The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-05
KOLB POSES As GOVERNOR.
He Issues a Manifesto TO the Law.
makers and People.

muhSio anu 1NVplOs
He Refers to the Democrats as Usurpers
and Asserts That the constitutional
Guarantee of a Fair Election Has
Been overthrown-He Claims That
the Constitution Gives Every Citizen
the Right to Go Before the Legislature
and Demand Judicial Pronounce
ment Upon the Result of an Election.
The Advise to withhold Taxes Re-
peated.
Birmingham. Ala, Dec. Ar. F. Kolb,
who calls himself governor de jure of Ala
bama, has issued message ITO the Gen.
eral Assembly and People of Alabama"
He starts out in a grandieloquent strain.
referring to 1.-The revolutionary conditions
of your state government" stigmatizes
the democrats as ''usurpers," and de-
clares that the constitutional guarantee of
a fair election has been overthrown.
He says; Il have taken the oath of gov
ernor, and intend to prosecute, in your
name, my right to that high office solely
upon the claim that by ballots cast in the
legitimate and orderly way prescribed by
the forms of law, was appointed to it on
Aug. g. 1894. I would waive much to avoid
a conflict of contesting parties for power
in Alabama. have hesitated long to ex-
pose the people Of Alabama to internal dis
cord. But, my countrymen, the conces-
sion of right to the evil spirit of wrong
is not the road to a peace which is a real
peace"
Mr.. Kolb then refers to constitutional
rights. inviolability of the ballot box. etc.
He contends that no election is complete
until all the provisions of the constitution
have been obeyed, and argues that a num-
ber of ballots cast on the first Monday in
August bennially. and counted by the
joint session of the legislature the ensu-
ing November does not, in those proceed
ures only, constitute a valid election. The
constitution of Alabama expressly secures
to every citizen, no matter how humble,
the right to go before the legislature and
demand a judicial pronouncement by that
body, after the form of law, upon the re-
suit reached at the ballot box. The legis-
lature has no more authority, save a revo-
lutionary authority, to abolish the consu-
tutional right of the citizen 70 have his
ballot passed upon by the legislature than
that body has right to forbid the ballot
itself at the polls, which the constitution
ordains shall be the privilege of the citizen
and the security of freedom.
Because the legislature of 1928 did
expressly revoke the sections of the civil
code, however imperfect, which seemed
to allow contest of the election of gov
ernor and other state house officers, re-
fusing on demand, to restore them or to
substitute others of reasonable and
practical nature, you are perfectly JUS
tilted in declaring there can be no cleo
tion of governor or other state officers
under the constitution of Alabama bind
ing on you, which is tainted with fraud at
the ballot box
He says that he is detained by physical
force from performing the functions of
governor, but he still advocates only
peaceable proceedings, and declares that
he is governor de jure.
He asks that contest Of election stat
ute be promptly enacted by the legisla-
ture and agrees to submit his case to such
statute He says the people are capable
of enduring much, but there is an end to
endurance.
He closes as follows:
II advise my supporters and all lovers
of liberty to organize clubs to assist the
general object of my appeal for their
rights Let these clubs meet as often as
once in two weeks at least by regular ap-
pOintment. let there be readers VINO VIII
come before each meeting with such liter
ature bearing upon the general question
at issue as may be available. Let every
instructive article be well read aloud that
it may incite inquiry and discussion.
Let the fires of a noble patriotism be
kept alive in our hearts and the clouds
and darkness will lift and drift away. We
have no common fund to pay the expenses
of orators, but l am confident that the
plan of a club and the public exhortations
of neighbors with each other will serve
great end and produce the best results.
| advise my friends and supporters to
pay no tax money to any collector of state
taxes for while. 1 advise those tax col
lectors who value the cause 1 represent,
and which will assuredly prevail in the
end to delay all payments of state taxes
into the state treasury until an impartial
hearing be had of our complaint under a
fair and honest contest law.
If Col Oates and his faction fear not
the truth, If they court equity and are
ready to abide by justice. they will hes
itate at nothing to remove the color of
dishonor from his title to the office he has
seized by arms.
If the general assembly will bring rea-
son to treat with the facts, the justice
demanded will be accorded well and speed
ily Upon it's own head rests the question
of peace or of discord in Alabama
r. F. Kolb, Governor
Montgomery, Ala, Dec. 4, 1894.