The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-11


tests for the Office Of Governor.
REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY.
The Constitution Of Kentucky says
that the legislature of Kentucky shall
try and determine contests for the office
OF Governor. and the law on the statute
book prescribed how the trial should be
conducted by the Legislature. One of
the provisions provided for the selection
of q committee to examine into the facts.
The Legislature met. The committee
was selected under law. The committee
had examined into the facts and had
set a day to make its report.
But in the meantime Governor Tay-
lor, who had been sworn in and was
exercising the functions of Governor,
packed the State house grounds with
troops commanded by Republican officers
of his appointment. He also had in the
State house grounds a great number Of
armed partisans from the mountains and
feud counties of Kentucky; bold, reck-
less. fearless men: men of resolution and
daring and accustomed 10 deeds OF des-
pcration. Such men as Kirk brought
with him into North Carolina from East
Tennessee i'll the time of the Holden
Kirk war 1t was expected that the
presence of this force would overawe
the Democratic members of the Legisla-
ture But civil government was not TO
be subverted in Kentucky through the
fears and cowardice of the Democratic
representatives of the people. They ap-
preciated the gravity of the situation,
but they did not finch from doing what
they believed to BE their duty as repre-
sentatives of free people.
Yet their leaders We're so cautious, so
prudent, that no clash Of arms came, al
though Governor Taylor's myrmidons
had possession of the State house and
the public grounds, and soldiers and
armed men filled day and night the cor
ridors and offices of the State capital.
At length on the very morning that the
legislative committee was TO make It's
report as Senator Goebel, the Demo
cratic candidate for Governor, was
about TO enter the State house, he was
shot down from the window of the exc
cutive building occupied by Governor
Taylor and his Republican adherents.
TAYLOR'S USURPATION.
And almost before the sound Of the
fatal shot had ceased to echo Governor
Taylor issued an order forbidding the
Legislature TO meet-and adjourIlng it,
and requiring it to meet on February 9,
AT London, q little village up in the
mountain section. the home Of the very
my rmidous with whom he had stocked
| the executive office and the capital
grounds in order to overawe the Legisa-
! ture.
| BY his order the soldiers took eXclu-
sive possession of the State house. and
would not allow members of the Legis-
lature to enter and when the members
proposed to meet elsewhere in Frank
fort, the capitol. these soldiers. under
Governor Taylor's direction dispersed
them and would not allow them to as
semble. They even seized the journals
Of the House and took them out of the
possession of the clerk Of the House.
But the soldiers dispersed the General
Assembly and declared that If they at
tempted to meet the military would ar
rest the members as being Ian unlawful
assembly,
Nevertheless the members did meet;
the two Houses met and held session.
the committee on the contest over the
office of Governor made n report that
Goebel had been elected Governor and
not Taylor, and that Beckham had been
elected Lieutenant Governor, and the
two Houses of the Legislature determin-
cd the contest agreeably to that report.
Goebel and Beckham We're sworn in, but
Governor Goebel dying, Beckham became
the acting Governor.
TRAMPLES on CONSTITUTION.
Now it is to be observed that Governor
Taylor had no right to adjourn the
Legislature and that he had no right
to convene the Legislature, even if it had
not been in session, at any other place
than the State capitol. The constitution
of Kentucky is to the effect that in case
Of instruction, the Governor can call
the Legislature together in special ses-