The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-01-16

tue heSlslhtuTe, au'l MISUNDERSTANDING
that the election he's come and gone,
the end is not yet On the contrary
excitement runs higher, threats come
thicker aud faster and the scent Of
blood is in the air
The campaign was very warm and
exciting one. Both political parties
had full tickets in the field and each
one was sanguine Of success. and left
nothing undone TO secure 1t II Is
charged that money was used lavishly,
whiskey flowed freely, intimidation
was resorted to, repeaters were import
ed, tissue ballots were used. and fraud
and corruption reigned supreme
In this condition of things the GOV
ernor was applied to for troops 10
maintain order at the polls. and they
were sent to several points where 'he
greatest danger was feared. This gave
offence to those opposing the presence
Of troops at election precincts ana
men armed themselves to resist them
and riot and bloodshed, at many places
were the result, with loss Of life.
The election being over. the next
thing was to count the ballots and
declare the result This was attended
with much difficulty. Lawyers were
employed. courts were invoked and in
functions were the order of the day.
When the result was reached both
parties were dissatisfied. The Republi-
cans elected the governor and oil the
State officers and wanted the Legisla.
lature. The Democrats elected maj
ority of both houses Of the General AS
sembly, and claimed the governor and
the entire ticket
Notices of contests were served. and
elimination and recrimination Of party
leaders followed and pandemonium
reigned generally. 1t was soon known
the Goebelites, who were not very saw
DRY with the gold Democrats, would
organize both branches Of the Legisla'
ture, and United States Senator was
to be elected by that body, and for that
position there were many aspirants, es-
pecially on the victorious side.
1t was announced that General Hard
din was a candidate. who declared that
his purpose was to bring the good old
State back to pure democracy from
which she had drifted. Ex-senator
Lindsay was ready to serve his people
again in that capacity, and, indeed 1t
was given out from Washington, that
he had from the President an order to
the Republicans of the Kentucky Legis-
lature to unite with the gold Democrats
of the body who were supposed to be dis
loyal 20 the Goebelites, and elect him
to the Senate. thereby securing an Ad-
ministration man.
But these plans did not work well,
because it had been decreed by the
victors. that neither Gen Hardin nor
Senator Lindsay, Of the Democratic
fold, nor Gov. Bradley, of the Republi-
can persuasion, was the man, but that
it should be ex-senator J. s. o. Black.
burn who had stood by them at every
point from first to last, and without
whom success would have been exceed
ingly doubtful.
And according TO that decree every
Democrat in the Legislature voted for
Blackburn, including the gold bugs, II
there were any and he was triumphant.
ly elected.
Now the Democrats declare that they
intend 10 Dust Governor Taylor and
the other State officers, and the Legis'
lature has appointed committee to in
vestigste their right to hold and report.
1t is the opinion of the well-informed
that this committee will report adversely
to the present occupants and in favor
of Senator Goebel. who was the oandi'
date for Governor, and his ticket that
was declared defeated by the election
commission. Gov. Taylor, feeling con-
WINGED that the investigating commit.
tee was a court with a decision reach
ed before the case was heard, protested
against some Of the committeeman, but
the protest was disregarded, and the
committee is at work. Gov. TaylOr's
friends declare that he shall not be de.
prived Of an Office to which he was
honestly elected by the people Of the
State. and before they will allow it
they will fight.
AS both parties are determined, we
may be assured that these threats mean
more than mere idle words.
And 80 we may close by repeating,
Old Kentucky never tires