Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1899-12-12
w. p. WALTON.

The election board 10 lengthy opin-
ion, which was promulgated Saturday.
Senator c. b. Poyntz dissenting, held
that it was simply an adding machine
to find out who got the most votes ac-
cording TO the returns, and declare the
result, with no power under the law to
go behind them or to take anything
whatever into consideration but the
simple figures presented to them, and
accordingly awarded the certificates of
election to Taylor and his crowd. If
this opinion of the law is correct 1t Is
singularly defective aud worse than its
bitterest enemies declared II and should
straightway be either repealed or
amended. Senator Poyntz taking the
sensible view that law is founded on
right and justice, said 81 believe that
the law does not require the giving OF
certificates of election to candidates
who are shown ~ the returns before
this board to have been defeated. am
unwilling to certify fraud aud to turn
Kentucky over to the control OF the
bayonet, Calling gun and the fraudu-
lent tissue ballots. l therefore respect
fully decline to join with my colleagues
in granting certificates to the republi-
can candidates, aud believe certificates
of election should be issued to the dem
ocratic candidates" Messrs. Pryor
and Ellis say in their opinion that If |
the board had judicial powers, the use
of troops on election day, the Interior
ence OF any judge by injunction to
compel election officers to certify in
correct returns and the use of tissue
ballots would be denied the sanction OF
law and that before the proper tribunal
they will so be treated. In other words
while they think that under the law
they could not do otherwise than give
the certificates to the republicans they
are firmly OF the opinion that they are
not entitled to them.
There is talk of contest, but it has
not been fully determined upon, a
meeting of the central and executive
committees having been called to meet ,
at Frankfort Thursday TO finally decide
10 case OF contest, that for governor
and lieutenant governor will be before
the Legislature and can not be held ,
before about the 10th of February. For
the other offices the contest will be be- Z
fore the election board and the result ,
Is easv to forecast, taking their opinion /
into consideration. 1t is said that Judge {
Pryor will resign and possibly Capt
Ellis also, in which event Senator
Poyntz will appoint their successors.
THE republicans were much more
surprised than the democrats at the
decision of the election board for they !
expected to be done by as they would {
have done under similar circumstances. '
When the news was received here, the :
was read wrong to republi- '
can, who has taken great interest In /
the matter, "Goebel gets the certif- I
cate" he was told, when with an oath I
he replied he knew the scoundrels |
would give IT to him. The democrats t
are just little too honest, especially /
when they have such an adversary as t
the republican party, which has stole !
everything from presidency TO seats l.
10 Congress. AT this very time an eff L
'ort Is being made to unseat Mr.. Gil p
bert, although he had over 800 MAORI
", and it will likely be successful, since =,
The party in power has no conscience
lad no regard for right. We've got to y
earn thing or two or the republicans >
will continue to steal themselves into
,ower. =