Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-08-13
DR.. cLARDY.

lic life with higher sense OF honor
than DR.. John ID. Clardy. His word
was as good as his bond His In
tegrity was unquestioned. He had no
patience with schemes and tricks in
politics or any kind Of unfairncss OF
demhgogy. He possessed at all
times the courage Of his convictions
and was outspoken 10 the verge Of
bluntness. He was devoid Of any kind
Of physical fear and was proof against
any species Of intimidation. An
incident Of his courage and force Of
character is recalled. In June 1899
he was a delegate from Christian
county TO the gubernational conven-
tion. instructed for Stone. The is
votes Of the county were instructed.
q for Stone and for Goebel. the
survivor TO get all. The eombina-
tion attempted to organize the state
convention against p. Wat Hardin.
the leading candidate and ultimately
succeeded. Maj. P. p. johnson was
chairman Of the State Committee and
temporary presiding officer Of the
convention. There were many con
tests. The rule in conventions up to
that time had been that eontesting
delegations were not allowed to vote
until the convention was organized
and one set OF the other Of the dele
gates was given a clear title. As
the call OF counties proceeded. II be-
came evidence that the vote was so
close that the contesting delegates
hSt the balance Of power. The
ffst of these were reached and
Chairman Johnston announced that
he would pass upon the contests to
the extent that he would allow those
delegates TO vote who had the reg
ular eredentials." This meant much
20 the opposing sides. as the "regu-
Iarity" of all the delegates was stout
" upheld by their respective sides.
Chairman Johnston firmly held to
his positigs. trying as he said to be
impartisisrbA finally reached one Of
the big delegations claimed by both
sides with especial vchemence. and
ruled that the Hardin delegates could
vote. A great turmoil at once arose.
The stage Of the old Music Hall In
which the convention was sitting
was filed with reporters. committee
men, candidates and their friends.
As the storm arose Maj. Johnston sat
serenely in the center with de-
termined smile on his face. One
leader after another had whispered
10 him only TO be answered with a
shake Of his head. Finally DIR. Clardy
pushed through the crowd and said
"Let me speak to Maj. johnson,
served with him In the constitutional
convention and we were close
friends" He pushed his way through
the standing crowd and spoke to
Mai. Johnston. There was the same
shake Of the head. The convention
was about to split before II could
organize. The chairman. having an
swered DIR. Clardy. waved him away
with his hand and attempted to 20 on
nobody able TO hear anything ex
cept the secretary recording the vot'
at his elbow. But DR.. Clardy woul'
not be waved away. His voice ros'
TO a demand for justice for his side
and Il could plainly be seen tina
two iron wills had come into con
aict. Mai. Johnston's next move wa
70 call upon a man named William
as sergeant at arms TO "proteet th'
chsir from further interference.
Williams. pistol in hand. started to
wards DR.. Clardy, who never budge'
an inch. A big fellow in his shir
sleeves hurled himself through tn
mass Of men and slapping DIR. Clard.
ON the back said. "stand pat, old maj
stand pat" tie was unarmed, bu
nj, brawny arm and towering foru
held Williams at bay. The scene be
came intensely dramatic. Pistols wer
drawn on every side. Partisans 4
the fioor pushed forward and elimoe
anon the stage. Some on the stag
tshed for the exits to get out. Chair
were overturned and free hgh
seemed near at hand. At this stag
somebody moved to adjourn an
Maj. Johnston. still smiling, with ID
Clsrdy still trying to reason VII
I, him, declared the session adjourned
During the recess something like a
agreement was arrived at and IN
convention was finally organized an
Cosbel became the nominee aft'
tsn days Of wrangIing. The tick
was defeated at the polls and col
t~~< folIowed during which Go