Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1919-07-26
CAMPAIGN
For Democratic Nominations Fur
nishing Some Lively
Contests.
Straw Vote Collectors and Political
Prophets Have Their
Inning.
Serious Breach Between Colored
Republicans and Hert-
Searcy Machine.
wARLEY's CANDIDACY CAUSE.

This week marked some lively
campaigning in the Democratic party
for the different State nominations,
with the debate between Gov. Black
and Judge Carroll at Mayfield for
the headliner. A majority OF the
critics agree that the Governor
scored a decisive victory in the
debate, and his showing gave his
followers throughout the State much
cause for enthusiasm. The week
also brought out batch of prophets
and near prophets and each backed
I'D his statement with the old stereo-
typed stories of straw votes taken
ON trains, at depots, in hotel lob
bies, ETC., and the fizzle OF the
Wilson-Hughes straw vote dn 1916,
when Hughes was proven a sure
winner before the election, does not
seem to phase the prophets or straw
vote collectors now. The Cincinnati
ENQUIRER correspondent seems to
have been bambooZled by the Car
roll press agents, as the Judge was
given a big victory in the straw vote
of that paper Sunday, and everything
was claimed by the Carroll forces
pretty near except Gov. Blacks home
precinct. Impartial critics and men
who have no choice in the race say
that Gov. Black is by far the
strongest, and a straw vote is use
less because of the small vote that
will be cast.
The Fifth district is an example.
The Carroll managers claim a
majority of 5000 to 5000 for their
man 1t Is safe to say that there
will not he a Democratic vote cast
of $4,000 at the most, and to pre-
dict a majority of 5000 even is
absurd The situation here is typical
of the situation elsewhere. There is
good natured rivalry between the
Black and Carroll supporters and
there will be fair and square fight
in the primary with the best man
winning, and the winner will fall
much short of 5000 majority. The
outsiders who predict the big major
ity for Judge Carroll evidently
figured on the Democratic City and
County Committee taking an active
part in his behalf, which will positive
" not be done. The leaders of the
Democratic party here realize that
good Democrats are working in both
camps and are only interested to the
extent of hoping that the strongest
man wins and that he will greatly
aid the local ticket in November.
Conservative Democrats say that
Gov. Black lis the logical one to
carry the local ticket through be-
cause of his big following in Park
land and Crescent Hill, sections
where the Democratic party gets few
votes in local elections.
The. Lieutenant Governors race
furnished an interesting surprise.
Six weeks OF two months ago Old
ham had the race won but lost
ground heavily when he .dickered to
have that will o. the wisp vote, the
labor vote. delivered by the political
labor leaders. w. H. Shanks, of
Stanford, has come to the front with
a rush and all agree that he would
be the safest man to strengthen the
ticket i'm November. Mat Cohen can
go on his vacation now. having his
race won for Secretary of State.
Ryland C. Musick, of Jackson, is
making a whirlwind finish for At
torney General and Democrats be-
lieve that his nomination will bring
many votes from his section. At
torny Will McNally. of this city, Is
working earnestly in his behalf and
a big vote will be given Mr.. Musick
in the Fifth district. Prof. X. 5.
Eubank is making strong finish
for superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton and the race for Clerk of the
Court of Appeals is confined TO
Alvin Steger, of Owenton, and John
Goodman, of Todd County.
In the Republican ranks the situa-
ton has gone from bad to worse
and, sad to say. things have become
so deplorable that the Louisville Her
aid and other Republican organs just
can't begin to discuss the G. 0. T.
situation. Big Boss Hert's first aid,
the Bingham press, Is also silent and
can't lend helping hand. Speaking
of the Bingham press the plan OF
Hert and Bingham to secure the
United States Senatorship in both
parties as mentioned In these
columns last week created wide, II
not favorable comment. The latest
is that Mr.. Bingham Is planning now
to run against Beckham next year
and has secured Percy Haly foI
campaign manager. And the roo'
of the whole trouble is the
very factor that has kept the he-
publican party on the map for years
the .colored Republican vote. The
worm has turned with vengeance
and there Is bitter war ON between
the colored voter and the Hert.
Searcy machine. The candidacy Of
MARLEY, the colored editor, for the
Legislature, and DR.. w. T. Merchant
a colored physician, for Alderman
has started fight that bodies nc
good for the Republican party II
Kentucky, and the fight proves thai
the negro voters have baked a
furnishing the bulk Of the vote every
year to put Republicans In big faa
salaried offices. The same ole
methods that have been used fol
Wars were tried on Marley withoud
success. He was told that this wal