The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-06


Nothing could be palmer or more exas-
perating to the leaders of The Republican
national organization than the fact. which
they fully realize. that Taylor's defiance
OF law and his insurrectionary attempt TO
disperse the Legislature of Kentucky by
force and arms has killed Republicanism
in that State beyond hope of resurrection,
and has seriously injured the party cause
throughout the country.
There is not now a respectable newspa-
per in the United States which does not
hold with this journal that whatever de
fscto title to the Governorship Taylor &C
CURED under the certificate Of the State
Election Board, he held in strict subjec-
tica TO the power and authority Of the
Legislature TO review his claims and TO
remove him in case il should find them
untenable. The Constitution of Kentucky
il distinct on this point. II says:
.-Ccftested elections for Governor and Lien
isTant Governor shall he determined by both
lisuses Of the General Assembly according to
snch regulations may be- established By law. -
Under this provision OF the constitution
the Legislature passed an election law
which became operative before Taylor was
candidate, of which he and all men had
notice, and by which he knew himself 20
lie bound. 1t provides for an invesfiga-
tion by legislative committee. whose ac-
tion, however. shall not be final. but shall
be reported 10 the two houses of the Gen
eral Assembly. for the further action of
the General Assembly. and the General
Assembly shall then determine such con
test
. The history of the insurrection in
Frankfort demonstrates conclusively that
the faction headed by the de facto Gov
ernor. Taylor. knew that from an adverse
decision on his claim to the Governorship
by the Legislature there could be no legal
appeal that would maintain him in his
seat. The idea OF an attempt to interfere
with. much less TO suppress. the legisls-
tive branch of the government did not
apparently occur to the Taylorites until
after the plot to remove Mr.. Goebel by
assassination misearried. through his sur
vivsl Of his wounds from Tuesday. when
be was shot from ambush in the Executive
Building, until Saturday evening And it
VIII be remembered that, although there
were Indications for a whole week before
the event of a plan TO murder The Demo-
cratic contestant, It was not carried out
until the morning of the very day on
which Taylor had reason 10 believe the
Legislature, in the exercise of its IN
doubted power under the constitution and
the law would declare Goebel the legally
elected Governor of Kentucky and order
Taylor TO yacate the Office he had been
recognized as holding de faeto under the
certificate OF the Election Board but only
pending legislative investigation and final
action
Then it was. and then only that. The as
ssssin's bullet having failed Immediately
to accomplish its intended work. TAYLOR
resorted 10 insurrection in an effort to
disperse the Legislature that it might he
prevented from action and from the inau-
suration of The dying man as Governor
The story OF that crime is fresh in the
public mind. Taylor. with armed rioters.
prevented the Legislature from assembling
in the State House, and from meeting in
other halls and places Without a shadow
Of right he assumed authority TO disperse
II and 10 order II to meet on n future date
Ia remote mountain hamlet. where its !
members would be under the terrorism of 1
his bandit henchmen. He issued this de- /
cree on the fiimsy pretext that he could do |
so in pursuance OF the following clause Of /
the Kentucky Constitution:
The first Gcueral Assembly ana the rnrml,ers 4
81 which shall he eiertcd under tlse constitution
shat meet on the frSt Tuesday after the atst
MONDAY IN January. 1925, and thereafter tho
General Assembly shall inert on the sam, day /
every second scar. and its seSsiuu. slEii he brld
st The snsi Of government. except in case ot war
,rsarftciion. ~ irstiencr. when Il may by pTno.
lsnsiinn ri the Governor, assemble fol tie time
being elsewhere"
There was not a sign, of war. insur-
rection, or pestilence' in Frankfort when
the time came for the Legislature TO
assemble there this year. Once properly
organized. the body became possessed
Of ali its powers and functions. as a
and independent branch of
government. and thenceforward the Gov.