The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-04
BECKHAM THE NEW GOVERNOR.
The Oath Taken One Hour After Mr..
Goebels Death.

G0eOelS UeaCn.
Frankfort, Ky, Feb. 3.-Exactly one
hour after the death of Mr.. Goebel j.
| C. W. Beckham was sworn in as Cover
nor of the State, the oath being admin
istered by S. j. Shackleford, Clerk OF
the Court of Appeals.
lit had been determined to keep secret
the news of the death of Mr.. Goebel
until Mr.. Beckham should have been for
mally inducted into office and the delay
was made greater by the inability or
Dr. Mccormack to leave the bedroom
of Mr.. Goebel and make the proper GER
tificate of death. Until this had been
been done the Democratic attorneys
were unwilling that the oath of office
should be administered
The ceremony took place in a small
room on the same floor as that in which
Mr.. Goebel died, but a few doors to the
west of it. In the room at the time Of
the administration of the oath We're Sen
ator-elect Blackburn, Colonel Il. III.
Young. Colonel Philip Thompson. Eph'
Lillard. j. II. Lillis, Lieutenant Mckay,
s. J. Shackleford, clerk of the Court or
Appeals, DIR. y. W. Wells. Colonel Har-
ry Mackay, Colonel Jack Chinn, DR..
Mccormack Joseph Blackburn. .Tr.,
and three representatives of the press
Colonel Young who was one Of the
leading Democratic attorneys through
out the Goebel-Tayor contest and Sena-
tor-elect Blackburn, sat at a table in
the centre Of the room upon which they
had drawn up the papers necessary to
the administration of the oath of office
to Mr.. Beckham. After the papers had
been completed there was wait Of near
ly ten minutes for DIR. Mccormack
BECKHAAI TAKES THE OATH.
The death certificate had already been
prepared and DR.. Mccormack quickly
tents of the paper.
Now Mr.. Beckham it is your turn"
said Colonel Young
Mr.. Beckham who had been standing
in the far corner Of the room. at once
advanced to the table with a flush of
excitement on his youthful face.
Sign the OATH said Colonel Young,
pushing the paper toward him.
Beckham hesitated and Colonel Young
repeated his request. Let me be sworn
first" said Mr.. Beckham.
You must sign the paper before you
take the OATH" said Colonel Young.
eve want your oath to the signature"
Mr. Beckham advanced to the table
and affixed his signature, and then.
stepping back, he held up his right hand
for the oath which was read to him
by Clerk Shackleford. of the Court of
Appeals. The light was not of the best
and the writing on the paper not the
most legible. and Mr.. Shackleford made
slow work of it. All the time Beckham
stood before him with his eyes shining,
and deep flush on his face.
When the clerk read the concluding
words of the oath, 80 help your God"
Mr.. Beckham's reply came, II do" and
then with greater emphasis, and may
God give me strength to do my duty" ;"
Il devoutly hope He will,' rejoined
Colonel Young.
Clark Shackleford then attested to the
oath
HIS FIRST OFFICIAL ACT.
The first official action of Mr. Beck
ham was the appointment of a new Ad-
jutant General and his last act before
assuming the oath was an order remov-
| ing Adjutant General Collier and .assis-
tant Adjutant General Dixon. The or
der was as follows:
Executive Office. State of Kentucky.
Frankfort, Ky, Feb 3. 1900.
''The following executive order is pub
| lished for the information and guidance
Of all concerned
State of Kentucky, Executive Depart
ment.
Frankfort Ky, Feb. 8 1900
Executive Order, No. 0).-Danel III.
Collier, Adjutant General and J. X.
Dickson, Assistant Adjutant General, are
hereby removed from office to take ef-
feet immediately.
''(2).-Referring to executive proclama-
ton of the first instant all members of
the Kentucky State guard ordered on
duty in the city of Frakfort by my pre-
decessor are relieved from duty to take
effect Immediately and are instructed
this day to return to their respective
| posts.
(Sgned) 81. c.. w. BECKHAM
Acting Governor"
On the back of this order was endors-
ed the following:
Executed by delivering a true copy
TO Captain Bennett, officer Of the day
III command Of troops at gate of capitol
grounds: who reported General ID. II
Collier absent from his command. Cap
tain Bennett received the paper and
promised to deliver same to General
Collier, The delivery was made at six