The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-02-15
WHY GOV. TAYLOR REFUSED.
Senator Blackburn Makes Public the Pro-
posed Agreement In Kentucky.

pOoOd hbl Al hOAshNAJ-
On the day that Governor Taylor. OF
Kentucky, refused to sign the agree
ment which had been drawn up by his
commissioners and friends Of the Goe-
bel faction, Senator Blackburn, the
leader Of the Democrats. gave out the
following for publication:
At an unusually early hour this morn.
ing was awakened by the clerk at my
hotel and told that Governor Taylor
wanted me at the long distance tele-
phone, and requested me not to take the
time necessary to dress, but to come at
once. went promptly. and Mr. Tay-
lor told me OF his great perplexity and
distress Of mind. expressed his sppreci-
alton OF the liberal measure Of patience
| had shown throughout these negotia.
tions said that he felt that the parties
to this conference had found the proper
solution to the situation that he ap.
proved OF the agreement and found no
fault with 1t either In whole or In part.
but he said that the pressure that had
been brought to bear upon him in oppo.
sition to his approval was beyond any
thing Of which 1t was possible for me
to conceive
He further said that he had summon.
ed certain parties to conference with
him at ten O'Clock this morning and
asked me-earnestly urged me-to con-
slider the matter as open until eleven
o'clock this morning agreed to this,
and further said that instead of eleven
O'Clock. we would make IL twelve
O'Clock, II he wished IL, at which latter
hour 1t was agreed that he should call
me up by telephone, and advise me Of
his approval Of the agreement, and Of a
proclamation that he would issue revok-
ing his call for q meeting Of the Legis-
llture at London, and calling IL to meet
at Frankfort on Monday. and Of the
sending Of the military force now on
duty at Frankfort away. l waited I'M.
I'll twelve o'clock, and until one
O'Clock. and hearing nothing from him,
| wired Mr. Taylor that the hour he had
named had passed. and another hour in
addition, and that the matter under
consideration stood closed.
Governor Taylor called me up soon
afterward and explained the delay He
told me he could not sign or approve
the agreement that conditions were
such and the pressure so heavy that he
could not do 1t.
With this statement. and my asso-
ciates are content to have the public TO
decide as to where the crushing burden
OF responsibility rests for q continuance
Of the deplogable condition that we have
labored so earnestly TO relieve
FEATURES OF THE AGREEMENT.
The agreement was long document.
but the following clauses were the only
vital ones. the others being on mere
technicslities 1t was In consideration
Of the 9th clause that the Taylor fac
ton was to consent to the LIST and 7th
l. That should q resolution be passed
by the General Assembly during It's
present session. in joint session Of the
tuo hOucas daoiarir1 that tha aotiov,
heretofore taken by the General Assem-
bly, did invest William Goebel with the
title to the Office Of governor Of this
commonwealth, on the I'd day Of Feb.
ruary. 1900. and did invest J. O. W.
Beckham with the title to the office Of
lieutenant governor Of this common
wealth as OF said date. the oontestees,
William 8 Taylor and John Marshall,
shall not dispute the said titles, respec-
lively.
g. That the present General Assembly
shall provide an absolutely fair and
non-partisan election law which shall
secure to the voter the fullest measure
OF protection, to the end that he shall
have the fullest liberty to cast his vote
without let or hinderance and have 1t
counted as cast, and secure to the off,
GERS Of election the fullest protection in
this discharge Of their duties.
T. That as soon as possible from this
date the State militia now on duty at
the seat Of government shall be with.
drawn and sent to their homes. due re.
gard being had for the preservation Of
public peace.
After refusing to sign the agreement
Gov. Taylor gave in sufficiently to carry
out the 18th clause, and disbanded the