New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-10
KENTUCKY'S GOVERNOR.
CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION GIVEN TO
w. S. TAYLOR.
GoEBEL NOT DECIDED WHETHER TO CON-
TEST OR NOr-Two COMMISSIONERS
GAVE THE DECISION

GAVE The DEClSION-
Frankfort. KY, Dec 9-At 9:45 o'clock this
morning the election certificate of William s.
Taylor was signed by the Election Commission
ers and he was declared to be Governor-elect OF
Kentucky. The official figures OF the vote filed
with the Secretary OF State are: Taylor. 193 IA:
Goebel. 191, ,33l; Taylor's plurality, 2,3S5
The operation, which ended for the time being
at least the bitterly fought Governorship con-
test, conducted in the simplest manner. The
majority opinion OF Commissioners Pryor and
Ellis and the minority opinion Of Commissioner
Poyntz, which were published this morning were
not read, as was the original Intention. The
three Commissioners walked first TO the office or
the clerk OF the Supreme Court. where they filed
the two opinions They then passed into the
Office of the Secretary Of state Mr.. Chenault.
clerk of the Board of Commissioners read the
figures showing that the Republican candidates
for offices on the State ticket had received the
largest number of votes, and the certificates OF
election were signed at once, that of Mr.. Taylor
being first on the list.
There were only fourteen persons in the room
at the time. and Of this number only two were
there as spectators. There was no crowd around
the building and no interest was manifested In
the work. save by those engaged in it. The
good humor. although Commissioners Ellis and
Pryor. who had done the most work In prepar-
ing their long and elaborate opinion, looked
worn and tired. The certificates, as soon as
signed were filed with the Secretary OF State
and commissions will be issued to the elected
men by Governor Bradley.
Late last night when the decision had gone
forth to the public Commissioner Ellis, on
whose shoulders the greater part Of the work OF
preparing the opinion has fallen, discussed the
matter freely.
This has been a hard thing for me-" he said.
bis eyes inflamed by loss Of sleep. and the heavy
lines in his face bearing witness to the truth OF
his statement. He added:
It has been hard thing for all OF us. wish,
however that the people OF the country shouiu
know how nobly Judge Pryor has acted IN TINS
matter and how conscentously he has done
what he considered his duty. Speaking for my
self / say frankly l did not like to do THIS
thing but under the law and the evidence there
is nothing else | can do and be an honest man.
The proceedings before the Board were so
overwhelmingly I'm favor OF the Republicans, and
they had so much the better OF the arguments,
that Il is almost Idle to discuss the aHalr. lhete
was to the minds Of Judge Pryor and myselt,
only one thing to do, and that we have done, L
know there are plenty Of men who thlhK that,
Democratic partisan as l have always peen, l
should have remained Democratic partisan anu
voted otherwise But have done what my con-
science and my long career as a lawyer tell me
Is right. and will do otherwise for no man ana
Oh no consideration.
Mr.. Goebel was apparently in the best OF
humor after being told that Mr.. Taylors certlh-
cate had been s!-ned. He laughed and shook his
head when asked II he had anythlng 10 say;
mot a thing: | am not talking" When VIII
Won make a contestT II have not decided YET;
and l. of course, cannot discuss what L 90 not
know myself A., -.
The defeated candidate was game to the last
and II there was any Ill humor in him NOBODY
knew Il but himself Mr. Taylor was modest
and reticent, as usual eXpeCteu II, o-
course " ne said II knew that If the Commits
sioners went by the law and the evidence they
could do nothing else than decide the way they
have done" -, -,
Commissioner Poyntz declined to sign the Re-
publican certificates of election, saying tnat ne
stood by the opinion he had rendered. era coplo
not consistently do so. He consented 10 sign
the certificates of the Railroad Commissioners
however.