The San Francisco call., 1899-12-11
THE KENTUCKY CONTEST.

NF the three members of the Board of Election
II ] Commissioners in Kentucky two have reached
- the conclusion that the lawful vote of the peo-
pie in the election for Governor was 1o3zIA
for the Republican candidate, Taylor and Io133I for
Goebe the Democratic candidate; and accordingly
they have issued the official certificate declaring Tay
lor TO be Governor-elect. The third member OF the
commission refused to sign the certificate and has
filed minority report
The decision OF the Board is not final There is
still OF appeal if Goebe chooses to make
it, and il is probable he will do So 1t appears that
on the very day the Election Commissioners issued
the certificate Taylor, the Court OF Appeals de
cided two election in way that is regarded as
favorable TO the chances OF Goebe should there be
In one OF these the court held that all bal
lots should be printed on white paper sufficiently
thick that the printing be distinguished from
the back, and if ballots used at an election which
do not substantially comply with the law the election
is not conducted required by law, and is invalid
In the other case the decision was ruling making
perpetual the writ OF prohibition issued against
Judge Tony of Louisville restraining him from in
tcrfering with local elections by writs OF mandamus
He charged by the Democrats with arbitrarily
issuing the writs.
With that much in the way of encouragement Goe-
bel will doubtless make up his mind 10 continue the
contest He is the more likely to do so by reason of
the fiery zeal with which his partisans are urging him
on Throughout the country generally political issues
have been comparatively unimportant this wear
that few people realize the bitterness which animated
the fight in Kentucky. An illustration OF the sn;rt
OF Goebels followers is to be found in recent utter
ance OF the Louisville Courier Journal 1t declares
the fight against Goebel was made by a combination
OF railways trusts and other corporations with the
Republicans of the State, and says:
"As the day of election approached oninous NUT
tcrings OF slaughter given out by the oraces M
the railway Republican trust. Senator Deboe began
II. He was followed by the trust newspapers Rivers
OF blood flowed through the columns of these Citi
zens OF the best repute singled out and men
tiured by name for massacre One newspaper. which
owes its existence directly and solely to the trus.
advocated the burning of the Courier Journal build
ing and the lynching of the responsible owners of
the property The Saturday night before the election
the orators OF the trust made the air ivid with their;
profanity and lurid with their threats The Governor
OF the State came here and sat upon platform, and
listened to talk that would have dsgraced TaqaI
Persons in Prince Albert frocs and silk hats calling
themselves gentlemen but putting all Christian man
hood to shame went about with their pockets etuf.I
with trust money and trust votes to corrupt Will.
the thugs of the trust with Whallen at their head
were preparing to spring at the opportune moment
Now. IT is safe TO say that these assertions contain
exaggerations carried to the verge of complete false
hood That they have been set forth by paper Of