The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-03
And Urged the Chief Executive ia
Permit the State Courts to De.
eide the Controversy.
BABCoCK AND ovERsTREET
TO AGAIN DIRECT REPUBLICAN CON.
GRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN.
Meaning of the "United States" as In
terpreted by the Ways and Means
COmmittee-The Clark Case.


tire time of the Cabinet meeting to-day
was taken up in discussion of the situa-
ton in kentucky and the rights and du-
ties Of the President in connection there
with. Almost Immediately on the receipt
of Governor Taylors message. last night,
the President took up the question and
counseled authorities on points with which
he was not familiar. A decision was
reached at once, and when Senator-elect
Blackburn, Senator Lindsay and Repre-
sentatives Rhea, Allen, Gilbert, Smith and
Wheeler called this morning to protest
against federal interference in Kentucky
the President promptly gave them TO un-
-erstand that he had already reached a
conclusion on the subject, and that he had
found that the situation did not warrant
the federal authorities in interfering. This
decision was announced to the Cabinet
Immediately on its convening. Attorney
GENERA Griggs. Secretary Root and the
other lawyers Of the Cabinet sustained the
Presidents conclusions. The law which
must govern in this case authorizes fed
eral action only when the Legislature is
not in session and cannot be convened.
Governor Taylors message does not inti-
mate that the Legislature of the State
cannot be promptly convened, nor does he
show that the conditions In Frankfort are
such as would justify federal interven-
tion. The President and the members of
As Cabinet, without exception. recognized
the fact that the Legislature Of the State
Of Kentucky. by a majority thereof, is the
sole judge of which of the two contestants
was electe.. Governor of the State at the
recent election. When the Kentuckians
called at the W....e House this morning
they explained their deep solicitude lest a
collision should occur between the warning
elements in Kentucky, and made the re-
port that Governor Taylor had solicited
federal Intervention the text of their pro-
test. They assured the President that the
law and Constitution of Kentucky had
been strictly followed by the Democrats in
their contest over the governorship, and
that they proposed to stand by the law.
The crisis that had arisen, they desired
should be met in the courts and deter
mined by the law. The Democrats, they
asserted, would abstain from violence.
They simply desired a lawful and orderly
settlement of the controversy. Federal in
tervention would only aggravate matters.
intensity the excitement and almost GER
tainly lead to trouble and, perhaps. loss
of life. They earnestly appealed to the
President to avert such calamity by alb
staining from interference of any sort.
Mr.. Blackburn and Representative Rhea
said they were going to Kentucky to coun-
sci peace and obedience to the law.
Senator Lindsay indorsed what his COL
leap had al he fS Of
ing within the law and Constitution. The
dispatch of federal troops to Kentucky
would, in his opinion, create anarchy and
chaos.
The President, in reply, expressed his
great anxiety over the situation, his pro-
foundest wish that violence be avoided and
that the contest should be legally deter
mined. He assured the delegation in a gen.
erai way that he deplored the situation
and that federal interference would come
only as the last resort, after having been
invoked by the proper authorities under
the law and Constitution. While the Presi-
dent spoke in general terms, the delega-
| ton expressed themselves as perfectly sat-
isfied with his assurances. The members
of the delegation later said they had coun-
seled their friends in Kentucky to avoid
violence at any cost. and they said they
were satisfied that if trouble came 1t would
| be precipitated by their political adver-
saries. Mr.. Blackburn left, this afternoon,
| for Kentucky. and Representative Rhea
| fonowed him tonight.
Senator Lindsay remained with the Presi-
| den a quarter of an hour after the dele
| cation had left. On leaving. he said he be-
| lieved before the week closed the difficult
| ties would oe amicably settled or be in a
| fair way of settlement Upon being asked
| to-day why the Democrats of Kentucky
had refused to leave the settlement of the
| controversy TO the United States Supreme
/ Court, Senator Lindsay, who is an emf
nent lawyer, replied that. doubtless. it was
because they considered that the United
States court had no Jurisdiction. He added
that the state court did have jurisdiction
and as 1t was supposed to be friendly, il
was not reasonable to ask kentucky Dem
| ocrats 10 go 10 an outside court which had
no jurisdiction and concerning whose pre-
dilections or prejudices nothing was
/ known.
Lord Wolseley dined last evening .w.,i
the Queen at Osborne.
| GENERAL NEWS.