Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-22
THE KENTUCKY CASE,
Address from the Democracy
Of The State,
GROUND OF THE CONTESTS.
Opinion Of the Board Of Election CON-
miSSiOnorS.
THE USE or TISSUE BALLOTS.
| The Calling out OF Troops by the
Republican Governor of the state,
and the Invading OF Voting
BOOths-Etc.
THE USE or TISSUE BALLOTS
The Calling out OF Troops by tn
Republican Governor of the state,
UOOths-Efc.

FRANKFORT, KY, December H-An
address from the Democracy Of the
state endorsing the contest Instituted ~
Goebel and other candidates of the de-
feated Democratic ticket and giving the
reasons therefor. was issued tonight 1t
is signed by Tor mer Senator Blackburn,
chairman Of the State Campaign Com
mittee; Chairman Young, OF the state
Central and Executive committees. and
all Of the members Of those committees.
1t says in part:
"The Democratic party Of Kentucky,
through its several state committees.
has unanimously declared that the bost
interests Of the party, as well as justice.
demands that Contests shall be made by
all candidates on the Democratic ticket
for the respective offices Tor which they
were no minated. the committee feel
that 1t is proper that they should, in
concise form, state the grounds upon
which they base their action.
THE state Board of Election Commits
sioners. at its session. issued certificates
Of election to all OF the Republican can
didates Tor the state offices, but the
board expressly declared I'm the opinion
that it rendered that IT acted simply as a
canvassing board. without power or au-
thority, as it construed the law, to in
quire into the legality or validity of any
contested votes The board expressed
the opinion that If clothed with the au-
thority to 90 behind the returns ana de-
termine the matters in contention, the
certificates Of election would not have
been issued to the parties VINO received
them.
TISSUE BALLOTS.
owe feel that in the light of the action
OF this board the De mOcratic party can
not 90 less than TO carry its contention
to the tribunal created by law for its de-
termination The grounds upon which
this contest is based consist Of the pro-
test against the use Of tissue ballots in
many Of the Overwhelmingly Republican
counties Of the State The use Of these
ballots is not only i'm violation OF the let
Ter of the law. but is in utter and open
defiance OF the spirit OF the law, and the
use of these ballots furnishes not only
prima face but also conclusive, evidence
Of purposed fraud.
Another ground of contest is because
of the plain violation ana defiance OF law
by the late Republican Governor Of the
state, who, whilst actively engaged in the
making Of stump speeches and the prose-
cution Of u partisan political canvass.
ordered out the military. and. in violation
of both law and precedent assumed per-
sonal command of troops in the metropo-
lis of the State. parading the streets
OF Louisville on the day Of the election.
with his soldiers and Calling guns. in
vading the voting booths, and forcing
into them. against the protest Of the
lawfully appointed election officials, pre-
tended inspectors and challengers. who,
the highest court of the State has decided,
had no lawful right 10 be present.
JUDICIAL. INTERFERENCE
"The issuance of the certificates OF cleo
ton to the Republican candidates IS
contested upon the further ground that
a Federal and also State judge, with
ont warrant Of law. and i'm defiance of
every prompting of fair dealing and de-
cencv. interfered with the holding OF the
state elections, the one by menacng
charges to a grand jury and by the en-
plovment of deputy marshals, and the
other by issuing every mandamus and
Injunction asked for by the Republican
party. which latter judicial acts have been
declared by the supreme judicial tribu-
nal of the State to have been unlawful.
Another ground is the use In the in
terest Of the Republican party Of an inn
mense corruption fund, contributed by
the most powerful railroad corporation
of The Commonwealth, whereby many
thousands Of votes were bought against
the Democratic party and its candidates
because that party, in the platform adopt
ed i'm its State convention, dared to
advocate measures of relief demanded
bv the people of the Commonwealth