The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-30
POLITICAL CONTEST IN KENTUCKY
IS NOW AT IT'S HIGHEST POS
SIBLE TENSION
BREAK MUST FOLLOW SOON
ISSUED BY THE DEMOCRATIC
MANAGERS
BROAD, SWEEPING CHARGES
Louisville Situation Is Said to Have
Been More Acute Than Related
at the Time of Election Troubles
-GOebeI Election Law Charged
With Responsibility for 1t ALL
Party Leaders AssembIinx

with Responsibility for 1t All
Party Leaders Assembling.
FRANKFORT Ky, Dec. 29.-The ad-
dress Of the Republican leaders In reply
to the recent address of the Goebel lead
ers indOrsing the contesting candidates
on the Democratic state ticket, was given
out tonight. 1t replies specifically to the
Democratic charges OF fraud and makes
some sensational counter charges 1t Is
signed by Gov. Taylor, Chairman Bar
nett, Senator Deboe, Congressman Pugh
and others, including all members of the
state central committee. 1t says:
In 1898 the late Democratic candidate
for governor, with a few partisan asso-
ciates, conceived the idea of passing an
election law which would disfranchise the
Republicans Of Kentucky The bill was
denounced in unmeasured terms by many
Democrats and many newspapers Of that
faith. However, unfortunately for the
state, 1t became a law, and under its
provisions the rights of all who opposed
the Goebel Democracy have been totally
disregarded. The whole election machtn-
cry was placed in the hands of the
GOebel element. Election commissioners
and officers of election purporting only
to be Republican were appointed In
many counties and precincts, known to
be physically, mentally, and, In some
instances, morally incompetent (selected
on that account, were appointed as Re-
publican election officers in many local
tiles. Hundreds Of ballots were thrown
out without excuse, many legal voters
were denied the right to vote and illegal
votes were taken. Challengers and in
spectors were, in many instances denied
admission, while in many others they
were forcibly elected from the election
booths.
IN LOUISVILLE
The mayor Of Louisville arrogated to
himself the power to, issue a proclaroa-
ton, prohibiting people from assembling
at the polls, in open defiance of the pro-
visions Of the constitution and PAS extra
police were appointed and used to intiYni-
date and browbeat the freemen of that
city. On the afternoon preceding the
election e1ghty-seVen election officers who
had been appointed to represent the Re
publican party were summarlly dismissed.
and like number appointed in their
places who could be relied upon to favor
the Democratic conspirators. The fire
men were turned loose, too, and did as
sist the police in intimidation of voters,
and III this way at least 10, 900 persons who
would have voted the Republican ticket
were so alarmed that they did not attend
the election.
In addition, voters were fntimidated |
and many similar frauds Derpetrated in
CoVington, Lexington and other cities of
the commonwealth, causing loss of not
less than 5000 votes to the Republican
ticket. In some of the counties actual !
force was employed, and voters We're
driven from the polls and, with a few
exceptions, frauds were committed in all
of them. Every ballot that even bore a |
finger print voted for the Republicans |
was thrown out In the count 1T cannot |
be doubted that at least 10000 votes were
lost to the Republican party by these
unlawful and outrageous tactics.
Large sums of money collected from
Democratic officials, saloons, pool rooms.
gambling houses, breweries and other
sources, In 2nd out of the state, were
used to corrupt the voters of the state
Voters were hired 10 refrain from voting.
to mutilate their ballots or to vote the
Goebel ticket. Whole precincts that gave
Republican majGrities were thrown out,
and the Goebel Democratic committee
and candidates inaugurated a saturnalia
of crime, corruption and force
IN KENTON COUNTY.
lican organization was ignored, and a few
bolters allowed to name the officers Of
election. The Republican emblem was
given to this bastard political organiza-
ton, which caused confusion and lost
many votes to the Republican ticket The
most high-handed intimidation was re-
sorted to by the police and others and
not even the semblance of decency was
observed.
In Fayette county the ballot box was
stolen and no election held in two Re-
publican precincts and the most out
rageous frauds and intinlidations were
peIpetrated. Notwithstanding all this,
the Republican ticket was elected bv a
plurality of more than 1900, although
democratic counties were held back in
order that Full time might be given TO
doctor the returns. When this announce
ment was made the conspirators set
themselves to work to steal the state. and
prevent the will of the people from being
carried into effect
In the county of Nelson they undertook
to rob the Republicans of 119S votes cast
for Gov. Taylor because a mistake of one
letter III his name was made by q Demo
cratic official. Precincts which gave Re
publican majorities were thrown out in
various localities
Some of these attempts at grand lar
ceny were prevented by Democratic
judges, who held their oaths superior TO
the partisan work which the conspira-
tors desired they should do. One of the
election commissioners, it is charged. and
the charge is not denied, offered to wager
money that MI Goebel would be elected
and proved his consistency, at least, by
deciding that he had been elected, while
the remaining two took the stump for
the Goebel ticket But the attempt to
fraudulently procure certificates was fu- |
tile.
ORDER FOR CONTEST.