New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-03
RIOT SEEMS INEVITABLE.
SHERIFFS POSSE EXPECTED TO FACE
THE GATLING GUNS AND TWO
THOUSAND MILITIA.
LBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE-1

LBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1
Frankfort KY Feb. 2.-Wholesa1e riot and
bloodshed seem inevitable in Frankfort This
tragic result may not occur for week or two
weeks. Then again. it may come before another
day. In the present status neither side is willing
to yield.
The Republicans are in control OF the ma
chinery of the State Government There IS no
sign that they will surrender this any more
readily al the decree Of a State court than on
the mandate OF the Democratic majority Of the
State Legislature. The Democrats are with
studied care observing the forms and letter Of
laws enacted under the whip and spur OF the
remarkable man who for four days and a half
has been holding death at bay, after the most
expert medical skill has declared that he should
not have survived the terrible shock Of the as
sasslns bullet but few hours
The Democrats 90 not talk about resorting 10
force. Obviously they believe they will gain
bIoodless victory simply through those potent
influences generated by such appeals as their
course and manifestoes are making to the Ma
tion's adherence OF insurrection. But that in
surrection already exists in Kentucky no man
could deny who had been in this city a few
hours. In fact, the proud old commonwealth
is in a state Of civil war. that sooner or later
will require for its suppression the iron hand
of the Federal Government. Even the few boys
allOWeO on Jne streets OF FEdIlhLoII lO-udy hdNS
carried deadly weapons of some kind concealed
upon their person. 1t goes without saying that
the men of both parties are walking arsenals-
AN ARMED CAMP.
Not more than twenty women have been seen
upon the streets to-day. The State House yard
is an armed camp. Already soldiers have been
marching and countermarchng over the blue
grass sward The legislative halls have been
converted into barracks. Here the soldiers eat
and sleep. In the detached buildings occupied
by the Governor and other State officials are
boxes of ammunition piled almost TO the high
ceiling. In the corridors of the building and the
anterooms to the executive chambers soldiers
with loaded guns and bayonets bristling keep
cautious vigil. They would shoot any who
attempted to cross their lines without first show
ing pass signed by their commander-in-chief.
Adjutant General Collier. or who did not give
them the military countersign-
No civilian can enter the grounds without per
mission from either Governor Taylor or General
Collier. Few civilians approach the grounds
nearer than half block They are afraid that
they will be shot BY the sentinels on beat. or
by the rough and rugged mountaineeTs. who for
a week or more have been occupying the rooms
in the Capitol buildings in which once public
business was transacted The number OF these
mountaineers is variousIy estimated at from
seventy-fve to three hundred They are armed
They are not miIitiamen. They are picked
rnarksmen from the mountains They use
snokeIess powder II the Gatling guns which
command every approach TO the Capitol should
fall short of their purpose TO NOV down an on
rushinz, mob. and the militiamen be overoornes
these sharpshooters from the mountains. hars
ricaded the Executive building could Wild
stand an assault for days
DEMOCRATS SHEER AND SCOFF.
When suggestions of this character are made
10 the Democrats they merely sEeer and scoff.
They have contempt for the guns, we'll as the
men behind them. Back in the blue grass re-
gion they say are hOrdes of courageous men,
ready to sweep into Frankfort and rush i'm
petuously over the belching GatIing guns and
the peppery Winchesters. and still not Demo-
crat here who but persists that they do not in
tend to resort TO violence.
we are law abiding and God fearing. is the
stereotyped response every one of them gives to
inquiries as to what they are going to Go.
The law is on our side AMI we propose to
proceed only under tAe forms of law
With soldiers pa>rolliug the corridors and
ante rooms OF the Executive chambers sits un-
easilv or PAGES the floor like a Gagged lion.
wiry little man with cold gray eyes, the CLINT
of steel in them He is Governor Taylor On
a desk in the centre of his room is long dis
tance telephone. This he uses az intervals or
every half hour or so 10 tdlh Win lIIei'1s !"
different parts of the State. He does not in
tend TO surrender his Office at the behest OF the
Democratic Legislature which he has prorogued
in oliver Cromwell fashion. He is willing to
submit the merits OF his contention to the Fed
eral Courts.
With this object IN view he has issued
pardon to a convict knowing the Democratic
warden of the penitentiary would refuse 20
honor the pardon II should be explained that
the wardenship taken out of the hands OF
the Governor by the queer SET Of enactments
which constitute what is known as the Goeoel
law. and turned over 10 Board OF Commis-
sioners selected by the Legislature. The war
den is Captain Eph'' Lillard. a Kentuckian OF
the Colonel jack Cninn stripe. Both OF these
worthless. by the way. were accompanying