The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-10

sEArTLn, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10.
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rAYL0R's UNCERTAIN HOLD.
Tho recognition Of w. 8. Taylor as
the successful candidate for governor
by the Kentucky board Of election COM
missioners ID satisfactory. but unfortu-
nately not conclusive. There may be
an attempt to reverse the action Of the
people and the formal finding Of the
election board when the legislature con-
venes.
Nothing that could be urged - IN
excuse for unseating Taylor ana award
Inc the election to Goebel could change
the conviction OF the country that the
Republican candidate had . majority
Of the votes cast
The minority report made by one Of
the commissioners indicates the grounds
upon which the contest is to be made,
Il the Caoebel people think it will be
safe to ny In the face OF public senti-
mens. He declares that he il unwill-
:ao ITO certify freud and to turn Ken
lucky over to the control Of bayonets.
eatiins guns and fraudulent tissue bal
lots." The presence Of force for the
purposs Of preventing intimidation of
voters - thus used az pretense that
any voter was Influenced to vote other
wise than a. he desired. The fraud
ccmplainei of 10 the counting of bal.
lots for the Republican candidate upon
which one initial had been wrongly
printed in one Of the voting districts.
There is no doubt in the minds of any
person ~ TO the identity of the person
voted for. There was only one Taylor
running for governor. and the fact that
q careless clerk or a careless printer
changed one letter Of the name would
hardly be regarded by any honest man
% . justification for DISTINGUISHING
number Of voters.
The merits of the contesting claim
are not to be passed upon by a judicial
body, but by political majority in the
legislature whose members will be sub
jected to every kind OF pressure in the
interest of Goebel. Every Democratic
politician Identified with the organiza-
tion of which Goebei is the head will
regard 1t as Of vital consequence that
every technicality shall be taken ad-
vantage of to sustain the party in its
efforts to secure control of the govern
ment Even giving the Democrats In
the legislature credit for being ordi-
narily honest men, there will be q great
In the name of the Republican candi-
date as an excuse for complying with
the desires of their political friends.
The only consideration that would
tend to check such a proceeding would
be the fear on the part of the Goebel
people that the already intense feeling
against their man would spread among
many who are now comparatively in
different, but who would resent the in
Justice Of the act We confess that we
do not consider this fear as likely to be
entertained by the class Of politicians
to which Goebel belongs. The policy
among such as he IL to get the offices.
honestly II possible, but under no cir
cumstances to permit the opposition
party to get into power II 1t can be
prevented. Sufficient unto the day is
the evu thereof is maxim with the
politician. He wins today and let's the
next election take care of itself. 1t
must be said that he is usually justi-
fed in assuming that he will be per-
nitted to benefit by his methods and,
even making allowance for strong
public reprehension Of an unfair deci-
zion in the Kentucky case, the Demo-
cratic majority Is normally sufficient
to overcome. by the next election. any
defections from that cause. Should the
Goebel people refrain from an appeal
to the legislature, or should that body
refuse to be q party to the proposed
suffrage. IL will have to be admitted that