Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1908 — IT HAPPENED IN KENTUCKY. [ARTICLE]

IT HAPPENED IN KENTUCKY.

Cincinnati Enquirer. Democracy slipped its moorings yesterday in Kentucky. It struck a reef, as do all craft that venture upon turbulent seas without a firm guiding hand. The deadlock that ensued when certain members of the L gislature declined to vote for the candidate who had been declared the nominee of their party by a primary vote, was terminated by the election of the Republican nominee, former Governor William O. Bradley. The votes of four Democratio members of the Assembly, who had persistently opposed the candidacy of former Governor Beckham, accomplished the unforeseen result. For the second time in her history Kentucky will be represented in the Senate of the United States by a Republican. The only other representative of that party to achieve similar distinction was William T. Deboe. His election was accomplished under similar circumstances, and was the result of a break a prolonged deadlock. Defeat comes to Governor Beckham doubtless as a bitter potion. His political career, until yesterday, had been one record of unbroken and splendid successes. Youthful, brilliant, daring, be had captivated the hearts of Kentuckians, who delighted to honor him, and to put him forward as the exponent of their great state. Thrice had he been made Governor, and then by the suffrages of his own party be was designated as its choice for the Senatorship. It is not for the Enquirer to moralize upon the result of yesterday’s balloting at Frankfort. Disturbing, even apparently disrupting, forces have been at work in the Blue Grass state for a number of years, which meant revolution of some sort sooner or later. It was inevitable that the men who bad to deal with the perverse temperance question and the tobacco difficulties would encounter opposition and incur deep-seated and abiding enmities. The Beokkbam administration had to cope with these questions, and whether right or wrong in its course, no one can question that they were treated vigorously and firmly. That there should have been resentment and attempted reprisal was to have 1 been expected in the natural order I of human affairs.

It was not a victory for the Republicans. All they could muster fell far enough short to preclude , all possible hope of victory except through the aid of the disgruntled. It does not mean the end of Democratic supremacy in Kentucky. Regenerated and revified, probably with entirely new leadership, the party that has controlled the destinies of Kentucky during her existence as a state will reassert itself and again wield the scepter of power and authority. The hiatus may be good* both for the state and the Democratic party. The new Senator brings to the office a wealth knowledge and experience gained in actual and constant contact with public affairs. He knows the people of bis own state and their wants and needs. He has always been a broadminded partisan, and will undoubtedly represent all the people of the state in a manner fully worthy of the traditions and history of her many great men.