Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-03-15
ARMED FORCES SURROUND ZACH
GUEERKAr0RIAL CLAIMANT
At FRANKFORT, Ky.
POWERS IND DAVIS ARE GUGRBED.
Part Of Militia Sides With Beekhnm-
Taylor Condemns the Courts and
Gaardsdly Threztsgss Rsvclu-
tiolzBsekh&n Organizing
New Militia

FRAEEToET, KY, March 1.-The
Democrats and the RepuhEsazs IN
Ksns1eky are to-day, for the arsf
time since the present political com-
pEcations assumed acute form, dfvid-
cd into tWo armed sad organised fac
tioua.
Surrounding the Capitol and the
State Executive building and camped
in the grounds around Governor lay
Ior's bone, are nearly 200 state militts,
well provided with ammunition, while
il the corridors Of the Capitol Hotel,
IN which the Democratic State Exec
utive officers are located, and In the
streets adjacent 70 that b1ilding, are
sixty special omcsrs and the men and
boys Of q militia company that was
organized in Frankfort to-day, ~ the
necleus OF Governor Beckhara's Ssate
Guard, besides scores OF more heavily
armed citizens, partisans Of the Dem
oczatle claimant
Rnmors reached the Democratic
leaders to-day that an attempt was to
be made By the state militia to take
Governor Beckhsm into custody, and
inside Of an hour after the report was
circulated 9 petition had been circu-
lated and signed by the requisite num-
Der Of men necessary to form . militia
company. The men win guard the
Capitol Hotel all night against any
possible attempt to arrest Governor
Beckham.
Only two days more remain for the
Legislature to remain In session, but
the developments Of those two days
are looked forward to with s~ppFehen-
sion BY leaders on both sides.
The Democratic partissns say that
should the militia attempt to interfere
with the session of the legislature,
persistent rumor Of which have been
in circulation all day, 1t viii be next
to impossible to avert bIoodshed. The
Republican officials, however, deny
that such action has been even con-
tempIated, and that the legislature
will not be molested In any way. That
the report IL believed In Democratic
circles, however, is shown by the fact
that the advisability OF holding the
session In some other place than the
State House has been under advise
ment, and even at q late hour tonight
the question has not been fully settled.
Governor Beckham this afternoon
appointed Colonel David r. Murray,
Of Glover Point, Assistant Adjutant
General.
Governor Beckham win take no
further action regarding the militia
until Tuesday. By that time the Senate
resolution to appropriate $780, 900 for
the equipment Of a State Guard win
probably have passed the House, and
upon lie signature by Governor Beck
ham, the money will be available.
The militia clash, II any there is, viii
come when Adjatant General Castle
man, following out the spirit Of the
resolution, attempts 70 take possession
Of the arms and equipment, which
were taken from the State Arsenal
and shipped 10 London.
London is handy to the mountains
and nearly every one in that section
recognizes Taylor. An attempt to
obtain possession would meet with
determined opposition. 1t would
mean the pitting Of trained soldiers
who can shoot fairly well against uB-
trained m~ountaineers who can shoot
better than they can do anything else.
Caleb Powers, Republican Secretary
Of State, and Capt. John Davis, former
Capitol square policeman, In jail ct
Lexington, are closely guarded.