The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-17
THE GoEBEL-rAYLoR CONTEST.

THE GOEBEI-TAYLOR CONTEST.
Even to those at a distance it is evil
dent that the situation in Kentucky
growing out of the contest inaugurated
in the Legislature by William Goebel for
possession of the Office of governor, is
very serious. The leaders of the Goebel
faction say that there will be no blood
shed unless the Republicans bring about
collision between the contending par
ties by using force to gain their object,
and the Republicans say that peace will
prevail unless the Democrats first break
the peace. Notwithstanding these declar-
atoms It appears to be almost
certain that there will be a display of
force before the contest is finally settled.
There does not seem to be any doubt
that the Legislature will decide that Goe-
bel is entitled to the governorship. 1t
will hold that the use of tissue ballots
in some of the counties which gave Tay
lor majorities was Illegal and vitated
the election in those counties, and 1t
will take the ground that the calling out
OF the militia in the city of Louisville on
the day of election was an Illegal act,
and had the effect of so intimidating
Democratic voters that hundreds and per-
haps thousands of them remained away
from he polls.
1t seems to be the understanding that
Taylor will not give up the office in the
event of the Legislature deciding in favor
OF Goebel. 1t is alleged that the mill
tia has been notified to be in readiness
for trouble. and that any attempt of Goe-
bel to take possession of the office will
he forcbly resisted The charge is made
now by the partisans of Goebel that I'M
der the guise of summoning witnesses
Taylor has called to the state capitol as
many as two thousand men from the
mountain counties, and that they will re-
main in Frankfort until after the Legis-
nature has rendered it's decision, and will
await whatever directions Taylor may
have to give them.
Goebel does not expect that Taylor will
respect the finding of the Legislature
and retire from the office, and therefore
he will appeal to the courts, getting an
order from them that Taylor will have
to respect if he has any respect at all for
law. The hope of Taylor is that in some
way ll6 NHolt IudlltI Will get lulO lHt
United States courts. 1t is claimed that
the highest state court would favor
Goebel if called on to render decision in
the contest. Just how the questions at
issue can be got into the United
States court is not apparent at present,
but shrewd lawyers may be able to find
way.
Goebel and his friends say that one of
the chief objects they have in view is to
drive the Louisville & Nashville Railroad
out of the politics of the state. If they
are to be believed that corporation elects
the officers of the state and dominates
the Legislature 1t denies, however, that
it NEEDLES in any way in Kentuckys
politics Where there are such emphatic
charges and denials it is difficult to say
what the truth is.
1t is true, however, that the situation
in Kentucky is such as to cause uneasi-
ness even outside of the state. There are
determined men on each side-men who
will not yield as long as there is a chance
of their carrying their point. If the Fed
eral government should be dragged into
the matter there would be no surprise