The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-05
BEcKBAM SWORN IN.
Democratic Lieutenant Governor
Takes the Oath as Governor.


Frankfort, KY. Feb. 5.-Exactly one
hour after the death of Mr.. Goebe1, J.
G. w. Beckham was sworn in as COVER
nor of the state, the oath being admin
istered by S. J. Shakelford, clerk Of the
court of appeals.
1t had been determined to keep Sc
cret the news of the death of Mr. Goe-
bel until Mr-Beckham should have been
formally conducted into office and the
delay was made greater by the 1nab1l-
ity of DR.. Mccormack to leave the bed
room of Mr.. Goebel and make the pro-
per certificate of death.
Until this had been done the Demo-
cratic attorneys were unwilling that the
oath of Office should be administered.
The ceremony took place in a small
room on the same floor as that in which
Mr.. Goebel died and but few doors to
the west of it.
In the room at the time of the ad-
ministration of the oath were Senator
Blackburn, Col. B. H. Young, Col Phil
ip Thompson, Eph LiIIard, J. H. Lillis,
Lieutenant L. E. Mckay, S. J. Shakel-
ford, clerk of the court of appeals; DR..
P. w. Wells, Col. Harry Mckay, Col.
Jack Chinn, Kit Chinn DR.. Mccormack,
Joseph Blackburn, Jr. and three rep
resentatives of the press.
Col. Young, who was one of the lead
ing Democratic attorneys throughout
the Goebel-Taylor contest and Senator
elect Blackburn sat at table in the
center of the room upon which they had
administration of the oath of office to
Mr.. Beckham.
After the papers had been completed
there was wait of nearly ten minutes
for DR.. Mccormack The death certifi-
cate had already been prepared and
DR.. Mccormack quickly signed his name
and swore to the contents of the pa
per.
Nov Mr.. Beckham, its your turn"
said Col. Young.
Mr. Beckham, who had been standing
in the far corner of the room, at once
advanced to the table with a flush of
excitement upon his youthful face.
Sigh the OATH said Col. Young
pushing the paper toward him.
Beckham hesitated and Col. Young
repeated his request.
Let me be sworn first" said Mr..
Beckham.
You must sign the paper befort you
can take the OATH" said Col Young.
We want your oath to the signature -
Mr. Beckham advanced to the table
and affixed his signature, and then
stepped back. He held up his right
hand for the oath which was read to
him by Clerk Shakelford of the court
of appeals.
The light was none of the best, and
the writing on the paper none of the
most legible and Mr.. Shakelford made
slow work of it.
All of the time Mr.. Beckham stood
before him with his eyes shining and a
deep flush on his face.
When the clerk read the concluding
words of the oath, so help you God, -
Mr.. Beckham's reply came: Il do"
and then with greater emphasis, '-anl
may God give me strength to do my
duty"
Il devoutly hope he will" rejoined
| Col. Young.
The first official action of Governor
Beckham was the appointment of a
new adjutant general and his last act
| before assuming the oath was an order
removing Adjutant General Collier and
Assistant Adjutant General Dicsn-
| son.
The order was delivered to Captain
| Bennett at the gate of the capitol
| grounds 25 minutes before the death of
/ Mr.. Goebel
At late hour Mr.. Beckham issued a
| proclamation to the people of Ken
| lucky, announcing that the work of the
| assassin had ended in the death of Mr..
| Goebel and that he (Beckham) had
| qualified and assumed the duties of the
| chief executive. After referring to the
| high character and courage of the de-
! ceased who is pronounced a martyr in
the cause of the people, the proclama-
| ton says:
L enter upon the discharge of the du-
! ties of this high Office, surrounded by
| conditions and circumstances which
! would tax men far stronger than I.
Knowing well the trying difficulties
| that there are ahead of me. and the
dangers which surround me, which have
already comprised the destruction of
| civil government in the capital of the
| state, hereby SOlemnly warn and COM
/ mand that all violent characters and
militia Of the state, now in possession
of this city and the public buildings, do
| Immediately disband. lay down their
arms and return to their homes and oc-
equations. Feeling most deeply the re-
sponsibilities and difficulties of the sit
uation, invoke the aid and support OF
all law abiding and law respecting
ToV7
and I promise in legal way, if within
the power of man, to restore peace, OUT
ct and protection to all individuals re-
gardless of party or station under the
constitution which I have solemnly
sworn to today"