The age-herald., 1900-02-11
TAYLOR FINALLY
 REFUSES TO SIGN

Franfort Ky, February 10.-"I have only this ito say:
 "After mature delibera ton and confer ence with my friends from every section of the state, have concluded to allow this controversy to take its due course, vigor- ously contesting every inch of ground and upholdlng the rights of the people to the uttenmost. If those rights be destroyed, the responsibility for that destruction must rest with those who sit in judgment.
 Tt is due to say that the eminent gentle men, my friends, who secured the propo- sitions resulting in the Louisville confer ence, acted in perfect good faith from the highest motives of patriotism and did the very best they could.
 (Signed) ''w. S. TAYLOR,
 Governor of Kentucky"
 The above proclamation was issued by Governor Taylor tonight and, according to his oral statement at the time of its issue, embodes all he desires to say concerning his position at the present time.
 The decision not to sign the Louisville agreement was reached by Governor Tay- Tor few minutes after 1 o'clock this after noon. For over two hours he had been in conference with fully 15O prominent repub- licans from all parts, of the state, including county committeeman and four republican members of the legislature. The meeting was secret in the extreme, all those who came from the hall before Governor Taylor himself refusing to say anything concern ing the result of the deliberations. Judge George Denny presided and l.. F. Petty acted as secretary.
 The members of the conference, with the exception of Governor Taylor, gathered in the legislative hall usually occupied by the state house of representatives. Govern or Taylor stated to the conference that there were two courses to be pursued. First to sign the Louisville agreement; the sec- ond to quietly withdraw the troops, allow the legislature to reconvene in the capitol building in Frankfort, to call off the session now being held in London and to ignore the Louisville agreement entirely. Several speeches were made and it was soon ap- parent that the sentiment of the gathering was very strongly in favor of the second course, and this was adopted. The action was decided upon at o'clock and the first news of the decision given to the outside world was by Governor Taylor himself. He came rapidly through the doors unattended and looking nervous and haggard. He walked hastily toward the capitol stair way, repeating several times to the news paper men who stood in the hall 'I don't sign," "I don't sign,'' 'I don't sign."
 TayIor's Proclamation
 From the capitol he passed to the execu- tive building where he at once made up and signed the following proclamation, re- converting the legislature at Frankfort:
 .'Frankfort, Ky, February 10. 1900.
 "The excitement recently prevailing In this city having to some extent subsided, and there appearing now to be mo necessity for the general assembly to remain in ses- sion in London, do hereby by this proc lamation, reconvene the same in Frank fort, ky, February F, 1900, at 12 o'clock, noon. w. s. TAYLOR,
 "Governor of Kentucky"
 Orders were at once issued to General Collier to prepare for the departure of the troops, and in a very short time a large number of them were ready to leave. Six companies left tonight, more will leave to- morrow, and only a small detachment will remain by Monday morning. These soldiers are retained as a peace guard and will in no way be obtruded upon the presence of the legislature. Word was sent at once to the members of the republican legislature now in session at London that the next session would be in Frankfort, and a prompt reply was received to the effect that they would all leave the city in a body on Sunday and be fin Frankfort Mon- day morning in ample time for business.
 Resolution of the Meeting
 After Governor Taylor had left the hall a resolution embodying the sense of the meeting was adopted as follows:
 Resolved That 1t Is the sense of this meeting that Governor Taylor should not sign the agreement presented to him by the Louisville conference, and that. repesing condence In his ability and sense of duty, -~~-------------------
 nr Doc