The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-02-03
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 sltua-
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 will cause
much bloodshed
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 a state, have
been most carefully defined and set out
in general order No. 70, promulgated
July "a, 1894.
Under the terms of this order the
government of the United States can
of it's 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 hinders 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 innunities, and the constitut-
ed authorities of such state are unable
to protect or from any cause fail in OF
refuse protection of the people in such
rights"
1t 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 5297. revised statutes. au-
thorizing the president to employ troops
lin case of an inSurreCtion 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
1t will be noted in the case above cit
cd in which troops may be employed,
else his discretion in meeting the re-
quest, it is not mandatory upon him to
accede to them. Were this not the case
upon the president might be placed the
responsibility for q 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
obIige him to decide the issue had he
not the reserved right to decline to
meet either request.
A like situation might arise should
two legislatures be organized, a contin-
gency which is looked upon as extreme
ly probable by the officials here. So it
may be stated that the position of the
administration In it's decision to 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 the ordering of troops into the
state would be an assault upon United
States property and courts or mails and
interstate comm eroe, and even 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 or to NEEDLE in
it's politics or for any other purpose
than the defense of the United States
interests.