The age-herald., 1900-02-03
TIE BO[R INVESTMENT LINES ARE NOW THINNING AROUND LADYSMITH Large Force of the BugheH Are Moving Towards the TugeIa
 and Another Collision is Soon Expected.
THE DEMOCRATS
 ISSUE MEMORIAL Citizens Are Asked to Hold Meet ings and Settle Ques-
 ton by Vote.

Frankfort, Ky, February 2-The demo- cratic committee appointed at the after-I noon session of the legislature held in th1 Capitol hotel to prepare an address to the public, has issued the following statement on behalf of the democratic members of the legislature:
 The present crisis in Kentucky is without parallel in the history of our republic. The best efforts of those who love law and or der, peace and justice are demanded in these deplorable and perilous times. Dem- ocratic representatives have used legal methods and followed the plain provisions of the law under unprecedented and eXcit- ing circunstan nces when the capitol of our commonwealth syas-slled wigh armed sol- diers and embittered republican paltisans and their rights to occupy ti1esr,seats in the house of representatives was denied aIrt.- their chosen leader stricken down by the hands of assassin.
 At the beginning of the present session of the general assembly the contest for gov arnor and lieutenant governor was com-9 menced by the command of the democratic authorities. There was no other way to ap- pell to the tribunal designated by the con- stitution and statutes to decide who was ie- galiy elected governor and lieutenant gov ernor. No action has been taken by degn- ocrats incorsis ent with lawful, honorable and just methods.
 "A board of contest had been chosen ac- . cording to the provisions of the law 10 hear evidence and Tepor. to the general as- sembiy its conclusions for ratncatloh or rejection.
 "While the work was progressing before the contest board hundreds of armed rnoun- tain desperadoes were brought to the seat of government for the purpose of intimi- dation and for the purpose of melting aF .lasc xt+bi the calling out of the militia. The demo- crats suffered this indignity calmly and with cooness-determined that the law. in so far as they were concenned-should not be sustained by brute force
 The si ooting of Gobel
 "On the morning after all testimony on both sides had been heard by the contest boards, Hon. William Goe6el, then state senator cad the contestant for governor, was fired upon and dangerously if not fa- tally wounded by a band of assassins con cealed in the building occupied by William s. Taylor, as governor, whose seat MT. Goe5cl Was con.esting.
 The house and senate, upon being notified of Senator Goebers attempted assassina- tion, immediately adjourned until the next day. Upon the next day when the senate and house attempted to meet Calling guns and several companies of soldiers were employed and they were denied ad1nittance to the executive halls. MT. Taylor's adjutant general read proclama- tion from MT. Taylor stating that there was an instruction in Frankfort and de- caring the general assembly adjourned to meet Tuesday, February 6, at London, Laurel county, Kentucky.
 We state that Ilere was no instruction in Frankfort; that after the general as- sembly once convened it. and not the gov ernor, is the sole power under the consti- tuition to fix the time and place of meeting; hos. r1n nn nN-or case the house and senate cannot agree to adjourn then
 That even had he the power to adjourn the general assembly to Laurel county. 1t Is a gross abuse of the same, and evinces an utter disregard for the safety or the democratic members of the general assem- hly. Laurel county Is in the heart of Ule mountain section of Kentucky, where feuds flourish and fawlessness prevails, and In that portion of the state where the courts are unable to enforce the law, even with the aid of the militia. and where assassina- tion and murder reign supreme. After the house and senate had been denied entrance by the soldiers to the state house they ad- journed to meet forthwJ5h at the opera house in Frankfort There they were dis persed by the soldiers, and they adjourned again to meet at the court house where they were again dispersed.
 Regarded as Unlawful Assembly
 Notice was served upon the general as- sembly that the adjutant general had or ders from the government to regard as an unlawful assembly all meetings of the gen. eral assembly and to forcitGy break up the same. Under these conditions majority of the senate and house upon the evening of January 31, 1900. at the Capitol hotel, after having been repea tedly denied pub lie meeting in joint assembly declared Will jam Goebel governor and c. w. Beckham lieutenant governor.
 On February 2, 1900, the house and senate each held regular session in the Capitol hotel in the city of Frankfort. A quorum was present in each body.
 Among other business transacted they again both in joint session ratified their former action-received and adopted the re- port of the contest boards deciding in flavor of William Goe5e1 and J. c. w. Beckham, and passed resolutions declaring William Goebel the governor and J. c. w. BecRham lieutenant governor.
 Notwithstanding all this the city of Frankfort is still dominated by militia. To- day the democrats endeavoring to avoid a conflict by force. instituted a civil suit against William S. Taylor.
 The peace officer who attempted to serve process was forcibly seized by the militia and is now a prisoner. With all this dis regard for the constitution, for law and justice absolute peace still reigns in Frankfort, and the democrats have kept their friends away, although thousands have proffered their service. In this aw- full crisis, the representative of the com monwealth of Kentucky presents this me- morial to the citizens of the state and the union, and ask their earnest cooperation in reaceful settlement of this conflict. We call upon the people of this state in mass meeting and announce whether this