Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-01
EXPECT BlUODSHED
Peace-Loving Citizens of Kentucky
Fear Election Day.
PARTlSANS PREPARE FOR BATTLE
The GoebeI Election Law an Exas-
perating Influence.
LID CT I Nc No GA ND 4
MUD SINGING CAMPAIGN
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


the Scriptures, which appeared in the
Louisville Post, the leading anti-Goebel
democratic organ of the state, this week:
These six things doth the Lord hate:
yea, seven are an abomination unto him;
A proud look, a lying tongue and hands
that shed innocent blood, a heart that de-
viseth wicked imagination. feet that be
swift in running to mischief, false wit
ness that speaketh lies and he that soweth
dscord among Observation-Disclosures chan
ter G.
This was followed by about as scathfng
denunciation of Goebel as the wealth of
the English language affords. In the very
same issue of the Post was printed a card
from Gen. Basil W. Duke, who succeeded
Gen. John II. Morgan in the command of
the famous confederate raiders of Ken
lucky in the civil war In this card Cen
Duke replied to the charge which Goebel
had made the night before in a speech to
the effect that Duke as chief attorney for
the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Com
pany, had used money to further the ends
of corrupt legislation. Duke minced no
words. Il will not submit to attack from a
liar, slanderer and an assassin he said
State Waited for G0ebefs Reply
The whole state waited to hear GoebePs
reply. great many thought 1t might come
IL the form of bullet, and some fear that
he may yet make rejoinder with revolver
Goebel has announced that, although he
had closed his campaign in Louisville, he
will return here three days before the cleo
ton in order to give his enemies a chance
to look him up" Incidentally Goebel de-
clared, in his closing speech here, that
Duke knows as much about honesty as Il
euuuch knows of the sweets of love" No
man can foretel with certainty what will
be the outcome of this hot exchange Of
campaign couftesies between Gen. Duke
and Senator Goebel. Both have hair-trigger
tempers and nerves like chilled steel and
each has smelt gunpowder in his time
Duke in many hard fought battle on the
held and Goebel in street fight in which
he killed John Sanford at Coyington.
But even If Goebel and Duke and the
leaders on the other side of the contending
democratic faction are kept apart there IS
peril imminent and deadly, which none
dares deny, of serious trouble at the polls
on November Z. In Louisville, in Covng-
ton In Newport, In Lexington, in Frank
fort, in OWensboro', and other of the larger
towns OF the state citizens grow more APP
prehensve as election day draws near
Each side is claiming that the enemy pro-
poses to perpetrate fraud in the ballotiug,
and every partisan is declaring that he will
spill blood to prevent the opposition from
stealing the result. In the mountains
where the republicans are in the majority.
some of the hot-headed leaders of that
party are openly proclaiming that if theft
Is attempted either in the voting or the
count they will lynch the offenders in
broad daylight on the public highways.
Shotgun Clubs Organized.
In Covington and Newport shotgun clubs
have been organized by anti-Goebel demo-
Gratis to guard the polls. But in Louisville
the situation in Its intensity exceeds the
feeling of apprehension which TO a greater
or less extent prevails all over Kentucky.
NJ,
have been formed with thousands upon
thousands of members. The express pur-
pose of these leagues is to see that a fair
election is held. At the board of trade
building here last week 800 of the leading
citizens of the state. including millionaire
bankers, brilliant lawyers and prominent
held a meeting to discuss
the situation. 1t was agreed that all signs
pointed to bloOdshed and trouble of seri-
Gus nature in this city on election day, and
resolutions were adopted to the effect that
the commercial interests of this city de
manded that action be taken to prevent
serious trouble.
But still the feeling of uneasiness grows.
Threats and counter threats are heard upon
all sides In Louisville the police and fire
men are expected to take an active, and it
might be added, an offensive part in be-
half of Goebel. 1t is safe to predict that
there will be more armed men in Kentucky
on election day than ever before In the his
tory of a people much given to carrying
"
wealth in a blaze.
The GOebcl Election Law.
The Goebel election law, it must be CON
fessed, is the chief factor in the condition
of fear which now exists The anti-Goebel
democrats, the republicans, and, in fact,
all the political clans which oppose Goebel,
claim that under its workings enormous
frauds may be committed. This Goebel law
is a peculiar measure. Probably no such
law ever passed in a republic before.
BY its provisions the vote of the whole
state is left in the hands of three men.
These men may be and are al present mem
bers of one party. Moreover, from their
decisions in an election or a contest there
can be no appeal. In themselves they con-
stitute sovereign tribunal, and no state
court may say them nay. Besides all this,
the board is self-perpetuating, for if one
member of it dies or resigns the two re
manning members can name d successor. If
two die or resign the third fills the yacan-
cieS. Before an election this board meets
and names three commissioners for each
county in the state, who in turn name four
officers of election for each precinct in
their respective counties. The law requires
that half, or rather two, of the precinct
officers shall be members of the contending
party, but in case of a contest, requiring
a vote, the clerk of the election has no voice.
Consequently, the sheriff of the precinct
casts the deciding vote and the sheriff, in
this election. in nearly every instance, will
be a GOebel man, thus giving the Goebel
faction majority. AS soon the voting
is over and the counting is finished the bal
lots are burned thus destroying any evil
dences of fraud that may have existed.
Friends Among the Enemy.
The anti-Goebelites declare that In nearly
every county in the state, and especially in
doubtful counties, the republican members
of the county boards and of the precinct
boards are either friendly to Goebels inter-
csts, or else ineligible by reason of their
residence in other counties, from extreme
youth, or the intirmites of age, 1t having
been charged in three four counties that
the only republicans placed on certain pre-
cinct boards We're blind republicans to act
as clerks of election. From all over the
state protests have gone up against this
alleged unfairness and partisaHship, and
this to a great extent, is responsible for the
present unrest.
Goebels managers still insist that they
Will win with all ease; that this race is not
even a hard one for their candidate, and
that his majority will not-fall much below
$4,000. Mr.. Goebel, in his closing speech in
this city Friday night, stated, with an air
of confidence, as he extended his clenched
INST toward his audience: i've got this cleo
ton just where had that convention down
at Music Hall last June, when the opposi-
ton tried to adjourn 1t before had secured
the nomination.
His friends say Goebel has come here, in
the stronghold of his enemies, and flung de-