The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-02

derS for Arrest OF Every Democratic
Member.
Frankfort, KY, January 31.-Govern-
or Taylor this morning adjourned the
legislature to meet at London. Ky.
February 9Th. Militia in city prevent
ed the democrats of the legislature
from assembling and members were
threatened with arrest.
Never was there more complicated
political situation than that which to-
night oonfronts the politicians of Ken
lucky, and never was there one of
which it seemed so difficult to form an
accurate guess as to the outcome.
The republican party, which'tw days
ago was vainIy striving to hold its
members in their seats upon the floor
of the house and which seemed almost
powerless, is tonight in the saddle,
strong and vigorous and carrying
things with a high hand. The power
lessness of the republicans of two days
ago is more than equaled by the appar
ent helplessness of the democrats of
today.
All day long the democracy has been
cropping around trying to find some way
in which it could seat in the guberna-
torial chair it's leader, William Goebel,
who lies slowly dying of the wound in
dicted by the bullet of an assassin.
No matter which way the democrats
turned they were confronted by the
same prospect-a line of blue edged
with steel-and it was fully understood
by both parties that the line and the
steel were there for business purposes
only. There was no bluff, no false
alarm about it.
All day through the streets of Frank
fort soldiers marched and counter
marched Drills in the street were fire.
quently held in order that the men
might be warmed by exercise after they
had remained in the biting wind.
Around the penitentiary was a line of
troops; in the opera house a guard;
three companies stood at rest in the
open space in front of the Capitol hotel;
SentrieS patrolled every side of the
building in which Ex-Governor Bradley
resides, and detachment of infantry
held the court house against the pos
Sib1e coming of the members of the
legislature with the intention of declar-
ing that not the living William s. Tay-
lor, but the dying William Goebel was
the lawful head and chief executive of
the commonwealth of kentucky. It
was largely a matter of sentiment with
the democrats that led them to make
such desperate efforts to crown their
king before he died. They wanted him
to leave the world victor before the
world. They fought hard for their
man, but the fortune of war was
against them, and their dying leader
will in all probability sink into the
grave without being declared governor
of his state. He has no more chance
for the glory than he has for his life
and that is little indeed.
LEGISLATURE SUPPRESSED BY
THE MILITIA.
The republicans laid their plans well
and secretly. They carried them
through vigorously and triumphantly.
The proclamation declaring that
state of inSurrection existed in the
state and warrants for the arrest OF
every democratic member of the legis-
lature were prepared last night. 1t
was the intention of Governor Taylor
and his advisors that no meeting of the
legislature should be held today, even
though it proved necessary to arrest
and detain in custody all those who
persisted in holding meetings. Once
adopted the policy was carried out to
the letter. Compelled to retire from
the capitol building, they went to the
opera house; held back from the opera
house, they went to the court house;
prevented from entering the court
house, they went to the Capitol hotel,
, only to be told that any meeting they
might attempt to hold in that building
Woud be suppressed, all found taking
part in it would be arrested and the
hotel itself seized by the soldiers. 1t
was a hopeless game. The democrats
had no chance to win and they gave it
up.
Later in the day officers entered the
hotel and told the democrats that no
conferences must be held, and they at
tempted to hold none.
There is much doubt among the men,
bers of the legislature as to whether
or not they will go to London at all.
Some of the republicans left Frankfort
during the day, declaring that they
We're going direct to London, but no
democrat so declared himself
WHY LEGISLATURE TO MEET IN
LONDON.
The words London, Laurel county,
are not words that please democratic
ears. In fact many of them declared
that their lives would not be safe after
they reached the town 1t is a place
of about 1000 inhabitants, situated in
what is known as the "feud county"
The Inhabitants are mostly mountain
eers and largely of a most enthusiastic
type Of republican faith. The county
is one of the greatest republican
strongholds in the state. The people
of Laurel county are intensely for
Taylor, and intensely against Goebel
and all his works. 1t is this latter teel-
ing that causes the democratic MEM
bers of the legislature to feel hesitancy
about venturing at the present time
within the confines of Laurel county
or into the neighborhood of London,
when party feeling runs so high and
bitter from end to end of the state.
DEMOCRATS TO BE FORCED
THERE BY MILITARY ORDERS.
Adjstant General Collier declared to-
day that if they did not attend the
legislative meeting, which is called to
meet on February 9Th he would arrest