Kentucky Lawyer

“Yellow dog Democrat?”

9 Kentucky Lawyer that matter, since, was the Honorable William Goebel, state senator from Kenton County. This man was the idol of a large segment but by no means a majority of the Democrats of the state. He was intelligent, forceful and loyal to his allies but above all he was possessed of a political ambition that knew no bounds. He was chosen as the Democratic nominee for governor at what is known as the famous Music Hall Convention in Louisville in the summer of 199. The methods used to secure the nomination angered and alienated all of those who opposed him and the intense feeling of some of the delegates resulted in bringing out another Democrat to run as an independent for the office. W. S. Taylor was the Republican nominee. Since the story does not involve the many other interesting features of this never to be forgotten race, I will not go into them. If anyone who reads this is looking for Kentucky political history, I recommend Famous Kentucky Tragedies and Trials, by L. F. Johnson. “Yellow dog Democrat?” One of the chief leaders of the revolt against the nominee and therefore a “bolter” of the Democratic party was Theodore Hallam, referred to above. Mr. Hallam took the stump and campaigned vigorously against Goebel, whom he heartily disliked and distrusted. While speaking in western Kentucky he was asked by the “loyal” Democrats to divide time or share his platform with Judge John Rhea of Russellville. This was a method of debate which was for a time popular in Kentucky politics. Hallam accepted and before a large audience these two skillful political artisans 70 Mac Swinford eloquently etolled the virtues of their respective candidates . It was known to the crowd that Mr. Hallam had been theretofore a devout partisan and had avowed that he was so attached to his party and its principles that he would vote for a “yellow dog” on the Democratic ticket before he would vote for a Republican. This gave rise to the epression “a yellow dog Democrat” which, in a small measure, is used today. During the progress of Hallam’s speech, a heckler in the audience shouted, “I thought you said you were a yellow dog Democrat, so why are you out here leading a party bolt in favor of Republicans?” Hallam promptly replied , “You’re right, I did say that I was and I am a yellow dog Democrat and will vote for a yellow dog before I will vote for a Republican, but I won’t go one bit lower than a yellow dog, and that’s what they are asking when they offer William Goebel as the Democratic nominee.” Two of a kind My father was actively interested in politics throughout his long life. I have heard him say that Judge John Rhea of Russellville was the greatest political orator he had ever heard. At the time of the incident just related, he was in his prime. At the conclusion of Hallam’s speech, Judge Rhea arose and addressed the crowd of wildly cheering Democrats. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “you have just heard an address by one of Kentucky’s most eloquent and illustrious sons. A man favored by nature to fill positions of leadership both in his profession as a lawyer and his ...