The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-09-01

iOI WI WiinOu lhdh tuObc WIN OppObt
my position, but am equally as strong
and positive that will do all that !
can to prevent the domination Of the
Democratic party and the control of
the election machinery by the whiskey
interests Of Kentucky, and therefore
that will try to exercise in the Sc
lection of election commissioners when
our board meets.
His Right
"As to precedent l am not familiar
but the law gives me the right, as q
member Of the board, to,vote, and l ex-
pect to exercise the preorgative.
have been informed that when Senator
J. c. w. Beckham was the nominee of
the Democratic party that both he and
his campaign manager, Mr.. Thomas
Rhea, asked the election board to Sc
lect certain Democrats designated by
them. The board at that time refused
to comply with the request. Last year
when the Democratic organization in
the city Of Louisville asked the Demo-
cratic members of the board to vote for
certain ones for election commission
ers they refused to do so until COM
PEELED by the court.
win Do His Duty
81 expect to do my duty according
to law, but ! understand that some
would violate not only precedent, but
law, in ignoring completely list sub
mitted regularly by the Republicans
Mr.. Oldham, who is so vehemently for
the law, stated only yesterday that If
he were in Gov. Stanley's place he
would ignore the Republican list and
select Republican of his own choice
While it is true Mr.. Oldham is a Demo-
crat, 1t is equally true that | am just
as good Democrat and a member of
the board, elected by the people an6
accountable to them, and not appointed
by one man and accountable to him.
Could Not Agree
"The Democratic Commissioner, Mr..
Oldham, and myself, at the suggestion
o. some of the Governors friends, did
meet, but we could not agree in several
instances. | suggested to Mr.. Oldham
that | would vote for any Democrat
racnmnandad hxy Tho oroon;,o.;o., L.,
the various cities in Kentucky for the
reason that | recognized that in cities
organization is essential, and, there
fore, that the organization should
name its commissioners.
when the name of Mr.. Reedy, from
Louisville, was suggested, Mr.. Oldham
was not ready to agree as to him.
When | suggested the top name from
Fayette. he was against him. II any
one can point to me a single commits
sioner that l favor in the State of
Kentucky who is not a Democrat. who
did not vote for Gov. Stanley last fall,
who is not for Woodrow Wilson, who
Is not for honest elections, then | will
vote for some other man in the list;
but until that is pointed out to me
expect to insist upon my rights and try
to name at least some Of the Demo-
cratic commissioners in Kentucky. II
is not question, as some would have
US believe, as to whether Mr.. Oldham
selects the Democratic commissioners,
or whether the Republican select them,
but it is a question whether Mr.. Old
ham selects them or whether select
at least a part of them.
Plan to Ignore Him
81 might state that before the Re-
publican commissioner was named sew
eral gentlemen visited one or more OF
them on their list and attempted to
get an agreement that the Democrat
designated by the Governor name the
Democrats and that the Republican
designated by the Governor name the
Republicans. In other words, that II
was not to be considered and to be
completely ignored. and it was not un.
til after it looked like they could not
handle Republicans, that either Mr..
Oldham or anyone else visited me to
even to attempt to get an agreement as
to the election commissioners in this
Within Rights
Under these circumstances be-
lieve that l am within my rights and
within the law when / try to have
some say in the selection Of commits
sioners and some say in whether or
not the Democratic party and the
election machinery is to be controlled
by the liquor interests in this State.
l believe in fair elections. am
against whiskey domination in our
party, and as a member OF the board
expect to cast my vote along these
lines"
IMPOSTER