The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-06-02
District Politics.)
Judge Birkhead Circulated Petitions
Two Years AGO.

Two Years Ago.
The Democratic party is RESPONSE
lie for the present primary elec-ior
law in this State. The great mass
of the votes cast by this party are
UNI urchasable. Its members be.
lieve in fair elections and viii not
tolerate unfair methods or means,
tending to defeat the will of the
people. While the fundamental
principles OF this party and its time
honored presidents still stand, the
personnel of the party continually
changes. Death reaps each year his
toll from its ranks and others nee
essarily must take the places of
those called away.
Twelve successive years is no
small period in the average life and
during this period of time many
changes have taken place in the
ranks of this great party. Many of
its members who were actively at
work in its ranks twelve years ago
and who are still loyal to this par
ty, its principles and its presidents
remember that Judge TT. Birkhead
promised them, as he did when again
candidate six years later for the
Office he now holds, that he would
not be candidate for this Office for
the third term.
He was given the nomination at
the hands of the Democratic party
six years ago without opposition
and the people then believed an en-
dorsement due him and hence no
opposition was offered against him
in the final election. The question
now being debated by many of the
Democrats in this district is wheth-
er or not Judge Birkhead then,
when he last made the promise to
the people not to be candidate
for the third term. was acting in
good faith and really meant to keep
his promise. Subsequent events
tend to prove he did not. Lmme-
diately on his induction into office
he commenced to flood the district
with various printed circulars, CALI
ing the attention of the people to
his administration. 1t was thought
by his friends that he purposed be-
a candidate for Appellate
Judge. No one then suspected that |
he intended to be a candidate for
the third term. Later and more |
than two years in advance of the |
time for the election, and before the
proper time for anyone to offer as
candidate for the Democratic nomi-
nation to succeed him. 1t appears he
to take snap-judgment and
% procure many voters In the dis
riot to sign typewriter petitions
which were caused to be circulated
throughout the district by himself
md oilers directly interested In his
election. These petitions endorsed
lis administration and incidently re-
luested the Judge to become a can
lidate to succeed himself. This was
apparently done in an attempted ef-ll
ort to justify his act in violating
lis promise to his party. and fail
ng to keep faith with the people.
lie did then as he does now, hold an
'fficial position which requires himt
o pass judgment on the lives. liber-
les and property rights of every .
erson requested to sign these petit
ions, II called in question by legal
recess In any of the Circuit Courts
4 this district. These petitions
'ere all premature and there were
hen no announced candidates for
he Democratic nomination to this
ffice. II was not then the proper
line for the announcement of can
idates. No issues We're jo9hed and
ne people were asked for an express
lon OF an opinion more than twoI
ears In advance of the time when
hey might exercise their choice.
ONE signed these respective petit
ons without knowing the purposes
" which they were being circulate
1. and many signed them simply
tending to compliment the Judged :
, his administration. No one who
gned one OF these petitions should