Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1900-10-12


under the control OF the partisan
friends OF any particular candidate
the probability OF improper influence
becomes stronger"
1t matters not that the armed mill
TIA did not visit the polls. They we're
stationed very near to, and ready at
any moment to be called to the voting
places They were under arms, sub
ject to the command of a partisan
governor, and, as a majority of the
people believed, had been called out in
violation of the law and for the pur-
pose of interfering with the civil au-
thorities. This was sufficient to raise
the greatest fears in the breasts OF
peaceful people. The result shows that
almost one-fourth of the registered
voters were kept away from the polls.
Eight thousand six hundred of these
were Democrats and only one thous-
and two hundred and six were Repub-
Hcans Whether the fact that the mi
iitia was in the hands of Republican
governor, encouraged and en-
boldened the citizens of that party
to come out and vote, and intimf-
dated those of the other party,
can never be known; but, certain 1t is
kansas, in Jones vs.. Glidewell, that
"the rule obtains in elections, as in
other affairs, that a man shall not
profit by his own wrong, nor by that
Of others done for him to reap the
benefit The only means by which ap-
proximate Justice may be reached,
when the Illegal acts render the result
doubtful, is to require the party to
whose benefit they inure to purge the
polls of their effect, or suffer the pen
atty of having its majority excluded
from the count of his votes"
The result in the city Of Louisville
was rendered doubtful by the unlaw-
ful acts of the Republican executive.
To purge the polls where the wrong
was diffusive was impossible. The law
therefore, inflicted the other penalty,
viz: exclusion of the majority re-
eeived by the party for whose benefit
the wrong was done.
Basis in Law and Fact.
Thus, whether the decision of the
board and the general assembly be
considered with reference to tissue
ballots, or military intimidation, there
is ample basis in law and fact upon
which to rest. Mr.. Yerkes, however,
seems sorely grieved because the
board and general assembly did not, in
their finding, disclose exactly how
they arrived at the conclusion that
William GoebeI was legally elected
and j. @. w. Beckham was
elected lieutenant governor; he COM
plains that the general assembly did
not read the evidence, and that there
was no statements as to what votes
were thrown out, nor tabulation of the
vote, as revised. In a word, Mr.. YER
kes would like a special verdict.
1t may confidently be stated in
the first place that the board |
and the general assembly did
hat which the constitution and |
law required of them. They de
bermineu" the contest. There is no re-
Quirement that they shall report how |
the result was reached; and in the
second place, l would make answer
and say that William s. Taylor, at the |
point of the bayonet, drove the gener-
ii assembly from the legislative halls, |
and sought, by force and threats, to
prevent their meeting, at any time or
place, to consider lne contest, except |
IN London, on February 6, by which
lime it was believed and hoped by him,
and those acting with him, that the
bullet of the assassin would have ac-
its purpose.
Yerkes Defends Taylor.
What right has the party that in
iorses these lawless acts of Taylor,
to hinder the consideration
of the contest, to question the techni-
:al regularity of the procedure before
The board, or the general assembly,
which it interrupted and wantonly /
sought to prevent? What right has
Mr.. Yerkes, as the nominee of that
party, to do so himself? He spoke
With Holland Whitaker, in proper
,erson, upon one side, and the picture
II Taylor upon the other. BY this he
would conquer in this campaign. His
Dlatform APPROVES these acts of Taylor.
IN his speech he defends him. The
pct of Taylor in interfering with tho
of the board and the gem
.ral assembly is his act.
It is but short distance from his
)anville home to Frankfort. He must
ave known, as a lawyer, Ihat Iayior
lad no right to expel the legislature
rom its halls, or adjourn it to Lon s
ION, or interfere with its session In
he city of Frankfort; he must have
,lsO known that Taylor had no right
o these lawless acts, to postpone the
learing and determination Of this con-
est; he must have known that the
riends of Mr.. Goebel would insist up
IN the general assembly disregarding
he brutal proclamation OF Taylor
md proceed with the hearing and
of the contest at once.
AS q lawyer he knew that the surest
way to insure regularity in the pro-
edure was to allow the general assem-
'ly to occupy its halls, and proceed
Inmolested with its duties. His mani
est duty as a citizen and the friend or
Taylor demanded his presence In
Frankfort. The Democrats were pow
rIoeo. ha xUao all pOWarfuI IN III WAS