Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-22
KENTUCKY CONTESTS
Judge Taft Denies Federal Juris.
diction In the Minor Places.
SUITS BY BECEHAN and TAYLOR.


clnt00 OF Ju0ke IuII
Frankfort, KY, Feb. 15.-The action
Of Judge Taft in Cincinnati yester-
day, denying federal jurisdiction in
the contests for the minor places on
the state ticket, did not discourage
Gov. Taylor in the least. He said
II never really believed that the mat
ter could be made to stick in the
court before Judge Taft, but we felt
obliged to- try it. This is case
where all the legal remedies must be
tried and exhausted il necessary. We
will try everything that the courts
afford u.s.
The suit of Beckham VS.. Taylor, for
the possession Of the Office OF gov
ernor was filed yesterday in the cir
cult court at Frankfort. Up to a
late hour the sheriff had not sue
ceeded in serving notice on Gov. lay
Tor and the chances Of his doing so
did not seem bright, as all visitors
to the office of the governor or to
the gubernatorial mansion were com
PEELED to run a gauntlet of guards,
who were on the lookout for the gen
tleman with suspicious papers. The
petition in the suit holds that W. 5.
Taylor Is not the governor OF the
state and that with an armed force he
holds possession of the executive
building. II alleges that he Is draw
ing money without authority of law
from the state treasury, pardonlng
convicts and doing other things that
are detrimental to the welfare of the
state. The petition asks that the
court enjoin him from exercising any
duties az chief executive and from as
Stunning any control whatever over the
Legislature. Application for the in
junction will be made on Friday BE-
fore Judge Cantrill, At Georgetown.
The committee Of the democratic
members Of the Legislature which
came from Louisville for the purpose
Of investigating conditions here and
determining whether 1t is safe for
the democrats TO venture within the
precincts Of Frankfort, returned to
Louisville last night. The members
Of the committee declined to hold any
conversation with Adjt. Gen. Collier
or Gov. Taylor and made Custodian
Thompson, OF the executive building.
the go-between. They first sent word
to Gov. Taylor that before the dem
ocratic members could think Of re-
turning to Frankfort the soldiers
must be sent away. No objection.
they said, would be raised to a small
number for bodyguard for Gov. Tay-
Tor personally, As for the legisla-
tnre II needed no protection.
Gov. Taylor replied through the
medium Of Custodian Thompson that
the request Of the committee could
not be complied with, but promised
that the Legislature should not be
moles'ed in any way.
4 A statement by Gov Taylor.
Frankfort KY. Feb Is. When in
formed that Judge Taft had refused
jurisdiction Gov. Taylor yesterday
gave TO the Associated press the fol-
lowing signed statement.
"I'he decision of Judge Taft holding
that his court has no jurisdiction in
the case of the minor state officers
does not affect the merits of the case.
He does not determine that the pe,i.
TONERS had no merits in their eases.
but onl Y that his court could not take
jurisdiction and right the wrong. II
he had held that he had jurisdiction il
would have all been over, for the out
RACES were so glaring that the repub.
leans would have won hands down.
The decision in said eases does not In
the least affect my case"
suit Filed by Gov, Taylor.
Louisville. KY, Feb, 81 Suit was
filed In the circuit court yesterday
afternoon by counsel for Gov. Taylor,
seeking to restrain j. {. W. I,eckham
from acting US governor and Zen.
John u. Cusilemnn from attempting
to discharge the duties of adiutant
general. SummonSes were served on
the defendants. The suit will be al
loted to one OF the circuit Judges by a
drawing. The drawing may not he
held for several days, When II is held
an application for u restraining order
will be made The suit is brought by
Gov. Taylor for himself individually
and as governor of Kentucky.
Judge Taft's Decision.
Cincinnati. Feb. ii. I'm the circuit
court of the United States Judge W.
N. Taft yesterday afternoon denied
the motion for preliminary iniunc-
ton In both of the eases from Ken
lucky While the court held that no
injunction would issue under these
bills, yet II also held that after the
eases had been heard in the state
courts they could get in on error for
review in the United States suprem,
court.