Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1900-10-12


The Republican platform indorses
Taylor's action as governor. Mr. Yer
kes stands upon that platform He de-
tends Taylor in his speeches as both
honest" and patriotic" but yet new
er a word upon the important question
OF the power Of the executive to drive
the general assembly from its cham
bers in the capitol.
Mr.. Yerkes cannot dodge this ques-
ton The people of Kentucky will not
allow him to do so. They will demand
to know, and have a right to an an
swer, whether in the first place, he ap-
proves the act of Taylor itself, and,
whether, in the second place, in his
opinion, the executive of the common
wealth has this extraordinary power.
The important question which the
people of Kentucky demand that Mr.
Yerkes shall answer is this. Can the
executive dispense the legislature at
the point of the bayonet while in the
orderly discharge of its duties, and ad-
journ it to whatsoever point may suit
his own corrupt purposes?
If this extraordinary power exists
over the legislative department, then
II can only assemble at any time or
place and remain in session only so
long as the executive may desire it to
do so. Its independence Is destroyed.
BY the constitution the general as
sembly is invested with the supreme
legislative power Of the common
wealth. AS a sovereign body, 1t may
meet and adjourn when and where 1t
will, subject alone to the limitations
of the constitution. This instrument.
which divides the power of the gov
ernment into three departments, con-
fers no authority upon the executive
to prorogue the general assembly. The
makers of our organic law, In provid-
ing for the independence of the legis-
lature, had in mind, no doubt, the fact
that the English kings exercised this
despotic power over the parliament,
and that the colonial governors exer-
cised like powers over the legislative
bodies of the colonies. In stating our
grievances in the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence, 1t was charged that the
king "has dissolved representative
houses repeatedly for opposing with
manly firmness his invasion of the
rights of the people; that he has
called together legislative bodies at
places unusual uncomfortable and
distant from the depository of their
public records, for the sole purpose of
fatiguing them into compliance with
his measures"
Taylor's Despotism.
The despotic acts of the king and
the colonial governors, in reference to
the legislature, which led to our sepa-
ration from the mother country, are
harmless and insignificant beside the
revolutionary actions Of Taylor. The
royal power was only used to dissolve
or adjourn the legislatures. Taylor
assaulted the general assembly and
drove 1t from the capitol at the point
of the bayonet; he drove it from the
public buildings of the city, and finally
sent his military officers to the Capt.
tai hotel and informed the proprietor
that if the general assembly was per-
mitted to meet there he would take
possession of the building itself. The
tramp of his soldiers was heard in the
hall near the door of the room where
his victim lay dying.
These acts are approved by the Re-
publican platform. The perpetrator of
them is eulogized by Mr.. Yerkes as
honest" and patriotic" He appeals
to the people to elect him governor be-
cause he says an unjust law was enact |
ed by the legislature in 1898, which in
terferes with civil liberty, and he de-
sires to right this wrong, If he really
believes that Taylor was honest" and
patriotic" he is not qualified for gov
ernor. If he says so to catch the votes
of the mountain assassin4R he is only
4 demagogue and unworthy the sup
port of good citizens.
The act Of Taylor strikes at the very
of our government If Tay-
or could lawfully dispense the legis-
ature, then John w. 1erkes could do
30 If elected governor. If one execu-
i've may do this then all may do it, |
Ind the independence of this depart
ment of the government be destroyed. !
t is therefore important that Mr.. YER |
1es declare himself upon this vital |
question which so deeply concerns the
people of the commonwealth. If he !
shall defend the action of Taylor at |
he time and under the circumstances
will he tell the people Of the common
wealth whence the executive derived |
he extraordinary power claimed. Will
lie give to the people his construction
and exposition of the law upon this
ubject?
What viii He Do7
Finally the people Of the common
wealth would like for Mr.. Yerkes to
ell them whether, If elected governor,
md requested, in accordance with the
aw, to issue his requisltion for w. 8.
Taylor and Charles Finley as fugitives
rom justice, he would do so? VIII
le, in good faith, seek to have them
to Kentucky to answer the
indictments against them? If he will
not answer and say whether he will
pardon these fugitives from justice
will he tell the people whether he will
grant requisition upon the governor
Il Indiana and endeavor to have them
to Kentucky for trial3 He
has declined to answer whether he
will pardon upon the ground that