Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-02-01
DECLARE GoEsEl GOVERNOR.
Contest Board Decides He Is En-.
fitlc.l a., Scot

titled to- Seat.
Frankfort, Ky, Feb. 1.-While Will
lam Goebcl lay at the point of death i'll
his room as the result of an assassin's
bullet, the contest boards which for
two weeks Ind been listening to the
evidences in his contest for the gov-
ernor's chair declared him entitled to
| the seat.
The boards having in charge the
contests between Goebel and Taylor
for governor, and 6ecliham and Mar
Shall for lieutenant governor, met at
O'Clock last night i'm the city hall to
| consider the evidence submitted to
them. and prepnre their report to the
legislature. few legal authorities
were read to them at the request of
Senator Allen, who wished light shed
ON n few doubtful points, Tie vote
was then taken, and by Il strict party
vote of 10 to l William Goebel was de-
clared to have been legally elected
governor of Kentucky.
The Beckham-Marshall contest was
then voted upon, and u strict party
vote OF . to . settled this matter No
announcement was made as to the rea-
sons leading up TO the report being
made last night, The boards taking cv-
erythihg AT one leap: 4 member Of
one of the boards said that he had
made up his mind as to the merits and
voted promptly as his name was called.
An effort was made by number of
democrats to get together a quorum
of both houses, hold night session,
hear the reports of the two commit
tees at once and adopt them, and de-
clare Goebel the governor of Ken
lucky before morning. They were
anxious to give him the honor before
he died. So many Legislators had gone
to Louisville and Lexington for the
time being it was impossible to carry
out the program. 1t is certainty
that Goebel will be made governor of
Kentucky today if he lives.
The republicans will probably as
soon as the decision is rendered in ia
yor of tioebel make application to the
United States circuit court at Cincin-
natl for an injunction restraining Goe-
bel and Beckham from taking their
seats, and the battle will then be con-
tinued before Judge Taft, of that
court. The republican attorneys and
Governor Taylor are confident that at
least temporary injunction will be
granted and that the ultimate victory
will he i'm their favor.
The grounds upon which the injunc-
ton will be asked are the corruption
of the Legislative body, the alleged UNI
fitness of the members of the contest
boards to set in judgment on the case,
and several others which they decline
to discuss.
The following report was made out
late last night by a majority of the
contest boards. The minority report
was withdrawing:
THE undersigned, being appointed
and selected by the general assembly
to determine the contested election of
the office of governor of the common
wealth of Kentucky between William
Goebel, contestant, and William +.
Taylor, contestee, we have heard all
the evidence offered by both parties
and we now respectfully report to the
general assembly of the common
wealth of Kentucky that in our opin-
ion William Godoel was legally elected
by the commonwealth of Kentucky on
the 9TH day of November, 1899. and he
then and there received the highest
number of legal votes for anyone for
the office of governor of Kentucky at
said election, and we, therefore, re-
spectfully suggest that this report be
approved and Il resolution adopted by
this joint assembly declaring the said
William Goebel governor-elect of the
commonwealth of Kentucky for the
term commencing the 10th day of De-
cember. 1899.
I'VE decide that the said William
Goebel has received the highest num-
Der of legal votes and is adiudged to
be the person elected to said office of
governor for the term prescribed by
law
This was signed by all the members
of the board with the exception of
Representative Garberry.
The report in the case of the contest
for lieutenant governor is Identical
Only a few members of the Legislature
attended the meeting of the boards
last night. The events of the day had
so absorbed attention that but few
outside the boards knew where or
when they We're to meet. Every face
portrayed the emotions that the crime
of the day had aroused. All were calm
and nnimpassioned and there appeared
no disposition to indulge in the GUS
tomary squabbles. The speeches that
We're made We're in subtlued tones, in
dicating the deepest appreciation of
what had happened and of the impend-
ing disturbances.