Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-22
KENTUCKY DEMOCRACY.
ISSUES AN ADDRESS TO TIE
PEOPLE.

PEOPLE.
Frankfort, Ky, Dec 21.-The address
of the Democracy of the State. indors-
ing the contest instituted by Goebel
and other candidates Of the defeated
Democratic ticket. and giving the rea-
sons therefor, was issued tonight 1t
Is signed by former Senator Blackburn
chairman Of the State Campaign Com
mittee; Chairman Young, of the State
Central and Executive Committees, and
tees.
1t says In part:
"The Democratic party Of kentucky,
through It's several committees, has
unanimously declared that the best in
terests OF the party, as well as justice,
demands that contests shall be made
by all candidates on the Democratic
ticket for the respective offices for
| which they were nominated. The COM
mittee feel that 1t is proper that they
should. In concise form, state the
GROUNDS upon which they base their
action.
The State Board of Election Com
missioners at it's recent session issued
certificates OF election to all of the Re-
publican candidates for the State
offices. but the board expressly declared
III the opinion that 1t rendered, that it
acted simply as canvassing board,
,.
strued the law, to inquire into the
legality or validity of any contested
votes. The board expressed the opin-
ion that If clothed with the authority
to go behind the returns and determine
tle matters In contention, the certifl-
Gates OF election would not have been
issued to the parties who received them
we feel that In the light of the ac-
ton Of this board the Democrats cannot
do less than to carry their contention
to the tribunals created by law for its
determination. The grounds upon which
this contest Is based consist Of the pro-
lest against the use of tissue ballots in
many OF the overwhelmingly Republl-
can counties OF the State. The use of
these ballots Is not only in violation of
the letter of the law, but is In utter
and open defiance Of the spirit of the
law. and the use of these ballots fur
| nish not only prima facie. but also con-
elusive evidence of purposed fraud.
Another ground of contest Is he
cause of the plain violation and d.
| fiance Of law by the late Republican
Governor OF the State who whilst
| actively engaged in the making OF
stump speeches and the prosecution OF
partisan political canvass, ordered
OUT the military and. in violation of
both law and precedent, assumed per-
sonal command of troops in the me
| tropolis of the State, paradine the
streets of Louisville on the day Of the
election with his soldiers and Gatlinr
| guns. invading the voting booths and
forcing into them against the protest
! OF the neutrality-suspicious. election off,
Gals, pretended inspectors and challen-
| gers who, the high court of the State
has decided, had no lawful right to be
present.
1.-THE issuance OF the certificates of
election to the Republican candidates is
contested upon the further ground that
| Federal and. also, State Judge,
| without warrant of law, and in defiance
| of every prompting of fair dealing and
decency. interfered with the holders OF
| the State election; the one by menacing
charges to grand jury and by the en-
ployment of deputy u. s. Marshals, and
the other by Issuing every mandamus
and Injunction asked for by the Repub.
lican party. which latter judicial acts
have been declared by the Supreme Ju-
dicial tribunal Of the State and have
been unlawful.
"Another ground is the use in the in
terest of the Republican party Of an
immense corruption fund, contributed
by the most powerful railroad corpora.
ton of the Commonwealth, whereby
many thousands Of votes were bought
against the Democratic party and its
candidates because that party In the
platform adopted in it's State conven-
ton dared to advocate measures of re-
lief demanded by the people OF the
Common wealth."