The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-10
Majority Opinion Of the Commlsslonersll'
for Taylor.
SENATOR GoEBEL WILL MAKE A CONTEST
rreparntions Being Made for Innug-
uration Next Tuesdny-Democr
Committee Called to Meet.

election this morning, anu toHisuL tho a.
rangements for Taylors Inauguration
Tuesday overshadows everything else.
Senator Goebel left for his home at Gov
ington at O'Clock and nearly all the
democratic leaders left on evening aud
night trains
Senator Goebel was accompanied to'the
train BY Senator Blackburn and others.
He stated few minutes before his train
pulled out that the question OF whether he
and his associates on the defeated ticket
would contest is stlll undecided. though
Blackburn later asserted that the question
was settled afArmativcly. The Goebei
headquarters here closed tonight. Election
Commissioners Pryor and Ellis went away
this afternoon and on the same train went
many OF the democratic leaders. The fact
that Pryor and Ellis did not mix up with
the general throng indicates to some ex-
tent the acute feeling growing OUT OF the
last act OF the memorable contest.
The local people are arranging TO make
Taylor's inauguration a bipartisan al
fair. A committee on reception was made
up composed of about fifty prominent men
OF the state capital, republicans and dem.
ocrats alike being represented on 1t.
Former Senator Blackburn. as chairman
OF the Goebe State campaign comni tee.
ISSUED call tonight for meeting OF the
committee here next Thursday, Deaemoe
IA Chairman Allie ". Young also ssuel
a call for a meeting of the State central
and State executive committees here th4
same day. The call does not state IN either
case what the object Of the conference Is
but IT. is known that the purpose is to s'ye
official party Endorsements 10 the contes
which shall be made by Goebei and all OF
the candidates on the defeated democratic
ticket Goebel and Blackburn are reeeiv-
Ing many kilograms urging contest and
, 1t is said mass meetings will be held 10
various counties next week for the purpose
of working up sentiment on the subject.
AT 9:45 o'clock this morning the cleo
ton certificate 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 hled witt
' Secretary Of State Finlay ares
u Taylor 102,714.
u Goebcl 1881.
TnyIor's plurality 1888.
y Tho operation which ended for tht
= time being at least the bitterly Tough
l. gubernatorlal contest. was conducted IL
the simplest manner. The majority opln
"a ion of Commissioners Pryor and Ellis an
;s the minority opinion of COMMISSIONS
* Poyntz were not read as was the origina
81 tteDtion The three commissioners
l. walked first TO the office of the clerk @
h the State supreme court where they nice
J, the two opinions. They then passed ihtt
the office of the secretary OF state. ClerE
Chenauit of the board OF commissioner.
II read the figures, showing that the reprbi
o can candidates for Offices or the state
r. ticket had received the largest numher
n OF votes and then certificates OF olectinr
& We're signed at once, that of Mr.. Taylor
g being first on the list.
L The certificates. as soon as signed. were
filed with the secretary of state and copie
s will be sent to the elected men.
Z; Senator Goebel was apparently in til,
t best OF humor after being told that Mr
o Taylor's certificate had been signed. III
G laughed and shook his head when osket
d If he had aything to say.
: mot thing; l am not talking
L when Will you make contest"
: II have not decided yet and !. OF course
. can not discuss 1t when 1 don't know 4
;, myself"
y The defeated candidate was game to tn
: last and II there was any lll-humor In hin
nobody knew 1t but himself.
:, Mr. Taylor was modest and retlcent, a.
u usual.
q II expected It. OF course" he said. Z"
:, knew shat IL the commissioners went b.
- the law and the evidence they could d.
a nothing else than decide the way the.
havo done"
- Commissioner Poyntz declined 10 slgI
= the republican certificates OF election, say
ing he stood by the opinion he had rem
dered and could not consistently 10 50
tio consented to sign the certificates OF th
railroad commissioners however
In their opinion. which was HANDED
, down today awarding the certificates tC
:, the republican candidates on the face o.
:. the returns and holding that the board hat
I no power TO go behind the returns. the
election commission says: Occupying a
z place wo did not seek we would gladly
escape the discharge OF the delicate and
, responsible duties which at the present
:, moment confront us, but having volun.
Z tarily assumed the responsibility Of sc
~ important trust our duty Is plain We
y are not at liberty TO depart from ele-
mentary principles or TO allow partisan
zeal TO force us to any conclusion which
. IS not approval by our judgment and sane.
: toned by the law. In reaching con,
y clusion in this case we are compelled Il
: construe for the first time the statul,
under which we act 1t has not receive,
]
: the hands OF any court. This Of itself add
10 our embarrassment ana II possible Il
the magnitude OF the disagreeable tasi
before us"
v After quoting extracts from the new
Z election law, defining the powers OF th
. board, the opinion reads. 1T Is evid N
: from the law that the State board o
election commissioners when sitting as
:, board OF contest Is clothed with power
= and jurisdiction which It does not possess
n and can not assume 10 exercise when sit
Il ting as at present In mere ministerial
!. capacity, AS BOARD Of contest It pos
- sesses the powers and functiors OF a cour
'e II may set inside the original returns, over
!. throwing prima faeie case. and. whel
: authorized by the law and the evidence
cast out precincts or whole counties
n awarding the certificate To candidate
:. other than the one having a majorlt.
i upon the face OF The returns. But the.s
le are powers the board can only exercis,
:. whom sitting as board OF contest. w,
= must assume that the legislature by tn
enactment Of section ~ Of the law, whlcl
provides Cor a board OF contest, INTENDED
, not oH;y 10 limit the power OF this body
when sitting as board Of canyassers
but to confer all the judicial power ans
iantbnrtf., xx,hict Sc h-o~A .~,.rL 1...,s..av,