Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-02-02

4
ing as it must be to the state, that he
has not the ability to discharge the
obligations of the hour incum bent
upon the administrative branch of
the government. This. too. in the face
of the fact that the rightful governor,
whose authority he disputes, is at the
point of death, laid low by the uner-
ring aim of the concealed assassin.
whose mission of obstruction was 2
part of the work OF the mob that has
been housed in the state house for the
past week.
So far the president has taken the
right position on the appeal of Taylor
/ for federal sanction of his unlawful
procedure although it may be that
the national executive is simply
fore flushing for a different course
eventually. But as it is now, the pres
ident's conviction may be Judged by
the following from Walter Wellman' 5
correspondence from Washington in
this mornings Times-Herald:
The president does not deem that
any emerge ocy has arisen requiring
him to recognize either Taylor or
Goebel as governor, and he does not
think any such emergency will arise.
If it does arise it is certain the presi-
dent would not recognize Taylor. 1t
is believed Mr.. Taylor will tomorrow
follow his dispatch of today with di-
rect appeal for federal troops. If he
makes such application il will be de-
MED. In the first place, compliance
with such request would amount TO
recognition of Taylor as governor.
In the second place, even if it be con-
coded that Taylor is governor or act
ing governor, he is not in position to
make a call for troops meeting the
requirements of the constitution.
The constitution OF the United
States, section +, article +, says:
g The United States shall guaran-
tee to every state in this union re-
publican form of government. and
shall protect each OF them against in
vasiOn. and on application OF the
legislature, or of the executive (when
the legislature cannot be convened),
against domestic violence.
admitting that Taylor is governor
or acting governor, he cannot legally
make call for federal troops eX-
.cept in case when the legislature
cannot be convened. In the present
instance no one claims that the legis-
lature of Kentucky cannot be con
vened'. la fact, it was convened last
Monday and would be convened now,
had not the acting governor not only
ad iourned it, but BY arbitrary use of
armed forces prevented it's converting
again This legislature could con-
vene at any moment MIR. Taylor
would call it to meet or permit it TO
meet. Therefore the man who ad-
iourned it and who now prevents its
meeting cannot come to the national
government with constitutional de-
mand for federal assistance. This
would be true if he were unquestion-
ably the governor, if his title were
not in dispute. These facts have
been pointed out TO the president by
his cabinet advisers. He is familiar
with all the conditions of the unfor-
tunate imbroglio bearing in any way
upon his duty. If the president will
not recognize Taylor. whom or what |
will he recognize? No question be- |
yOnd the recognition of Taylor has so !
far been raised. and the president |
does not deem it his duty, as already !
said in this dispatch, to anticipate |
problems. But it is well understood |
among mis- advisers that he will, if it |
becomes necessary, recognize the |
Legislature as the constitutional au-
thority of the state of Ken |
tuckv
1T i well known in the cabinet |
that President Mckinley recognizes |
that according to the constitution of |
Kentucky the legislature is made the |
constitutional agency for determin
ing a contest as to an election for gov
ernor. 1t follows that. in pursuance |
of any duty imposed upon him 10y the
of the United States he
must. ii compelled to choose, recog-
niZe as governor the man determined
by the legislature to be governor and
recognized by that body.
In other words. should it come 20
a direct issue between Taylor and
ioebel or between TAYLOR and the
by the legislature in the event of Goe-
would be compelled to recognize Goe-
bel or the lieutenant governor
This would be the presidents
duty under the law, irrespective of
any opinion which he might privately
loid as to the justice of the legisla-
.ure's decision.
But the president and his cabinet
ire unable to approve Mr.. Taylor's
ligh-handed effort to override the
of Kentucky and the law
# the state by forcible interference
with the legislature. They think it
would have been better for him TO
ubmit to injustice in the name of law
ather than to attempt securing JUS
ice by overturning law with force.
This is their view as individuals. As
'flicials they are determined to adhere
o the strict letter OF the federal law
md the Kentucky constitution. and,
unfortunately for Mr.. Taylor, both
he federal and state constitutions
cave him no solid ground to stand