The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-02-02
THE KENTUCKY SITUATION.
BIoodshed and Civil War Imminent.

The condition of affairs in Kentucky
is deplorable. If the State is not
plunged into civil war it will be strange.
The day after the election in Novem-
ber, both parties claimed that they
had carried the State. The returns
showed that the Republicans had elect
ed their ticket, carrying the State.
Goebel, the Democratic nominee for
Governor, insisted that he was elected,
and when the returns showed he was
not, he contested the vote of several
counties, claiming that votes had been
miscounted, that tissue ballots were
used, that voters were inundated by
the militia, etc. The State Election
Board heard and investigated the
charges and decided that the Repub-
lican ticket was elected, though a maj
ority of the Board were Democrats.
Goebel then carried the contest into
the Legislature, where the Democrats
had a good majority, and made it lar
ger by ousting Republicans and put
ting Democrats in their places. Goe-
bel ruled the Legislature and carried
things his own way. AS an evidence
of the partisan character of it's action,
the make up of the committee to try
the contest on Governor, is ample evil
dence. 1t contained 10 Democrats to
l Republican, OF course that commit
tee found that Goebel was elected.
In the previous Legislature Goebel
framed and secured the passage of law
to give the Democrats the appoint
ment of a majority of the Judges of
elections and it was under this law
that the last election was held, and
uuder it he expected to be elected,
but was beaten. His desperate at
tempt to secure the gubernatorial office
through the Legislature after his de-
feat, thoroughly aroused the Republi-
cans, and they determined to stand by
the State officers they had elected.
Gov. Taylor called some of the State
militia to Frankfort, to preserve order,
and thousands of mountaineers armed
| with Winchesters came to the capita
to see fair play.
| Matters stood thus, Tuesday, wher
Goebel was shot as he was approaching
the capitol-probably by one of the
mountaineers.
After Goebel was shot, his Legislative
committee found that he was elect
ed Governor. But they could not re
port to the Legislature, because it wal
not in session. Their report was no
adopted, for the same reason. There
fore Goebel has not been declared elect
ed by the Legislature, and there was NJ
authority for the farce that was per
petrated at his bedside, Wednesda.
night, when Judge presumed to swea
him into an office, to which he had no
been elected, and to which no author
ity had declared he had been elected
The assassination of Goebel threw
the city into a state of terror. Gov
ernor Taylor surrounded the capito
with militia, called other regiment
there to protect the State Government
adjourned the Legislature, calling it t
meet in another county, and holds tn
: fort.
J The Goebelities have issued proc
lamation, claiming it to be signed b
: Goebel, order the militia called on
by Taylor to disperse, and calling ou
other regiment, and this is the situs
tion as we write.
With such existing excitement anon
people who shoot at the drop of tn
hat, the situation is certainly yer
critical.