Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-12-06
a PEACEFUL PROTEST

Against the Inauguration Of His Late OPP
ponent Was the Extent of the koib Re-
volt-Gov.-Elect Oates Declared that IL
He Did Not Believe that He Had Been
Honestly Elected He Would Not Take
the Office.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, Dec. Col. w.
G. Gates has been duly installed as
governor and not blow has been
struck, not gun fred nor a drop OF
| blood spilled, notwithstanding all the
wild rumors that have been sent out
for a week past. The day has been
ideal in every respect. Last night and
this morning perhaps 200 of kolb's fol-
lowers came to the city, but there was
no display of firearms of any sort.
At 10 o'clock this morning the local
and visiting military companies began
to move about the streets, getting
ready for the ceremonies, but there
was no great crowd and everything
was serene.
o'clock that Kolb had taken the oath
before justice of the peace down
town. and was coming up to the capi-
oil to make a speech. About IL o'clock
he appeared, walking up the half-mile
ascent to the grounds. He was es-
corted by perhaps fifty persons. He
and his party were readily passed
through the gates, but upon ascend
ing the steps leading up to the
stone walk approaches the police told
them, as they had told everybody else.
that they must proceed to the right or
left upon the grounds. Kolb and his
party proceeded around to the right
of the building upon the grass.
Presently w. S. Reese, Jr., who ran
for attorney general on Kolb's ticket
went to one of Gov. Jones' secretaries
and asked if Kolb would be allowed to
make speech in the grounds. The
secretary replied that he could not
speak officially.
Kolb then asked if there was any OBJ
lection to his speaking on the streets
outside. Gov. Jones told him there
was none whatever. Accordingly Kolb
and his followers left the grounds.
Outside the gates they proceeded to
the sidewalk opposite. There a coun-
try wagon was pressed into service and
Kolb with several of his leaders
mounted it. The most liberal esti-
mates do not place the crowd Of white
men who gathered around it at over
200, and many of those were democrats.
There were also a hundred or two of
curious local negroes. No arms were
seen upon any person.
Kolb delivered a very short speech,
in which he asserted that he had been
lawfully elected and had been defraud-
ed; that he had pursued this course
simply to emphasize the position of
himself and purity against the usurpa-
ton of his office. He stated that if a
fair and honest contest law was passed
by the present general assembly that
would settle all the trouble and be
satisfactory to the people as well as to
him. If this act of justice were denied,
then he would make an appeal to the
general government. He concluded by
advising moderation and against any
unlawful proceedings.
Half an hour later the inaugural
procession escorting Gov.-Elect Oates
moved up the broad avenue to the cap
itol grounds. Gov. Jones and Cow
AS the procession passed along there
was not the slightest disorder or mark
of disrespect of any kind.
Arriving dO Vic CdpAto1 tHS CuStOihdTy
salute was fired by the artillery.
Prayer was offered by Rev. DIR. Eager,
of the Baptist church; and then Gov.
Jones introduced Oates in brief but
forcible address. The governor-elect
then delivered his inaugural address.
He said he was satisfied beyond 3
doubt that he was elected by large
majority, or he would not accept the
office He then touched upon national
affairs, and spoke in the highest terms
of the national democratic administra-
tion and VIII at it had accomplished for
the welfare of the country. He closed
with high compliment to the remark
ably successful administration of his
predecessor, and announced himself
ready to take the oath of office This
was administered by Chief Justice
Brickell on the Bible which is pre-
served in the states archives as the
one used when jefferson Davis was in
augurated president of the confederacy
on the same spot.
This ended the ceremony, an artillery
salute again ringing out and the new
governor was conducted to the execu-
tive office by his predecessor where
reception was held for some time, hun
dreds of ladies as we'll as gentlemen
congratulating the new governor.
By o'clock the city was restored to
its normal appearance save for the
figures in uniform who were scattered
| about the city on pleasure bent No
disturbance of any sort occurred.