Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-10


Not Decided whether He Will
Make a Contest - Commissioner
Ellis Tells why He Favored Tay-
lor.
FRANKFORT, KY December AT
9:45 this morning the election certifi-
Gates of William S. Taylor was signed
by the election commissioners and he
was declared to be Governor-elect of
Kentucky. The official figures of the
vote, filed with the Secretary of State,
Finley, are: Taylor, 1874; Goebel,
191,331. Taylor's plurality. 1883.
The operation which ended for the
time being at least the bitterly fought
Gubernatorial contest was conducted in
the simplest manner. The majority
opinion of Commissioners Pryor and
Ellis and the minority opinion of Com
missioner PoyntZ were not read as was
the original intention. The three
commissioners walked first to the Of
flee of the clerk of the State Supreme
Court, where they filed two opinions.
They then passed into the Office OF the
Secretary of State. Clerk Chenault, OF
the board of commissioners, read the
figures showing that the Republican
candidates for offices on the State
ticket had received the largest number
of votes, and then certificates of cleo
ton were signed at once, that of Mr.
Taylor being first on the list.
There were only fourteen persons
In the room at the time, and of that
number only two were there as specta-
tors. There was no crowd around the
building and no interest was mani
tested in the work save by those en-
gagged in it. The three commissioners
were all apparently in good humor, al
though Commissioners Ellis and Pryor
who had done the most work in pre-
pairing their long and elaborate opin-
ion, looked worn and tired. The certi-
ficates, as soon as signed, were filed
with
The Secretary of state,
and commissions will be issued to the
elected men at once by Gov. Bradley.
Late last night, when the decision
had gone forth to the public, Commits
sioner Ellis, upon whose shoulders the
greatest part of the work of preparing
the opinion has fallen, discussed the
matter freely.
This has been hard thing for me"
he said, his eyes infamed by loss of
sleep and the heavy lines in his face
bearing witness to the truth OF his
statement. 1T has been a hard thing
for all of us. / wish, however, that the
people of the country should know
how nobly Judge Pryor has acted in
this matter and how conscientiously he
has done what he considered his duty.
He is great man, one of the greatest,
in my opinion, that Kentucky has ever
produced.
Speaking of myself" Mr.. Ellis add
ed, Il say frankly / did not like to do
this thing, but under the law and evil
dence there is nothing else | can do
and be an honest man.
1.-THE proceedings before the board
were so overwhelmingly in favor Of
the Republicans and they had so much
the better of the argument, that 1t is
almost idle to discuss the affair. There
was, to the minds of Judge Pryor and
myself, only one thing to do, and that
we have done. know there are plen-
ty of men who think that strong DEM
ocratic partisan as / have always been,
| should have remained a Democratic
partisan and voted otherwise. But
have done what my conscience and my
long career as a lawyer tell me is right,
and / will do otherwise for no man or
upon any consideration"
Mr.. Goebel was apparently
In the Best of Humor
after being told that Mr.. Taylor's GER
tificate had been signed. He laughed
and shook his head when asked if he
had anything to say.
"Not a thing; / am not talking"
"Then win you make contest"
II have not decided yet; and /. OF
course, can not discuss 1t when / do
not know IL myself"
The defeated candidate was game to
the last. and IL there was any i'll
humor in him, nobody knew it but
himself. Mr.. Taylor was modest and
reticent as usual.
81 expected it. OF course" he said
81 knew that II the commissioners
went by the law and the evidence they
could do nothing else than decide the
way they have done"
Commissioner Poyntz declined to
sign the Republican certificates Of cleo
ton, saying he stood by the opinion
he had rendered and could not consis-
tently do so. He consented to sign
the certificates of the railroad commits
sioners, however.
Tonight the arrangements for Tay-
lor's inauguration Tuesday overshad-
ows everything else. Goebel left for
his home at Covington at O'Clock. and
nearly all Of the Democrats left on to-
nights trains.
The local people are arranging to
Continued 81 ssesnd Fsgs