Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-03

, ton of Kentucky and the laws made in
pursuance thereof, with force and arms,
and with regiment of the Kentucky
State Guard. dispersed the general as
sembly, of which these plaintiffs were
members, and forcibly took possession
of the Senate chamber and the hall OF
the House of Representatives and sta
toned armed men therein and has
since prohibited these plaintiffs from
assembling in the Capitol building in
their respective chambers, or assem-
! bling il joint session therein, and has
interfered with the discharge OF their
duties, and is still interfering and
threatening to interfere with these
plaintiffs in the performance OF their
legal duties. That the said Taylor has,
without right or authority of law, cali
ed the legislature to meet in London,
Laurel county, KY. on the sixth day
of February, 1900, place remote from
the seat of government, the said Lon
don being a small village, situated In
sparsely populated Part Of the State,
with no buildings or rooms or houses
sufficient to Accommodate. ttso~yAru~i-.
assembly OF the commonwealth or Ken
lucky, in which to perform their legal
! duties. That he has stationed about
the capitol building and in the Senate
chamber and in the hall OF the House
of Representatives armed men and has
collected a
Large Number of Armed Men
Who are now encamped In the Capt.
toll square to prevent these plaintiffs
from meeting and dlschargIng their
duties as representatives of the peo-
pie. and is threatening. by force and
violence and said unlawful methods.
to continue in the future TO preye2t.
them from assembling and discharge
ing their duties as such representa-
tiges. They state that the aforesaid
unlawful acts by the said Taylor are
| against the will and consent OF each
House of the General Assembly and
the members thereof. They say that
the two Houses had not disagreed ih
respect to the time OF adjournment,
nor had they disagreed in reference
TO adjournment at all, but at the time
OF the aforesaid unlawful and violent
interference, they were peaceably en-
gagged in the discharge of their duties
as senators and representatives Of the
commonwealth of the State Of Ken
lucky.
The plaintiffs then quote the provision Of
the constitution OF the state Of Kentucky
which Gov. Taylor claims gave him the
power to adjourn the legislature.
The petition then continusss
The plaintiffs now state that they nae
not In any manner disagreed as 10 the ad-
journment Of either house nor had they In
any respect been guilty or any dereliction
Of duty, nor had they failed Or refussA
TO faithfully perform the duties pertaining
to the general assembly ard their respect
I'VE offices But. they say. Notwithstanding
said fact. the defendants are now
Threatening by Force Of Arrns
and other violent methods 70 force the lams
IsIafure to meet Al London. Laurel county.
Kertucky. and stu refuse and threaten 10
prevent a meeting Of the general assem-
bly, in their respective chambers at the
state Capitol or anywhere in the city ne
Frankfort. the seat Of government Of this
commonwealth. ard unless enJolned and
restrained b. the orders Of this honorable
court, they viii prevent the meeting Of the
general assembly AZ the place denlgnatsA
BY the constitution and the lava Of this
commonwealth.
They further state that Laurel county %
IN a lawiess portion Of tke state. withour
any sufficient police force or civil author.
ify to protect the members Of The generaf
assembly in tie discharge Of their Official
duties, and in a section 0s tae State where
many Ia1iess disturbances and factionaf
fights have heretofore occurred, often re-
suiting IN the adjournment of the courts
OF the State, making Il frequently neees.
sary for the State militia to be called ouk
10 protect the courts fl the discharge Ok
their Official duties. And notwithstanding
troops have been repeatedly called 10 satA
section, ard have operated IN con5nnesion
with The casfl authorities. they havs been
totally unable 70 suppress me lights are
lawlessness ard facfional strife ia saiA
sections. ard the same
Is Now Completely TexrorIxed
and Dominated 81 Eawiess bands a men
engaged In fesads ard osher violations 81
the law. The plaintiffs further aver. thak
denying me right o. tire 1efen6anks 70
make the adjournment q The general ~
sernaosy without their coneenks they. the
plaintiffs. have repeatedly mads effort 10
enter the han Of The House % R<presens-
sffves ard &1ze Sen1xe ch1Mhex It rzxu..ra