The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-14
SITUATION IN KENTUCKY
MADE GRAVE BY UNCERTAINTY AS TO
THE ELECTION.
BOTH SIDES CLAIM VICTORY.
Each Side Charges the Other With
Fraud-Ofncia1 Count and, Perhaps,
a contest Necessary to Settle the
Question OF Election of Governor.
Bryan's Congratulations to Goebel.
Returns to be Canvassed To-Day-Re-
pubIicans Offering Physical Aid.

pubIicans Offering Physical Aid.
Louisville, KY, November "a con-
fusion of claims and COUNTIES claims, to
quiet which the official count or per-
haps a contest before the Legislature
will be necessary, is all that is left of
Tuesdays election. Above 1t all We
hement cries of fraud, committed or
contemplated, are heard. Each side
claims the election of its ticket by a
plurality of about 1000 and presents
figures to back up the ain These
figures in some counties vary widely
and it lis impossible to tell hic side.
If either, has accurate returns.
Chairman Long Of the republican
campaign committee, when for
an estimate Of the vote on the guber-
material race, said: II have no eSti-
mate to give, but 1 can furnish the
actual figures. On the face Of the re-
turns Taylor's plurality is Abs. ALI
Of the precincts have been heard from.
Twelve counties are not official. includ-
ing the returns from Kenton and
Breathitt."
General Taylor said he was sure OF
his election by a majority that viii not
be less than 1000. General Taylor said
that official and semi-officfal returns
from nearly every precinct in the state
showed that he had been elected.
A special from Frankfort quotes Gov
ernor Bradley as saying: "Taylor mas
been elected by at least 10, 1000 majority
and he will be the next governor OF
Kentucky"
The county returning boards will
meet in all the counties tomorrow to
canvass the returns and until then the
result of Tuesdays election Will be in
doubt. Both sides are charging fraud.
Governor Bradley is being telegraph
ed by hundreds of republicans offering
to come to the state capital to prevent
Taylor being counted out.
Chairman Young, of the democratic
state central committee, charges the
republicans with attempting to perpe-
trate fraud in the mountain districts,
where the heavy republican vote lies
Young says the official count by
ty returning boards will give Goebel
over 1000. He also says all minor can
didates on the state ticket win, though
by less pluralities than Goebel.
Senator Goebel received the folloWlng
telegram tonight from William Jen-
nings Bryan: "Hav just learned that
returns are near enough complete to
insure your election. Congratulations.
/ I'm sure your administration will
strengthen the party"
Returns from democratic sources
show a plurality on the face of the re-
turns Jf about 1000 for Goebel. Mr..
Goebel and Senator Blackburn, in in
terviews ait Frankfor today, openly
charged the republican MS with fraud in
the Eleventh district from which the
returns are coming in very slowly.
The indications point more strongly
than ever to a contest before the lagls-
1ature whic'l, there is no reasonable
doubt. will be controlled by the demo-
Gratis. Whether or not the members
belonging to that party Will stand To-
gether on questions aftectlng a contest
cannot now be foretold. h county
boards of canvassers, which meet to-
morrow, simply count and tabulate the
returns. The state board of election
commissioners then reviews their work
and decides all questions atfect1ng con-
tested ballots. This commission cert1-
fes to the secretary of state the cleo
tion of officers receiving the highest
number of votes after the decisions or
the commissioners on contested returns
have been recorded. Under the GoeDel
law, the duties of the secretary of state
are confined simply Ito making puollc
the result as found by n COMMISSION
erS.
There is no appeal from h findings
of the state board of election commits
sioners except in the case OF governor
and lieutenant governor. III case VI d
contest for these offices the matter goes
to the legislature. The three members
of the board of election commissioners
which will finally pass upon the re-
turns were chosen under the terms on
the Goebel law by the legislature which
enacted hat measure. They are Judge
w. ]. Prior, of Frankfort; c. B. Pointz,
of Maysvidle and w. J. Ellis, of Owens
boro. All are said to be friendly to
Goebel and all are democrats. The law
provides for a meeting OF these COM
missioners, ON the fourth Monday after
the election.
A large mass meeting of followers OF
the honest election league, the anti
Goebel organization of the CITY was
held at Music Hall tonight. "A NUMBER
of vigorous speeches touching upon
what was styled "the purpose Of the
Goebel people to secure the seating Of
their candidates without regard to law
or right were made.
A committee of three was appointed
to witness the count of the ballots by
the county board of c~anvassers n 1t
was decided to take measures TO pre-
vent what the leaguers considered to
he violation Of their rights.
B~arboursviile, KY, November ~
The democrats threaten to tho out
the vote of Knox county on account OF
various alleged reasons. The town WIN
be full OF republicans tomorrow VINO
say they intend to have their rights.
Louisville, KY, November 10.--The
ourier Journal returns received up TO
Q O'Clock a. m. cover all but thirty-fve
precincts in the state. They gave Goe-
bel a net plurality Of GAL. Ten of the
missing precincts are in democratic
counties, Is are in republican. In the
Courier Journals tables, however. are
several counties from which their cor
respondent reported estimated and not
actual pluralities.
Returns received by The Commercial.
republican, up to the same hour, give
Tayaor a net plurality OF 3,4SS in the
state.
Challenges Jeffries.
New York. November 9.-Martin Ju-
liam. nag for Robert Fitzsfmmons,