The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-02-18
ERNST THIRD G. 6. P.
SENATOR OF STATE
KY. Man To Be Lone Wearer
Of Toga In Chamber
From South.
BY VIII S. Kaltenbacher.

l... BY VIII 5. kaltenbacher.
When Richard p. Ernst, Covington,
takes his seat in the United States
Senate at noon, March 4, he will be
the third Republican in the history of
Kentucky to wear the senatorial toga
and the first of that party to be chos-
en- United States Senator by popular
vote.
His Republican predecessors in the
senatorship were William ]. Deboe,
Marion, who served from 1897 to
1903, and William o. Bradley, who
assumed the toga in 1909 and wore
1t until his death in 1914, a little less
than year before his term would
have expired.
BY a strange coincidence exactly
twelve years separate the terms of
the three Republican Senators from
Kentucky and another outstanding
feature is that the election of each
of them was only made possible by
Democratic support.
Mr.. Deboe, then a State Senator,
was the beneficiary of coalition Of
Republican and anti-Blackburn DEM
ocrats at the special session of the
Legislature called to meet by Gov
ernor Bradley in 1896, after the mem
orable deadlock between Blackburn
and Hunter had lasted throughout the
regular session of the same year.
DR.. Hunter was the regular Republic
can caucus nominee, but bolt in his
own party prevented his election to
the Senate.
Bradley Elected in 1908.
Twelve years later Governor Brad
ley was elected United States Sena-
tor through Democratic bolt in the
1908 Legislature when four Demo-
cratic members, Senators H. S. Nc
Mutt and Albert Charlton and Repre-
sentatives Chris Mueller and e. w.
Lillard, broke over the party traces
and voted for Bradley amid the most
sensational scenes ever witnessed in
legislative body. Mr.. Bradley was
elected over J. G. w. Beckham, who
had just retired from the office of
Governor.
Exactly dozen years later anoth-
er Republican was successful In
wrestling the senatorial toga from a
Democratic wearer when Richard p.
Ernst, nominated by his party with
out. opposition, received a majority
Of the votes In the general election
over his. Democratic opponent, Sena-
tor ]. c. w. Beckham. That Demo-
cratic detection played part in the
election of Mr.. Ernst and made pos
sible the elevation of the third Re-
publican to the Federal Senate since
the State was erected is attested by
the fact that the Democratic Presi-
Dental ticket carried Kentucky by a
majority of more than 1000 over
the Republican electors. ~
Only G. o. r. Senator LIN South.
Mr.. Ernst enters upon his senate
rial duties at most suspicious time.
the beginning of a new Republican
national administration, and being
the only Republican Senator in the
Old South will give him a prestige in
that body that should be very help
full to him. He will serve for six
years his term expiring March 8,
1927. @ ~
While 1t is long way off, 1t will
be up. to Mr.. Ernst to show that he
can repeat, his Republican predeces-
sors having served only one term, but
in this connection it is only fair to
say that Senator Bradley was called
by death before the end of his term
and was thereby deprived of the OPP
portunity to try for re-election-Lou-
isville Times.