The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1900-03-16
Both Taylor and Beckham Have Armed Forces
and Complications Reach Critical Stage.
BOTH SIDES ARE FIRM
Report Is Given Out That Taylor
Would Attempt to Arrest
Beckham.

Sunday morning the Democrats and
the Republicans in Kentucky we're for
the first time since the present politi-
cal complications assumed acute form,
divided into two armed and organized
factions.
Surrounding the capitol and the
state executive building and camped
in the grounds around Governor Tay-
lor's home were nearly 200 state mill
tia, we'll provided with ammunition,
while in the corridors Of the hotel in
which tn e Democratic state executive
officers are located, and in the streets
adjacent to that guiding were sixty
special officers and the men and boys
of a militia company that was organ
lied in Frankfort during the day, as
the nucleus of Governor Beckham's
state guard, besides scores or more of
heavily armed citizens, partisans of
the Democratic element.
Within an hour after the democratic
leaders heard a rumor that an attempt
was to be made by the state militia to
take Gov. Beckam into custody a pc
tition had been circulated and signed
by the requisite number of men neces-
sary to form a militia company.
The men guarded the Capitol hotel
all night against any possible attempt
to arrest Governor Beckham.
The Democratic partieans say that
should the militia attempt to interfere
with the session of the legislature, per-
sistent rumors of which had been in
circulation all day, it would be next to
impossible to avert bloodshed.
The republican officials. however,
deny that such action has been ever
contemplated, and that the legislature
would not be molested in any way.
The formation Of the state guard in
Frankfort to support Governor Beck
ham was undertaken by City Clerk
Ben Marshall, who circulated paper
and enlisted the requisite number of
men who are to compose the new COM
pany. The guns for this company
have been provided by citizens, most
of them being either needle guns or
winchesters.
Sunday afternoon a report gained
currency that Governor Taylor had
given his soldiers orders to arrest
Governor Beckham and other officers
of the Democratic state government.
On account of this report the men
enlisted by Captain Marshall were
Assem- bled at the city hall, armed and
sworn in as special police for the pur-
pose of protecting the DemOcrrtic Off
GERS who are still quartered at the
Capitol hotel. A large number of cit
liens also volunteered and were as
signed to various posts in the vicinity
of the hotel to offer resistance in
case the talked-of arrests were at
! tempted.
Governor Beckham Sunday after.
noon appointed Colonel David R. Muir.
ry, of Glover Point, assistant adjutant
general, with the rank of colonel, and
he was sworn in.
The official announcement was made
that this appointment is only temper
airy. This was regarded as significant,
it being understood that Colonel Muir
ray accepted the appointment on &C
count of the gravity of the present
situation, and with the understanding
that he could resign when the condi-
tions in the state become more quiet.
According to statement made by
Governor Taylor to a representative of
the Louisville Commercial, he has
granted pardon to each of the per-
sons for whom warrants have been is
sued charging them with being Access
series to the assassination of Governor
Goebel, including Secretary of State
Caleb Powers and ex-Secretcry of State
Charles Finley. In his statement Gov
ernor Taylor recites the conditions
under which he claims to have been
elected, and charges the Democratic
contestants for state offices with con-
spiracy to secure control of the gov
eminent.