The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-02

thdt you pfopOSe 10 make a speech In
these grounds claiming to be Governor OF
Alabama"
That is my intentioE' answered Kolb,
firmly.
Then must say to you that the moment
You attempt it. 1 willihave you arrested,
and carried Off the ground answered the
Governor. II say this In all kindness TO YOU.
If You were Governor you would do the
same thing in similar case / will not
permit you or anyone else on these grounds
to interrupt the inaugural ton PROCEEDINGS
OF Governor Oates"
THE KOLB CEREMONIES
Governor Jones's manner was courteous
put firm Captain Kolb looked around at
the assembled troops and, with a wave of
his hand, started down and out OF the
grounds. followed by his adherents. They
congregated again in the street outside
the Capitol grounds. A wagon stood near
oy and upon this Captain Kolb mounted
de stated that the proceedings would be
opened with prayer. A Populist clergyman
mounted the wagon and the people uncov-
ered their heads. 1t was an impressive
scene Every man in the crowd was a
plain countryman with rough clothes and
high top boots In simple English the
clergyman invoked the blessing OF God on
the assemblage. "A plain people of God,''
he said. "who are here to secure an honest
government"
AT the conclusion Of the prayer Captain
Kolb made short. temperate address. The
only bitterness in it was directed at Gov
ernor Oates, whom he termed a usurper
After brief introduction he said: by
frauds Of the greatest character the title
of the office has been conferred upon Col
onel Oates. He is to-day adding insult to
injury by accepting the highest Office in
your gift, well knowing it is bestowed
upon him by fraudulent acts Of the party
officials controlling the polls. 1 would in
deed be an migrate if 1 failed to protest
here to-day in behalf of two-thirds of the
white voters of Alabama against such will
ful usurpation. AS outlined in my address
to the people, have taken the oath of
office and sworn in as Governor dejure of
this State. 1t is the ballot which gives
the right to the offices under the law of
Alabama, but that right has been suspend
ed by false and fraudulent election returns
and the right to the office OF Governor has
been prima facia conferred on Colonel Oates.
I-take the oath of Office simply as a pro-
test against usurpation and fraud and
promise you that will use all legal means
at my command to set aside and hold for
naught the fraudulent election returns by
which he claims to be Governor of Ala
bama. If fair and honest contest law is
passed by the present General Assembly
that would settle all the trouble and be
satisfactory to the people as well as my
SELF If this act Of justice is denied us.
then we will make an appeal TO the gen.
eral government confidently relying on the
justice Of our cause and believing that i'm
the end right will triumph and true re-
publican form of government guaranteed
to our beloved State"
DIR. Crow, from an adjacent place, who
has made desperate and bloodthirsty
threats. next climbed on the wagon. They
call me an Anarchist in this State" said
he. If being opposed to ballot-box thiev-
ing is anarchy. then thank God / am one"
He called Governor Oates's followers
scoundrels and. after cautioning peace,
called every one 20 meet him tonight
10 form volunteer company for the sup
port Of Kolb. There were not over three
hundred Kolbites in the crowd and no sign
Of arms about them After the speeches
they dispersed and proceeded down town,
where they began enlisting in Crows CON-
pany, although the latter has apparently
no definite plan OF action. This afternoon
a battery of artillery was swung in posi-
ton on the hill in front Of the Statehouse
and the cavalry withdrawn.
THE OATES INAUGURATION.
About o'clock Governor-elect Oates
reached the Capitol escorted by the militia
The inaugural ceremonies were preceded
by prayer after which Governor Jones in
troduced his SUCCESSOR who was greeted
with prolonged cheers. The oath of office
was administered and the new Governor
made brief speech. Referring to the
charges of fraud, Mr.. Oates said:
''It has been claimed that frauds were
committed in the last August election. l
in the good name of our State regret that
such charges have been made. L pro-
claimed in my speeches during the cam
and go l am. Some irregularities may have
intervened, some frauds may have been
committed, but if so they are chargeable
alike to the supporters of each candidate.
differing only in locality and degree. am
satisfied beyond doubt that 1 was legally
accept the Office 1 would never assume
the roll of a usurper in the absence OF a
law providing for contest, and l regret
sembly, under the Constitution, must
count the votes and determine the result;
You have done that and and benc t9se
sxill be Governor cf our State dur
ing the term prescribed by the Con-
stitution. If there were frauds in last
Augustus election in some of the counties
of the black belt, as charged by the de-
feated candidates, they are of no conse-
quence for after throwing out every vote
to which any reasonable man could possibly
object and admitting the entire vote re-
turned for my competitor rs legal. which
If there were any Irregularities or false
counts returned in favor ot my election, it
was attributable to an apprehension OF the
might in the event of election OF my COM
petitor be again subjected to fragrant
wrongs and humiliation, similar to those
they enjoyed from 1867 to 1915; The con-
duct of our opponents in quitting their
party for the sake of official spoils. the
qualification of vaulting ambition with
out regard to character or quafifications,
has constituted one of the greatest OBJ
structions to securing perfectly fair cleo
tions."