Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-28
kOlB'S DETERMi NATION
He Says He Will Be Sworn in as Governor
of Alabama
He Makes n Statement of His Claims
The Crisis of Affairs Expected
Next Saturday.

ausuration of a dual government In Ala
bama, and serious consequences are ex-
| pected to follow. That day Is set apart as
| tho date for the Inauguration of the gov
| ernor. William c. Oates. democrat, has
| been duly declared by the legislature as
| the legally elected governor by majority
| of 1852 He will be sworn in by Chief
Justice Brickell Of the supreme court. The
| other democratic state officers will also
| take then oaths of ONCE.
Capt. Reuben F. Kolb. three times a can
| didate for gubernatorial honors. and as
| often declared defeated. announces that he
Is the rightfully elected governor. and in
| an address to the people of Alabama, is
| sued this week. says. "by the grace Of
| God" he will be in Montgomery on inaug
uraton day to take the oath Of office.
Gov. Thomas G. Jones. the retiring chief
| executive. who Is also a democrat. and q
| man Of iron will and undoubted cour-
age. announces that William c. Oates has
| been duly declared elected governor by the
legislature. and the law makes 1t his duty
| to see that Oates Is Installed. and. by the
grace of Goa" he will be.
The Crisis to Come Saturday.
There the matter rests at present. But
the crisis will come on Saturday. Deem
ton will result no enc Is yet able to tell
Capt. Kolb, in his address to the people Of
Alabama. ha- urged his followers to
gather at Montgomery on that date in as
large numbers as possible. And this is
taken to mean that Kolb proposes to be
tho opposing f~ctions occurs. Previous to
| the issuance by Capt. Kolb Of his mani
festo Gov. Jones had invited the state
troops to attend the inauguration. and
h wi ha n hnr 10
participate in the ceremonies incidental to
installing Col. Oates into office. The troops
will be under the governors orders. and
that they would obey his commands is not
doubted. Any effort by the Kolb follow
ers to capture thu state house would I'M
doubtedly meet with resistance from the
soldiers. In such an event bloodshed would
be the result.
kOlb's Claims.
Capt. Kolb bases his claims to the gov
ernorship on the allegation that frauds
were committed in the last election in tho
counties comprising the black belt Sec
ton Of the state which is composed of
about a dozen counties. all Of which in
variably send up the largest democratic
matorities OF any counties in the state de-
spite the fact that they contain more ne
groes than any other section. He claims
TO have positive proof OF fraud and as
serts that II the legislature would enact
a law whereby he could contest before that
body for the office of governor he would
prove his charges to the satisfaction Of
tho legislators and be- legally seated to
the office which he claims. The democrats
deny this and say that the election was
fair and that Kolb's claims are ground
less.
Two years ago when Kolb was defeated
by Gov. Jones. Kolb claimed fraud and
wanted the legislature to hear his con-
test, and he says he was promised that
q contest law would be enacted so he could
q "a ca hlrf ha n w ma yarS ha
majority of whom were democrats, ad-
journed without the enactment of con-
test law. The Legislature is now in ses-
sion, but 1t Is unlikely that a contest law
will be enacted and Kolb proposes to take
his seat by force this time.
Kolb Talks.
Capt. Kolb resides in Montgomery. but
spends the greater part of his time in Bir-
nlingham. as this city Is the headquarters
OF the populist party. to which he belongs.
and. besides. his son. Reuben Kolb. jr.. is
manager here Of the Peoples Tribune the
state organ of the populites- Kolbite party.
Capt. kolb was seen today at the Tribune
Office. and when QueStiined, talked freely
Of his plans and purposes. When asked
who he proposed to get to swear him as
governor. tho captain said:
ANY justice of the peace in Montgomery
county or any probate judge in the state
is authorized to administer the oath Of Of
fee. / and my entire state ticket have
been elected, and we will be sworn in by
an authorized officer Of tho law. l shall
leave here on Thursday the 10Th, and will
be in Montgomery December l to take the
oath Of Office. If the legislature passes a
fair contest law. continued Kolb that Will
settle it all. If not the trouble will be-
GIN"
What This Means.
This is taken to mean that Kolb intends
to contest Oates seat II the legislature en-
Ior he md
If 1t does not he will insist upon being gov
ernor any way. I'VE are Just demanding
our rights, and. II any trouble occurs, they
(meaning the democrats) will bring 1t on
themselves" remarked the would-be gov
ernor.
Last Tuesday night" continued the cap
tain, lat caucus of forty-flve members CT
the legislature populists), held in the SEN
ate chamber, a committee OF nVe was APP
pointed to draft a petition to the United
States Congress setting forth the situa lion
and condition in Alabama and asking the m
to re-establish the true republican form of
government in this state. This petition
will be sent out to each county in the state
for signatures. We expect to get the sig
natures of 100000 white men and $4,000 col
ored men to it. We expect Congress to take
some action, too. that will grant the de-
mands of the petition. We propose to make
the election methods of the organized DEM
ocrats stink In the nostrils of the nation"
When asked how many men he expected
to assemble at Montgomery Inauguration
day in response to his call, Kolb said:
II have no idea how many of our people
will be there, but 1 think there will be
several thousand. Many of them are too
poor to go. / am daily receiving hundreds
of letters indorsing my action, and feel
that l will have the hearty cooperation
and aid of the rank and file of my people
in this movement 1 don't anticipate any
serious trouble, and will not submit to
any unlawful act. All that is done will be
done in a lawful and peaceful manner"
After you are sworn in. and in case the
legislature fails to pass your contest
law, what will happen?' was asked.
II can't state. The future alone can de-
velop that" replied Kolb.
Capt Kolb said that he and his followers
would not offer to capture the state house,
and it is presumed that offices for the use
of Kolb and his co-off1cials will be secured
as near the state house as possible. 1t Is
rumored that the Kolb government may
attempt to collect taxes from those coun-
ties controlled by the populists, but moth
ing will be known definitely as to their
plans after Kolb takes his seat. If mat
ters come to this the Oates government
will take a hand.
IGNORANT OF THE LAW.
Judge Kicks Plea on CrOss-Exnmfnn-