(A strong editorial)

Some Republicans of Breathitt County

The Owenton News-Herald

October 31, 1907

To read the Republican papers of Kentucky, and of other states of the North and East, one would readily reach the conclusion that all that is bad in Breathitt County, all that is lawless and of the desperado type, is within the Democratic party and is protected by the Democratic leaders of other sections of the state. At only one point in the State of Kentucky, during the present campaign or during any campaign of recent years, has a public meeting been broken up by drunken rowdies and desperadoes. This meeting was a Democratic one. The orator of the occasion was a Confederate soldier and Superintendent of the Kentucky Home for Confederate Soldiers, and the rowdies were Breathitt County Republicans. So flagrant was their violations of the law that the courts have taken notice of their conduct.

It will be well for every Democrat to read what the Hon. Henry George, Democratic leader and Confederate soldier, has to say of that party of August E. Willson, or that portion of it which is resident in Breathitt County. Mr. George made the following signed statement of the affair, showing the discourteous treatment accorded him by a Republican Congressman and adherents:

"I have been asked by a number of people and I have received letters, asking me to state just what did occur at Jackson, where I was sent to speak for the Democratic ticket last Monday, the 14th inst.

"I think it was on the 11th, I received information from Dr. Milton Board, that there was an effort being made to have me engage in a joint debate at Jackson with some representative of the Republican party, and he asked me how it would suit me. I informed him that I would be pleased to engage in a joint discussion with any Republican. When I arrived in Jackson on the morning of the 14th, a committee of Democrats met me and escorted me to a hotel. In a little while, after arriving at the hotel, I was informed by the Democratic Committee that arrangements had been made with the Republican Committee for a joint discussion between Congressman Langley and myself, and that it was all arranged, except as to the order of the speeches. I informed our committee that I was anxious for the discussion and to inform the Republicans that they could have the choice of time. When we arrived at the courthouse, a little after one o'clock, it was learned that while the negotiation was going on in regard to joint discussion, the Republicans were filling the courthouse and massing their leaders around the stand, so that they would be in position to crowd out or attempt to intimidate Democrats. After getting things arranged to suit them, they blandly informed the Democrats that they would have no joint discussion, and that they had arranged to have Republicans speak all the afternoon. As soon as Judge Riddle adjourned court, Mr. Hyden, Chairman of the Democratic Committee, introduced me in a short speech and I arose to commence. Then a man whom I did not know, but afterward learned his name was Patton, jumped up in front of me and commenced haranguing the crowd, denouncing the Democrats and their methods. Although, I could see excitement was rising high, I was still standing, determined to commence speaking as soon as Patton quit. While Patton was haranguing, a lot of his henchmen were crowding around him and in front of me yelling at the top of their voices. Just at this point Judge W. H. Blanton, a Democrat, got up and addressed himself to Congressman Langley, saying to him that George had an appointment to speak in that courthouse at that hour, and that he, Langley, had claimed to have an appointment at the same time. He told Langley he and his friends had no right to crowd George out, and if he wanted to do the fair thing they would arrange for both to speak. Then the judge asked Langley how long he wished to speak. He said one hour or an hour and fifteen minutes. The judge said, "If you agree not to occupy more than an hour and fifteen minutes and will agree to give up the house to George at the end of that time, we will make no further effort to have George commence now and you can go ahead with your speech." Democrats, who were in the house, sat and listened respectfully through his hour and thirty minutes speech; he closed without mentioning that I would follow him. As soon as he was through, he and his cohorts dashed for the door. Democrats who had been crowded out came into the house and gave me a respectful hearing for about three quarters of an hour al long as I had to speak, owing to the lateness of the day. Being an ex-Confederate and of that class from whom Mr. Willson claims he will get such a large vote, you can imagine my surprise at the discourtesy handed out to me by his friends."