The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-06
The KENTUCKY SITUATION.

The simple Truth About the Deplor-
able Condition Of Affairs in That
stats4The Ubiquitous Election Law
and the Suppression Of Votes for
Taylor.
Pittsburgh Times: Mr.. GOebel. and
the truth must be told regardless Of the
fact that he has met tragic and UNI
timely end, framed and had enacted into
law an election system designed solely
to elect him governor. no matter how
great the majority against him at the
polls. The glaring inlquity of this
MEASURE brought upon It the condemna-
ton, not only Of the Republicans, Pop
ulists and Prohibltlonlsts OF Kentucky.
but also of a large and influential ele-
ment of the Democratic party and press.
among the latter being the Louisville
Courler-Journal, a paper which support
ed Mr.. Goebel for governor. No Re-
publican condemnation Of the law.
exceeded, II, indeed, 1t eQualled
that visited upon It by Henry
Watterson in the columns Of the Cour-
ier- journal. Those Democrats who OPP
posed the law, as also the unscruplous
methods by which Mr.. Goebel won the
nomination for governor ran an inde-
pendent ticket last fall their candidate
being no iess prominent o citizen than
John Young Brown, the last Democratic
governor OF Kentucky. With the entire
election machinery OF the state abso-
lutte in his power, Mr.. GOebel was de-
feated at the polls.
When everything had been done that
partisan injustice deemed necessary to
elect him, the state election commits
sloners, men selected by Mr.. Goebel
himself. by vote Of two to one, de-
cIared Mr. Taylor, the Republican cam
dIdate, elected governor by about 5000
plurality. No one familiar with the
facts in the case doubts that Taylor's
actual plurality, honestly counted, was
from 10000 to $4,000. But that 1t was
nearly 5000, as returned by MIR. Goe-
bells own commission, no one has yet
had the hardwood TO dispute. Never
theless, Mr.. Goebel began q contest. The
committee to decide this was selected
by lot from the members of both
branches OF the legislature. Ten Of the
eleven thus drawn by lot were Demo-
Gratis. No sane man In Kentucky
doubts that this was done purposely and
by fraud. Upon the cry OF military In
reference and mere technicalities, and
not Of frauds in the returns, for these
had been canvassed by Mr.. Goebel's own
election officers. this committee was
preparing TO declare him elected and to
proceed to seat, him when the tragedy
occurred. This has since been done, so
far as the Democrats have the power
to carry their Infamous decision Into
effect.
The Republicans, supported by many
Democrats, are now striving to main
tain their rights, which are the rights
of the whole people. Why should they
not do this, and by every means pos
sible to themR II 1t is established that
laws may be made and enforced by
which the minority can rule, wholly re-
gardless OF what the peoples decide al
the ballot box, what safeguard is left
to free institutions? What methods
other than force shall people use to
secure their rights when legislatures
and courts combine to uphold laws
framed solely to rob the people Of
those rights? The Republican, OF
Kentucky, aided by thousands OF DEM
ocrats, are battling for 9 great prin-
ciple, and no merely sentimental con-
siderations should be urged against
their performing sacred duty, Here
tofore, such laws as the Goebel cleo
ton law have been confined to the
south. and were framed only to stifie
and suppress the negro vote. The
Goebel law is aimed at the white voters
of Kentucky, and shows only too clearly
that the intOlerant spirit which mani
tests itself In measures like these Is
one which Is ready to disfranchise
whites as blacks II either dare oppose II
in politics.