The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-04-05
HOUSE HEARS HOT
KENTUCKY DEBATE.
Representative Wheeler Eloquent
ly Defends the Goebcl
Election Law.
Mr.. BOREING MAKES A THREAT.
Nav Ask for Federal Election Law
Exciting Passage Between
Mr.. Wheeler and Mr.. Pngh
on the Issue.

Washington April 4-Th.re Was an eXcit-
ing scene in the House to-day as the climax
of discussion of the kentucky situation.
when Mr.. Wheeler. Il Kentucky Democrat
and Mr.. Pugh. a Kentucky Republican.
faced each other from opposite sides OF the
main aisle and indulGed in wordy duel
Mr.. Pugh charged Mr.. Wheeler with mis-
representing certain facts. He labor
ing under great excitement. Mr.. Wheeler
showed admirable temper and. though
quick to resent the fanci"d insult, awaited
the explanation of Mr.. Pugh. in which ne
disclaimed any intention of impG,ing to him
personally Il desire To dlstort the facts.
Throughout the debate. which was pre-
cipitated by speech of MIR. Boering. the
other Republican member from Kentucky.
there was an air Of suppressed excitement.
II vas the first time the subject had been
broached In the House.
Mr.. Lacey of Iowa concluded the DEBATE
with a general donuncIaton Of the Gocbel
election law This incident overshad"wed
the ether speeches to-day on the Hawaiian
bill. many of which Were irrelevant.
BUrcinE's speech.
Mr. BorciuG OF Kentucky. who launched
the Kentucky debate. i'll opening his speech
said that holding the light of civilization be
fore the world. as the United states "ete
doing were We. he asked. willing to see
the torch of liberty extinsushei at the
birthplace of Abraham i.inco!n and the
home of Henry clay? Il was with no spifit
of acrimony. he said that he referred 20
the situation In Kentucky. So far as the
Goebel election law of that state was con
cerncd, ne said, the people of Kentucky
would be glad t. exchangs places WIN
Puerto Rico or Hawaii. They were no
asking for Federal interference. they Wer
asking simply for fair election law
In conclusion he gave notice TO the couf
try that if II was necessary to get r'a
sage of a Federal election law.
Wheeler Replies.
Tho speech drew the fire of Mr.. Nheel,.
of Kentucky. who replied in fiery speech
ilumiiating to every Kcn,uckian, but had
hoped that il would not be ventilated here
Proceeding. he eulrgizcd the CiocSel election
law which had been declared constitutional
by tho highest court of the State. To that
decision he said. il vas the duty OF every
law-ahiding citizen 10 bow. He would not
contend that the dominant party had not
taken advantage of it's power in districtinS
The state. 1t had done SO. following the
tactics of the dominant party III most of
the States.
Why. he asked had the gentleman from
Kentucky threatened the Democrats of
Kentucky witt, Federal election law? Why
threaten? Surely If a Federal election law
were To be enacted it would he fair. The
to he used 10 t.rroriZe the Democrats
MIR. Rorens disclaimed any intention of
threatening the Democrats, but the law
must he repealed.
1T will never be repealed said Mr..
Wheeler turning 70 Mr.. Boreing. "If you
come back to Congress you will come back
under it. II is there to stay. Some of It's
provisions are identical with the Constitu-
tcn of Ohio
Continuing. Mr. Wheeler said that all the
fuss was being kicked up i'll Kentucky by
r.lf v,-l11 h,1I t..
defiance of the courts. whose mandates they
refused 10 chev.
a Challenge.
He challenged Mr.. Boreing and a1r. PuSh
Of Kentucky to point out single instance
of fraud or rascaltty under the Goehel
election law.
Mr.. Forcing cited the case Of the city of
Louisville. the vote Of which was thrown
out.
The city OF Louisville was thrown out
by the legislature" replied Mr. Wheeler.
acting under the provision of the Constitu-
ton. not the Goehel election law.
"'rhe Election Commissioners did not de-
clare Taylor Governor Of Kentucky" said
Mr.. Wheeler. They said that on the face
of the returns he had the majority. but
that it bore such unmistakable evidence of
fraud that II they had the right they would
go behind It and kick him out. as the Leg
islaturc did
him. asked Mr.. Puch
Certainly they did hut they said It
bore unmistakahle evidence of fraud: that If
turns they would refuse him the Certifi-
cate.
II do know that some of them tried to
pave the way for the contest" replied Mr..
Pugh. hotly that was afterwards waged
on partisan lines in the Legislature TO the
disgrace of our commonwealth and to the
disgrace Of you as citizen thereof" tAp-
rause on Republican sidcD
That Is the gsntleman's opinion retort-
cd Mr.. Wheeler. II would rather be dis
graced. Mr.. Chairman at any time, by TAX
Ing my lot with the Democrats Of Kentucky
than to be identified with tho men who took
the life of Governor Goebel Of that State
tApplause on Democratic side.)
Mr. puEh's Question.
Are you quite certain that the men who
took III" life of Gocbel could not he carried
to your own ranks rather than tn the Re
publican party in Kentucky" asked Mr..
rush. livid with excitement. amid dersive
luu.hto. on the Democratic side.
Nobody believes that. shouted some one
on the Democratic side
DO you say nobody believes that asked i,
was not more bitter contest waEed
against Mr. CIoebel in that State by his own
party than was waged in the Republican
ranks? Was not he denounced more from
every stump in the State of Kentucky by
Democrats than by Republicans"
MIR. Wheeler: THAT is true. Mr.. Chair
man" tApplause on the Republican side.l
..It has been the fate of every great man
who was true to the interests Of the peo.
nj. tp incur the hostility of firelings and
corrrptionists. it matters not where he mas
been ,Applause on the Democratic SIDE;
And the worst element OF the Democratic
party did assail him. but. thank God. he
received 1872 GO votes.-30.0OO more votes
than we're ever given to Democratic can
didatc for Governor in Kentucky before
That shows whether he was close to the
! people or not. 49,
Mr.. rugh: How many votes did Gov
ernor Taylor receiver:
| Mr.. Wheeler: THAT is question thar no
| body but the Republican leaders and Goo
| Almighty will ever know. in my opinion.
| decline 10 he interrupted further.
| Mr. Pugh continuing III you Will stat'
| the facts Yes. do state that when yo'
| say that the Kentucky election law IS ioen
| teal with the Ohio election law. that yo'
| utterly misrcpresent that law.
| Mr. Wheeler: II say II is similar IN al
| resrects and identical in many. Do | un
derstand the gentleman to say my state
ment is false 49,,
| Mr.. Pugh: If you mean that to be tru%
| | say. speaking advsedly. VIII use
miider term and say that YOU greatly nus E,
| represent the facts. I do not say that yo'
| Intentionally do ii. and | must attribute
| TO n lack of knowledge
| MIR Wheeler: II want the gentleman 70 D
| a little more careful in what he says aoou
| this matter. / do not care to have tne gen
| tieman insulting in his remarks. nope
| is not so. intended. ;,
MIR Pugh: Surely you do not take II II
| that way. 1t Is not so intended
| Controversy Reviewed.
| MIR. Wheeler Il did not think so"
| feS