The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-03-28
IN BATTLE ARRAY,
KENTUCKY TROOPS GUARD TIE
LEGISLATORS.
Governor Bradley Issues Preeau-
tionary Proclamation.


upon the military arm OF the state gov
crnment was early spread about and
caused a great deal of excitement.
The Louisville Legion, $50 strong,
under command a. Colonel CaBlleman,
left that city at GAS a. m. for Frank
fort on a special train over the Louis
vile aud Nashville railroad.
What promised 10 DO the most SEN
sational day OF the senatorial fight was
begun with proclamation from Gov
,ern0F Bradley issued at 9 o'clock
Monday morning.
II was rs follows:
COMMONWEALTH or KENTUCKY. Execu-
i've department, Frankfort, KY,
March l6, 1896.
Whereas, IL has been made known 10
me by the afidavits Of the president Of
the Kentucky senate, the speaker Of
the Kentucky house Of representatives
and others, that for several days past
an armed body Of desperate men has
by their threats and demonstrations
intimidated and overawed the men,
bers of the general assembly, and that
a portion Of said persons assaulted Sem
ator @. j. Walton, and prevented him
from going out of the senate chamber;
that a party Of said persons in like
manner took possession Of the
door OF the house while the
joint assembly was in session,
aud assumed to decide who should
enter the chamber Of the house when
said session was being held, and that
on the l4th day Of March, 1896, a
portion of the persons we're attempted
to be sworn in as officers by the clerk
OF the senate, to-wit As deputies of
the sergeant-at-arms of the senate. and
thereupon forcibly seized the door
keeper of the house Of representatives,
while the general assembly was in
joint session and prevented him from
exercising the duties of his Office, and
allowing persons to enter who we're
not entitled to place on the floor
that the presence of these men
prevented members from voting in
the joint session; that the civil
authorities who are claiming to act,
towit: The sheriff and his posse, and
the policemen of tie city, have at no
time arrested any Of these rioters or
armed persons, but have stood by and
permitted them to continue their work
of intimidation, permitting armed per-
sons to occupy the senate chamber and
cloak rooms while the general assem-
bly, was in joint session; that said
authorities are either powerless, over
awed or unwilling to act and that un-
less the chief executive interferes and
protects the general assembly, iegis-
lative action will be prevented and riot
and bloodshed will follow, and that
the security of the lives of the citizens
and officers of the commonwealth re-
quire such executive action.
Now, therefore, as governor of the
commonwealth of Kentucky, / hereby
call into active service to be placed
under the command of Colonel John
B. Castleman, 800 men Of the First
Kentucky regiment of state guards;
Company Z of tho Second regiment Of
Kentucky state guards TO be placed
under command of Colonel e. H.
Gather, and Company B of the Sec
ond regiment of Kentucky state
guar Is, the latter under command of
Adiutant General Collier, until said
Gather reaches Frankfort, when the
same will be placed under the COM
mand of said Gather, who together
with said Castleman, will be under the
command of said Adiutant General
Collier, who (said Collier) will report
to me.
Said Gather and Castleman are or
dered to proceed with their regiments
to Frankfort. MARA af
(Signed) WILLIAM 0. BRADLEY,
Governor of Kentucky.
CHARLES FINLEY, Secretary of State.
Governor Ready For Battle.
Upward of 400 soldiers occupied the
state house square during the morning
and the calls of pickets could be heard
above the noise and confusion of the
crowd. In the meantime Governor
Bradley was in consultation with
Adjntant General Collier and ColonelB
Castleman and Gather. These gen.
tleman agreed that there would be no
difficulty in preventing trouble.
81 wish TO say,' said the governor,
'that the military was called ont TO
protect the members of the legislature
from mob violense, and not to protect
myself. The story that I was to be
arrested for usurpation Of authority
in ordering the sheriff to clear the
state house of all those not authorized
by law to be there, and indicating that
this should include the deputies that
the senate sergeant-at-Rrms had sworn
in, and that for this reason I had
called out the military, is false. I am
perfectly able to take care of myself,
and my reason for calling out the mill.