The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-23
PLOT TO STEAL A STATE.
GEN. TAYLOR SENDS HOT SHOT INTO
TIE GOEBELIIEN

Letter Showing That There Was Conspiracy
to FaIsify Election Returns in Kentucky
cities Last Year-Tho Republican Cam
paign Oponsd In Clay County Yesterday.
LOUISVILLE KY, Aug. 22.-6en. ". 8. Tay-
loF. the Republican candidate for Governor.
opened his cam psgn In London. Clay County.
to-day. lie read letter written to W. e.
Thompson. a Dem ocrat appointed Election Com
missioner OF Franklin county I'm which tho State
capital 10 located. by South Trimble. Chairman
OF the Democratic State Central Committee
and the blackburn candidate for Speaker OF
the next Legislature. which will elect United
States Senator to succeed Senator Lindsay.
Under this law three Democrats. who compose
q State Election Board. which acts as q re-
turning board. were selected By Goebel
This board named the election officers
for the 119 counties OF the State From
the rulings OF the State Board there is no
appeal TO the courts. The Judge Pryor men
toned as tho mem Der Of the State Election
Board who appointed Thompson's successor
was Chief Justice OF the Court OF Appeals OF
Kentucky until last year. Chairman Trim
ble's letter to Thompson follows:
CITY OF FRANKFORT. OFFICE OF THE MAYOR.
"FRANKFoRT. KY. Aug. 49, 1893.
MY DEAN Mr.. THOMPSON: will preface the
contents OF this letter by saying that you
haven't better friend in Franklin county than
am, and IL Is much frien dship for you that /
write this letter
You were indicated by the county commit
tee as one OF the Election Com missioners for
this county. No better men could have been
appointed. but II 10 an unenviable position and
one you should not accept Our county Is all
right. safely Democratic. but city elections
cannot be won by a fair count. and you know
that az we'll as do. Incom petent. unreliable
Republican judges will have to be appointed.
The right OF the Republicans to indicate who
shall represent them as Judges. ETC.. will have
to be ignored and the Election Commissioners
will have to do this or receive the ill-wll OF the
city Democrats would not do II. for could
not conscientously do 80. and ! know you
would not. Therefore my advice to you 10 to
refuse to act.
81 had talk with Judge Pryor on the subject.
and he said II you would refuse to act he would
appoint any one that we might name. which
would be Ben Marshall. You know Ben is SO
partisan that he thinks that anything is all
right 80 that 1t helps the Democrats. Think
this matter over and use your best judgment.
and II you conclude not to accept write TO me
Immediately and will have the change made.
] will also see that your interests are repre-
sentcd In the appointment Of officers on your
side OF the river. Let me hear from YOU
Sincerely your friend SOUTH TRIMBLE."
Mr.. Thompson's answer was as follows:
FRANKFORT. Ky. Aug lS. 1893.
"4r. South Trimble. Frankfort, Ky:
my DEAR SIR: Yours Of Aug. IL In regard
TO Election Commissioners for the county re-
ceived. and in reply will say my confidence In
your sincerity in this matter compels me to
refuse to accept the appointment OF Elec-
tion Commissioner. for II I have to do q
dshonorab!e act l will not accept II.
Show this to Judge Pryor that he
may act regardless OF the county committees
recommendation. Most respectfully yours.
Nv. z. THOMPSON"
These letters. Gen. Taylor declared. showed
Q conspiracy to steal the State.
LONDON. Ky. Aug. 22.-The Republican cam
paign was opened here to-day. Judge Vim
cent Boreing introduced Clifton R. Plat. candi-
date for Attorney General. He spoke thirty
minutes. Caleb Powers OF Barbourville. was
hext introduced.
Gen. Taylor. candidate for Governor. and his
party arrived at ! o'clock, and when Judge
Morrow OF Somerset introduced Taylor 1t was
estimated that from 5000 to 1000 persons
were present. One OF the largest delegations
included the recent feudists from Clay county
A barbecue with burgoo continued all day
Gen. Taylor's speech was enthusiastically re-
ccived. He promised to see that the Goebe
Election law was repealed II he was elected.