-
faithful servant rebuked.
Political parties act only through
their selected agents, and therefore
every party is responsible for the acts
and c61luct of its agents for the good
or bad they do, for the results and con-
ditions which they produce. II a po-
lihcal party, through its agents, has
kept faith with the people, efficiently
and honestly managed fiscal affairs and
produced the beneficial results Of good
government, such,a party deserves the
confidence OF the people and should
be given the control Of their affairs
II, however, through its agents, It had
broken faith, failed in its promises,
and proven inefficient and extravagant
in the management OF public business,
It should be denied the trust and
suffrage Of the. people and the party
Of opposition should be entrusted with
the affairs of State.
The ballot Of rebuke is the great
weapon Of the people, and by its
proper use alone can political parties
be compelled to keep faith, fulfill
promises and render good and faith
ful service. On these conditions we
propose to discuss with you today the
promises and deeds Of your public
servants who have, for four years, had
the Control Of your affairs and who are
responsible for the expenditure Of your
money and the general condition Of
your business. In this discussion /
want it clearly and fully understood
that any criticism may make is in
tended for officers, agents and officials
in their official capacities, and not for
the great body of patriotic, conscien.
tious, homeland-loving Democracy.
+ - BROKEN PROMISES.
The platform Of party is its given
word of honor, and, when accepted by
the suffrage of the people to whom
It is given, it becomes a solemn con-
tract, sealed with the great seal of
the commonwealth.
-Four years ago the Democratic par
ty made such covenant with the
people of Kentucky. Today / charge
the wilfull breach of that covenant,
both in letter and in spirit.
First-It broke the covenant con-
corning the use and misuse of the
peoples money.
The promise: I'VE pledge ourselves
to retrenchment and reform and to
an economical business administra-
tion of public affairs"
Fulfillment: Wanton, useless and
reckless extravaganza.
Result: An empty treasury, a bank
rupt State and public debt on out
standing interest-bearing warrants of
$3,275,S6S.
Second-It promised to take the
penal institutions out of the mire of
politics, to rescue them from the dom
ination of pohrIcians.
The promise: I'VE favor the removal
of all politics from our penal institu.
tions."
Fulfllment: The Board of Prison
Control is still partisan, still in poll
tics. Its officers and agents and
guards are still but pawns, made, and
moved by the hands Of their creaA rs.
Result: The three penal institutions
of the State have been operated dur.
ing the last three fiscal years at a
loss Of $574,000.
Third-It violated the contract in
the matter Of taxation-a matter vital.
ly affecting every home, every farm,
every business and every citizen in the
commonwealth.
The promise: I'VE favor submitting
to a vote Of the people an amendment
Of our State constitution, broadening
the powers of the General Assembly
so that it may classify property for
the purposes of taxation"
Fulfllment: A resolution providing
for tax amendment was passed by
the Legislature, ratified and carried
by the vote of the people, who awoke
one morning to discover that they had
been parties to a colossal hoax, staged
by "The Worlds Greatest Forgotten"
the Secretary Of State, who forgot
TO remember" to advertise the amend.
ment and who, in all the State House,
had no one ito refresh his reeollec-
ton"
Result: -Four wasted, useless years;
an unjust, unfair and unscientihc tax
system still gals the back of the peo-
pie, stil drives capital from the State,
still compels farms and other visible
property to pay 80 per cent of all
taxation, while it compels millions in
stocks and bonds TO avoid taxation,
Fourth--It promised to pass a cor
rupt practice act-a law to protect
the very fountain head Of all authority