The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-05
KENTUCKY'S GREAT CONTEST.
ELECTION COMMISSIONERS ARE
NOW IN SESSION.

They Have Canvassed Fifty-0ne out
of 119 COunties-Five Counties in
Which There Were Irregularities
Were Passed Over-Nothing Done
That VIII Count in the Fight-Fun
win Come When They sit as a
COntesting Board.
Frankfort, KY, Dec. 4.-Fifty-one coun-
ties were canvassed by the Kentucky
State Board of Election Commissioners
to-day out of a total of l19 in the sta e
OF these fifty-one counties, five were pass
over TO be considered Immediately upon
| the conclusion OF the work of the canvass
ing board.
The counties canvassed give Goebel to-
tai vote of 74le4 ard Tay,or 6S,95S The
counties passed over are Christian, Flem-
ing, Green, Harlan and Harrison.
The board met at Il 80 o'eolck in the off,
| ce of Secretary of State finley, all
three members ex-Chief Justice Pryor of
the state Supreme Court; w. Il. Ellis and
c. B. Poyntz, being present.
There was a clash between the Com
missioners and Secretary of State Finley,
who, by virture of his office, acted as
custodian of the certificates received from
the county boards of election.
| Finley a. first refused to give up the
returns except by counties, but finally
yielded and gave them all up to the board.
This was practically the only argument
that occurred during the day, and it was
carried on without bitterness or discour-
! tesy on either side. Once begun, the can
yass went on rapidly, thirteen counties
! being disposed of when the board adjourn
! ed at l o'clock for dinner. 1t reeonvened
lat 2:90 oclock, and within three hours thir-
| ty-eight counties including the five tflat
| were passed over, were canvassed. The
| board will meet again at $50 O'clock to-
morrow morning.
| The First Trouble.
The first county over which any trou-
Bile arose was Christian, which gave 2S16
votes to Goebel and S471 to Taylor 1t
was passed on account of alleged irreg-
| ularities in the precinct of Hopkinsville
| Fleming county was the next county laid
over for future argument
| The County Commissioners first eerti-
| fed to 1858 votes for Goebel and /, 800 for
| Taylor Later they discovered errors in
| the count and sent a substitute certin-
| cate, giving Goebel LII and Taylor ], ,665.
| The county was passed by mutual consent
of Democrats and Republicans
| Green and Harlan counties were passed
on account of alleged irregularities.
| The Election Commissioners of Harrison
| county had sent two certificates footing
| up differently because of trouble in Cyn-
thiana. This was ON account of an in
! Junction issued against them by Judge
! klmorough, ordering them to certify for
| all the Republican candidates. The first
| certificate was filed in accordance with
| the Injunction. The injunction being dis
| solved later, the second certificate was
nled, making difference of 1873 votes in
| Taylors count
when the Fun Will Begin,
| 1t will probably take the board the
| greater part of tomorrow to conyass the
| returns of the remaining counties. and IT
| will then resolve itself into a contesting
| board adjourn to the large hail in which
| the Legislature meets, and for a time
vocal fireworks Will be in order. The real
work that will count for the election of
Goebel or Taylor will begin then. and
every inch will be fought fiercely by both
| sides.
There was nothing in the work of to-.1av
that will count for much unless It be the
decision of the commissioners in the can
vas OF Bracken county Here the polls
were closed when twenty-three Democrats
| and six Republicans were waiting to vote.
all desiring 10 vote the straight party
| tickets. They were at the polls in time
to vote, but the supply of regular ballots
had been exhausted and their votes were
refused. The County Commissioners asked
that the votes be admitted The board
denied the request, as 1t had no power TO
so behind the certified returns.
The city was very quiet to-day. There
was not semblance of a row of any kind
during the day Mayor Dehoney swore in
sixty extra policemen.