The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-02-02
TAYLOR APPEALS TO
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY
Latter, However, viii Refuse
to Interfere in Affair.

Washington, Feb. President Nc
Kinley has received a long message
from Governor w. S. Taylor of Ken
lucky, dated today at Frankfort. Gov
ernor Taylor recites at length the situa-
ton in Kentucky, declares that he con-
siders himself the legally elected exc
cutive Of the state, and asserts that the
condition Of affairs at the present time
is most critical He says that riot
may occur at any time which viii cause
much blOodssed.
Governor Taylor says he is doubtful
OF his power to control the situation,
and appeals to the president to end the
matter and secure peace in the state by
recognizing him as the governor of
Kentucky.
The appeal is very earnest, and the
aid of the administration is urgently
requested.
The officials of the war department
regard the present contest in Kentucky
as purely a state matter. which, up to
this moment. has presented no features
that would warrant the Intervention of
the United States government. The
exact functions Of the United States
army, when acting within state, have
been most carefully defined and set ou-
July "A. 1894.
When Troops Can Be Used.
Under the terms Of this order the
government Of the United States can
of its own vOlition use the federal
troops within a state only when ''in-
surrection, domestic violence, unlawful
combinations or conspiracies in any
state so Obstructs or binders the eXecu-
ton of the laws thereof and of the
United States as to deprive any por-
ton or class Of the people of such state
of any Of the rights, privileges or i'm
munities or protection named in the
constitution, and secured by the laws
for the protection of such rights, priv
ileges or immunities, and the cOnstitut-
ed authorities of such sta,e are unable
to protect or from any cause fail in or
refuse protection of the people in such
rights"
It does not appear to the officials here
that the conditions described by this
statute now exist in Kentucky.
Another case in which the United
States troops might be employed is set
out in section 1927, revised statutes. au-
thorizing the president to employ troops
''in case of an Instruction in any state
against the government thereof, on an
application of the legislature of such
state, or Of the executive thereof, when
the legislature cannot be convened"
May Exercise Discretion.
1t will be noted in the case above cit
I'd in which troops may be employed.
. while the president is allowed to eXer-
else his discretion in meeting the re-
quest, II is not mandatory upon him TO
accede to them. Were this not the case
upon the president might be placed the
responsibility for decision be-
tween the rival claimants for the Ken
lucky governorship.
Assuming that the legislature has
been legally adjourned by Governor
Taylor and that it cannot be reconven-
ed by the date specified in his procla-
nation, either Of the persons claiming
to be governor Of Kentucky might call
upon the president for troops and thus
Oblige him to decide the issue had he
not the reserved right TO decline 10
meet either request.
Another Contingency.
A Ike situation might arise should
two legislatures be organized, a coEtin-
geneX which is looked upon as extreme
" probable by the officials here. So il
may be stated that the position. Of the
administration in its decision 20 refrain
from intervention in Kentucky remains
mistaken by any of the events of the
past twenty-four hours and In all like
lIhood the only happening which could
induce tile ordering Of troops into the
state would be an assault upon United
states property and courts or mails and
Interstate commerce, and ever in such
case. it is privately declared on the
highest military authority that the
troops would not be used to further any
interests in the state OF TO Ineddle in
its politics or for any other purpose
than the defense of the United States
interests.