Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-04

a 4 i =.
FRANKFORT. Ky, December 3.--At
noon tomorrow the State Board OF
Election Commissioners OF kentucky
viii meet TO canvass the returns from
the last State election and to decide
whether Goebel or Taylor is entitled to
the certificate OF election as governor.
There is not much probability that
the matter will DE settled tomorrow.
and it may be Wednesday or later be-
fore certificate is issued. Both sides
express themselves as confident, but no
one can predict with accuracy the de-
cision which will be arrived at by the
Board. The certified returns from the
county boards, now on file with the
Secretary of STATE, give Taylor a plur-
atty of 2.4S5. but the Democrats de-
clare that enough OF these votes will be
thrown out. and that Goebel viii be
awarded the certificate.
The Kentucky election law Is capable
OF divers constructions, and the definite
conclusion OF the board will
REST VERY LARGELY
upon how its members decide TO con-
strue certain portions Of the statute
The Republicans assert that mas
much as, according TO the law. a certih-
cate OF election Is due to the person
having the largest number Of votes &C
cordlng to the certificates OF the county
boards. It will be impossible for the
Board OF Canvassers TO do otherwise
than return a certificate in favor OF
Taylor, he having a majority OF 2.i35,
according to certificates now on file
with the Secretary OF State. There Is
loop-hole In the very sections upon
which the Republicans rely, which may
work against them. II Is this:
'eThe State Board shall be board for
examining and canyassing the returns. "
How the board will construe the
word examining" is a matter Of
doubt. The same words exactly are
used in defining the powers OF the var
ious county boards and under this
wording they have claimed and used
the power of rejecting votes which
they believed were Illegally cast II
the county boards have this power over
precinct returns, Why, the Democrats
ask, has not the State board
EXACTLY SIMILAR POWERS
over county returns In passage Of the
law defining It's powers in IDENTICAL
language. with the certificates OF the
commissioners Of jefferson county CIV
ing Taylor a plurality OF 3.442 votes.
was filed mass OF evidence that IHlny
Of these votes were Illegal. and It Is not
among the impossfbllities that the State
board may so construe It's powers un-
der the word examining" as 70 d.
clare that ii has the power 70 reject
these votes. II IL does. Mr. Goebei gets
the certificate. The main reliance OF
GOebel is upon contestiug Jefferson,
which means the city OF Louisville.
This vote, according 20 the returns.
showed a plurality for Taylor Of 3.422.
and II the Democrats succeed in having
it thrown out. II means the defeat Of
Taylor and Of every other candidate
upon the Republican ticket. The Dem
ocrats are oontesting the Louisville
vote chiefly because Of Governor Brad
lely's action in ordering the militia IN
der arms and the presence at the polls
Of deputy marshals. They also
BASE THEIR CONTEST
on the fact that inspectors FOR the
Brown party forced their way into the
polling booth and uzurped the function
Of officers Of election. The Republicans
viii claim before the election commits
sioners that the claims Of intimidation
BY the militia and OF Interference By
the United States rnarshals are wholly
inadmlssible for the reason that tho
militia was held IN the armory untEl
fully three hours after the close OK the
polls. and that they were az no time ia.
III long after the polls had closed. pre-
sent at OF near polling booth. As "a
the marshals. It IS asserted by the Re-
publicans. that not only were they too
few in nnmber-there being but four
teen in Kentucky all toid-to be cap
able o. any interference. Dut that theB
actually did not in any manner inter-
fere with the casting % any vote. either
in the city d Louisville. or elseEheTs
throughout the State. They visited the
polls as private citizens only. To OF.
set the claim Of intrusion by the IN
spectorg for the Brown party, the RE-
pablieans claim that II the claims d
the Democrats are eorrect. and no posi-
tire denial Is offered by the Republi.
cans. the fault lies with TIE Democratic,
officials who admitted them II Is
ADMITTED 81 BOTH sTDES
ff1zt the Democrats hare Stronger ca-m
il Jefferson c0Unry han anywhere go
tnroagnozsx ffe State. If they win there
re 0ener con=easa may De dropped. and n
they 10ss. e1ccesg 10 al the osber COR
tests XII zox make Goebea Governor a
KentuckY.