The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-01
Anarchy in Kentnck,,

At such time as the present. when the
free institutions of the country are threat
ened as they are in the State of Kentucky,
it is well for the press and people TO be as
calm as possible. When the events of the
past two days in Frankfort are realized it
would be impossible for any man TO say
what next may happen in the way of vio-
lent suppression Of representative govern
ment.
When the rifles of the assassius volleyed
/ at William Goebel from an ambush pre-
pared in the executive building the first
thought everywhere was that the crime
| could only have been dictated by per-
sonal impulse. Unhappily, it is now evil
| dent that it was the execution of a polit-
ical conspiracy for which the persons who
are now protecting the asssssins must be
held responsible.
The Democratic leader who would have
been declared the legal Governor of Ken
lucky yesterday if the Legislature had been
allowed TO meet was foully shot in order
that such decision might be prevented.
Since he did not die Immediately il be-
came necessary TO the purposes of the plot
that the Legislature should be dispersed.
Accordingly, when the members OF the
senate and assembly gathered at the state
house yesterday morning they were met
by an armed force, the officer in command
of which read to them a proclamation
from the sitting Governor 'fadjourning"
them and ordering them TO meet at Lon
don, in Laurel county on the sixth of
February, instant A more outrageous
usurpation OF executive power has never
been attempted in the case Of any Anglo
Saxon legislative body since Oliver Crom-
well adjourned the British Parliament
by marching a regiment of soldiers into its
precincts and ejecting its members. Nor
was this the worst Of the de facto govern
or's offence. Proceeding TO the Frankfort
Opera House, the Legislature was barred
from its doors by line OF soldiers. and
this performance was repeated when it
moved to the city hall. The Taylor adju-
tant general denounced the Legislature of
Kentucky as an unlawful assembIaee"
and dispersed it with force and arms
This action was manifestly taken for
fear that in some way the law-making
branch of the State government would meet
and declare Goebel lawfully elected, which
it certainly would have done: and then.
supposing that the breath of life was not
yet out OF his body, that the oath of Office
would be administered 10 him. and he
would be legally Governor Of Kentucky.
To accomplish this crime against liberty
and the Constitution, Taylor had recourse
10 subterfuge which is almost too con-
temptible for discussion. He claimed the
right 10 prorogue the Legislature under the
provisions of Section IS Of the State Con-
stitution Of 1894. which says:
"The first General Assembly and the members Of
which shall be elected under the constitution,
shall meet on the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in Jsnuary, 1894, and thereafter the |
General Assembly shall meet on the same day every
second year, and its sessions shall be held at |
the seat Of government, except in Of war in
surrection, or pestilence, when il may by proca- |
nation OF the Governor assemble for the time be
ing elsewhere"
The section quoted Enthusiastically gives |
the Governor power 10 assemble the Legis- |
lature at some place other than the State
capital in case its meeting there is rem |
dered impossible OF impracticable by reason |
of war. instruction, or pestilence;" but
the Legislature is coordinate branch of |
the government. Once In session it is the
sole judge of its movements and is in no
sense the creature OF the Governor The
right TO assemble 1t al an unusual place
by proclamation, does not carry any au-
thority TO dissolve it by force The Legis-
lature is the sole power legally capable of
Judging Of the necessity or desirability of
Its adjournment to the next day or TO a
distant town. The action of Taylor is
nothing less than reasonable
1t will be noticed that the de facto Gov
ernor orders the Legislature 10 dispense
and reassemble at London, in Laurel
county. The place named is in the heart
Of the mountains, and suggestively. is the
locality from whence came the assassins
Il is but a few miles from the section of
Clay county where the Philpots live and