The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-06

junction Against Taylor Interfering
WITH sitting of Legislature in Capitol.
Frankfort, KY, February 3.-Exactly
one hour after the death of Mr.
Goebel, Mr.. j. c. w. Beckham was
sworn in as governor of the state, the
oath being administered by S. J.
Shackelford, clerk of the court of ap-
peals.
1t had been determined to keep Sc
cret the news of the death Of Mr.. Goe-
bel until Mr.. Beckham should have
been formally inducted into office and
the delay was made greater by the in
ability Of Dr.. Mccormick to leave the
bed room of Mr.. Goebel and make the
proper certificate of death. Until this
had been done the democratic attor-
neys 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
were Senator-elect Blackburn, Colonel
B. H. Young. Colonel Philip Thomp-
son, Eph Lillard, j. H. Lillis, Lieu
tenant Mckay, S. j. Shackelford
clerk of the court of appeals, D. w. P.
Wells, Colonel Harry Mckay, Colonel
Jack Chinn, Kit. Chinn, DR.. McCor-
mack, Joseph Blackburn, Jr., and three
representatives of the press.
Colonel Young, who was one of the
leading democratic attorneys through
out the Goebel-Taylor contest and Sem
atOr-elect Blackburn, sat at a table in
the center of the room upon which
they had drawn up the papers neces-
sary to the administration of the oath
of office to Mr. Beckham. After the
papers had Been completed there was
wait of nearly ten minutes for DR..
Mccormack.
The death certificate had already
been prepared and DR., Mccormack
quickly signed his name swore to the
contents 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.
I'VE 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 Shackelford, of the court
of appeals. The light was not of the
best, and the writing on the paper not
the most legible and Mr.. Shackelford
made slow work OF it. All the time
Beckham stood before him with his
eyes shining, and a deep flush on his
face.
When the clerk read the concluding
words of the oath, 80 help you Cod"
Mr.. BeckhamS reply came Il do and
then with greater emphasis, "and may
God give me strength to do my duty"
q devoutly hope he WILL" rejoned
Colonel Young.
Clerk Shackelford then attested to
the oath.
The first official action of Mr.. Beck
ham as governor was the appointment
of new adjutant general and his last
act as acting governor was an order
removing Adjutant General Collier and
Assistant Adjutant General Dickson.
The order was as follows:
Executive Office.
frankfort, KY, February 8, 1900
'~The following executive order Is
published for the information and
guidance of all concerned
state of Kentucky,
Executive Department,
Frankfort, February 3.
"Eecutive Order No. L:
90 Daniel H. Collier, adjutant
general and ]. K. Dickson, assistant
adjutant general are hereby removed
from office to take effect Immediately.
"(2) Referring to executive procla-
nation of the 1st instant all members
of the Kentucky state guard ordered
on duty in the city of Frankfort, by
my predecessor are relieved from duty
to take effect Immediately and are in
structed this day to return to their re-
spective posts.
'(Signed j. G. w. BECKHAM,
Acting Governor
On the back Of this order was en-
dorsed the following:
Executed by delivering a true copy
to Captain Bennett, officer of the day
in command of troops at the gate of the
capitol grounds, who reports General
d. H. Collier absent from his COM
mand. Captain Bennett received the
paper and promised to deliver same to
General Collier The delivery was
made at 6:2O o'clock .. m. this Third
day of February 1900.
"(Signed) HARRY MCKAY,
Colonel and aide de camp, Govern
or's Staff"
The order was delivered to Captain
Bennett at the gate of the capital
grounds twenty-five minutes before
the death of Mr.. Goebel. Mr.. Beckham
was made acting governor last night
by the medical certificate of McCor-
mack that Mr.. Goebel was unable 10
assume the functions of the office.
| Mr. Beckham seemed deeply affected
by the position in which circumstances
| had placed him and he did not reVeal
much 10y over the congratulations
which those in the room showered upon
him although he accepted them CRATE
| fully
There is one thing that would have
been greatly pleased to have had done
| by Mr.. Goebel before his death" he