The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-12
Exciting Scenes in the Ken
tucky Legislature,
OVER CHOICE OF SENATOR
Two Republicans Unseated in
the Senate.
AND A DEMOCRAT IN THE HOUSE
Had the Unseated Republican Tried to
Vote in Joint Assembly There
Would Have Been Mob
Violence.

WoutQ rave 66en MOD
Violence.
Frankfort, Ky, March 11.-This
eleventh day of March, 1896, will be
unenyiab1y memorable in the history
of Kentucky State politics. Blind par
tisanism and bitter passion usurped
the place of cool Judgment and sober
thought. At times it looked as if there
might be an outbreak of mob violence.
When it became known outside that
the House had unseated Kaufman, the
Democrat, and that the Senate had un-
seated Republicans James and Walton,
the aspect looked SO threatening that
many Of the great crowd that throng-
ed the corridors made rush TO get
away There was an unseemly rush
for the joint assembly door which was
guarded By large body of armed
men. At one time, the explosive point
was almost reached. That point would
doubtless have been reached If the Re-
publieans had attempted to force the
unseated Senators into the joint as
sembly that meeting. Kaufman, the
Democrat, unseated BY the House, was
already in the hall. Senator James,
one of the unseated Senators got in by
strategy. This left. one unseated DEM
ocrat and one Republican III the joint
assembly hall
This made honors about even on that
score, and tended 10 promote peace.
There were revolyers waiting, silent
but ready. at the hall door. and had
any one wanted trouble, he could have
had it,
Within the hall of the joint assem-
bly, matters were made to run more
smoothly by the ruling of Speaker
Worthington, that the clerk OF each
House should call the roll for the vote
Of the House. Once under way the
joint assembly proceeded to business
in true parliamentary style. When
ii adjourned every member Of it went
out into the open air in a good humor.
The breaking of the quorum indicates
the probable tactics of both parties
through the few days that remain of
this session and that neither party
will elect d Senator
Speaker Blanford issued orders that no
one other than members or persons
entitled to the privileges Of the floor
of the House be admitted At 1905
o'clock the doorkeeper announced the
Senate of Kentucky. The Speaker, be-
fore recognizing the Senate, said with
great heat, that the doorkeeper Of the
House had full control of the door and
no other one had.
Mr.. Bronston declared that the ruling
was without precedent. He shouted:
II move that Senator GoebeI be made
presiding officer Of the Assembly
d storm of noes arose during which
Lieut.. Governor Worthington appeared
and took his seat. and raped for order
and succeeded in qlIieting things for a
while.
In calling the roll, the chief clerk in
calling the names Of the members Of
the Senate omitted to call those Of
James and Walton. the two Republi-
can Senator's The clerk of the House
omitted to call the name Of Kaufman
lDem.)
The roll-calI showed l2O members
present, with two pairs. Senator Bron-
ston asked for the reading Of the jour
nails Of the two Houses. This was or
dered.
The ballot for Senator was begun.
Edrington voted for Blackburn, while
Poor voted for S. y. Buckner. The names
OF James, Walton and Kaufman were
not called.
The Republicans refused to vote at
all, with the object Of breaking the
quorum.
The ballot resulted as follows: Black
burn, 54; Carlisle, 10; Bnclner, 4. The
Chair declared no quorum, and, there
fore, no election, and, upon motion, the
assembly adjourned at once.
! Throughout all the excitement, Sena~
tor Blackburn sat in the Senate cloak
room except for few minutes. That
was when an alteration occured be-
tween Bronston and Walton. Then he
started mp and exclaimed: Let me get
out" He was finally restrained by his
friends.
Republicans in the Senate walked out
and refused to vote when the question
of declaring Senators Walton and James
ineligible to seats i'm the Senate came
up. The Senate being duly organized,
the Clerk put the motion and the seats
were declared vacant by vote of II to
none. Had the Republicans all voted
it Is claimed by many persons that the
Senators would not have been legally
unseated, as it requires, they say, d
tWo-thirds vote to expel member.