The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-03
DEMOCRATIC ADDRESS.
Another Partisan Statement of the
Situation at Frankfort.


Situation at Frankfort.
FRANKFORT, Ky, Feb. 2-The Demo-
cratic committee, composed of Representa-
tives Finn, Lafferty and Cochran, ap-
pointed at the afternoon session of the
Legislature in the Capital Hotel to prepare
an address to the public, has issued the
following statement on behalf of the DEM
ocratic members of the Legislature:
'The present crisis in Kentucky is with
out parallel in the history of our Repub-
lic The best efforts of those who love law
and order. peace and justice are demanded
in these deplorable and perilous times.
Democratic representatives have used legal
methods and followed the plain provisions
of the law under unprecedented and excit-
ing circumstances, when the capital of our
commonwealth was filled with armed SOL
diers and embittered Republican partisans,
and their rights to occupy their seats in
the House of Representatives was denied
and their chosen leader stricken down by
the hands of an assassin.
"At the beginning of the present session
of the General Assembly the contest for
Governor and Lieutenant Governor was
commenced by the command of the Demo-
cratic authorities. There was no other way
to appeal to the tribunal designated by
the Constitution and statutes to decide
who was legally elected Governor and Lieu
tenant Governor. No action has been taken
by Democrats inconsistent with lawful,
honorable and just methods. 1t has been
deemed proper, therefore. that brief adj
dress be issued to the people of Kentucky.
reciting plainly and concisely the exact
steps that have been taken.
"A board of contest had been chosen.
according to the provisions Of the law, to
hear evidence and report to the General
Assembly its conclusions, for ratification
or rejection. While the trial was progress
ing before the contest board hundreds of
armed mountain deSperadoeS were brought
to the seat of government for the purpose
OF intimidation and for the further pur-
pose of melting state of lawlessness
which would excuse the calling out of the
militia The Democrats suffered this in
dignity calmly and with GOODNESS, deter
mined that the law, in so far as they were
concerned, should not be superseded by
brute force. The Republicans, even with
their armed intimidators, were unable to
provoke the Democrats to violence.
ION the morning after all the testimony
on both sides had been heard by the con-
test board, at about the hour of IL o'clock.
William Goebel, then a state senator and
the contestant for Governor, was fired on
and dangerously, If not fatally, wounded
by a band of assassins concealed in the
building occupied by William s. Taylor as
Governor, whose seat Mr.. Goebel was con-
testing. Immediately the militia was sum-
moned, and the executive building was
surrounded and the civil authorities were
denied the right TO search the DullQlnR 1OT
the culprits. The House and Senate, on
being notified of Senator Goebel's attempt
ed assassination. Immediately adjourned I'M
til the next day.
ION the next day, when the Senate and
House attempted to meet as usual at the
State Capitol they were confronted with
three Calling guns and several companies
of soldiers and denied admission 70 the
legislative halls. Mr.. Taylor's adjutant
general, Daniel Collier, read a proclama-
"a vlor stating there
insurrection in Frankfort and declaring the
General Assembly adjourned, to meet Tues
day, Feb. 6, at London, Laurel county,
Kentucky.
in Frankfort; that after the General AS
sembly once convenes, it, and not the Gov
ernor, is the sole power under the Consti-
tuition to fix the time and place OF meet
ing: that the Governor has no power, eX-
cept in case the House and Senate cannot
agree, to adjourn them; that, even had he
the power to adjourn the General Assem-
bly, to Laurel county is a gross abuse of
the same, and eyinceS an utter disregard
for the safety of the Democratic members
of the General Assembly. Laurel county is
in the heart of the mountain section of
Kentucky, where feuds flourish and law
lessness 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 assassination ana muir
der reign supreme.
after the House and Senate had been
denied entrance by the soldiers to the
Statehouse they adjourned to meet forth
with at the opera house in Frankfort.
There they were dispersed by the soldiers.
and they adjourned again, to meet at the
courthouse, where they were again dis-
persed at point of bayonet by blue-coated
militia. Notice was served on the General
Assembly that the adjutant general mad
orders from the Governor to regard as an
unlawful assembly all meetings of the Gen.
eral Assembly and to forcibly break up the
same. Under these conditions a majority
of the Senate and House, on the evening
of Jan. 81, 1900, at the Capital Hotel, after
having repeatedly been denied public
meeting in joint assembly, declared Will
liam Goebel Governor and j. c. w. Beck
ham Lieutenant Governor
Upon the next day. Feb. ], the House
and Senate again applied at the Statehouse
for admission and were turned back by
soldiers. Thereupon on Feb. 2, the House
in the Capital Hotel in the city of Frank
fort quorum was present in each body.
Among other business transacted. they
again, both in separate and Joint session.
ratified their former action, received and
adopted the report of the contest boards
deciding in favor of William Goebel and
]. c. w. Beckham and passed resolutions
declaring William Goebel the Governor and
j. c. w. Beckham lieutenant governor.
This latter meeting was held so that there
could not possibly be any legal complica-
lions, and to-day in law Governor Goebel's
title to the governorship Is as free from a
cloud as any Governor Kentucky ever had.
Notwithstanding all this the city of Frank
fort is still dominated by militia.
To-day the Democrats, endeavoring to
avoid conflict by force. instituted civil
suit against VIM. S. Taylor. The peace Of
ficer who attempted TO serve process was
forcibly seized by the militia and Is now a
prisoner. With all this disregard for the
Constitution for law and for justice, abb
solute peace still reigns in Frankfort and
the Democrats have kept their friends
away, although thousands have proffered
their service.
:. I'm this awful crisis the representatives
of the commonwealth OF Kentucky present
this memorial to the citizens of the State
and the Union and ask their earnest CO.
operation In a peaceful settlement OF this
conflict by law and through the lawful
ard constitutional channel-the courts OF
the State.
Eve call upon the people of this State
without regard to party affiliation. to as
In, fho vyopt " 70 In,