The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-06
NO FEDERAL INTERFERENCE
Is the Presidents Decision In the Ken
lucky GubernatoriaI Fight.

washington, february Z.-Nedrly the
entire time of the cabinet meeting to-
day was devoted to a discussion OF the
situation in Kentucky and the rights
and duties of thr president in connec-
ton Herewith. almost Immediately
upon the receipt of Governor Taylor's
message last night the president took
up the question and consulted suthori-
ties on points with which he was not
familiar.
A decision was reached at once and
when Senator-e1ect Blackburn, with
Representatives Rhea, Allen, Gilbert,
Smith and Wheeler, called this morn
ing to protest against federal interfer-
enc in Kentucky, the president
promptly gave them to understand that
he had found that the situation did
not warrant the federal authorities in
interfering.
This decision was announced to the
cabinet Immediately upon its V
ing. Attorney General Griggs, Secre-
tary Root and the other lawyers of the
cabinet sustained the presidents con-
clusion. The law which must govern
in this case authorizes federal action
only when the legislature is not in ses-
sion and cannot be convened. Gov
ernor Taylor's message does not init
mate that the Legislature of the state
cannot be promptly convened nor does
he show that the conditions in Frank
fort are such as would justify federal
intervention.
The president and the members of
his cabinet, without exception, recog-
nize the fact tina the legislature of the
state of Kentucky by a majority there
of is the sole judge of which of the
two contestants was elected governor
of the state at the recent election.
After the cabinet meeting the follow
ing statement was made: The presi-
dent has decided that no case has yet
arisen to justify the Intervention of
the national government in Kentucky
and has so informed the governor"
Some significance may attach to the
use of the word governor in this
statement, inasmuch as the reply was
directed to Governor Taylor.
KENTUCKY DELEGATION AT THE
WHITE HOUSE.
a delegation of Kentucky democrats,
consisting of Senator-elect Blackburn
and Representatives Rhea, Wheeler,
Smith, Allen and Gilbert and Colonel
Phil. Thompson, called upon President
Mckinley today at the White house to
protest against leOeTdI interference III
the contest in Kentucky. Senator Lind
sey arrived soon after the delegation
had been admitted and was immedi-
ately uShered into the presidents pri-
Vate office, where the conference was
in progress. senator Blackburn and
Representative Rhea acted as spokes-
men. They explained their deep solicit
tude lest a collision should occur be-
tween the Waring elements in Ken
lucky and made the report hat Gov
ernOr Taylor had solicited federal in
PREVENTION the text of the protest. They
assured the president that the law and
constitution of Kentucky had been
strictly followed by the democrats in
the contest over the go%vernorship and
that they proposed to stand by the law.
The crisis that nae arisen they desired
should be met in the courts and de-
termined by the law. The democrats,
they asserted, would abstain from vio-
lence. They simply desired a lawful
and orderly settlement of the contro-
versy. Federal intervention would only
aggravate matters, intensity the eX-
citement and almost certainly lead to
trouble and, perhaps, loss of life. They
earnestly appealed to the president to
avert such a calamity by abstaining
from interference of any sort.
, Senator Blackburn and Representa-
tive Rhea said that they were going to
Kentucky to counsel peace n obedi-
ence to the law.
Senator Lindsey endorsed what his
colleagues had said about the demo-
. Gratis acting within the law and con-
, stitution, no matter how much men
, might differ as to the wisdom and JUS
tice of the merits of the contest. The
dispatch of federal troops to Kentucky,
he said, would, in his opinion, create
. anarchy and chaos.
The president, in reply, expressed his
great anxiety over the situation, his
p~rofoundest wish hat violence be
avoided and that the contest should be
legally determined. He assured the
delegation in a general way that he
deplored the situation. and that fed
eral interference would come only as
the last resort, after having been in
] voked by the proper authorities under
the law and constitution.
While the president spoke in gen.
eral terms, the delegation expressed
themselves as perfectly satisfied with
his assurances.
The members of the delegation when
they left the White house said they
had counseled their friends in Ken
lucky to avoid violence at any cost and
they said they were satisfied that if
trouble came it would be precipitated
, by their political ad~versaries.
{ Senator left this afternoon
! Tor kentucky and Representative Rhea
will follow him tonight. They will use
their utmost endeavors to prevent a
collision. At the same time they will
act as advisers of Goebel in the legal
proceedings that are to be instituted.
They assert that Goebel is the legal
governor and that the courts will up
hold him.
Senator Lindsey remained with the
president a quarter of an hour after
the delegation had left. On leaving the
. White house he said that it was the
opinion of the authorities that a case
had not been made out which would
warrant federal interference in Ken
lucky and that he Lindsey was dis
posed to share that view. The senator
said further that he did not believe
there would be m more bloodshed,
and that before the week closed the
present difficulties would be amicably
settled, or in a fair way of settlemeIN.
Failure OF Big commission House.
NIaano Co EahruarV -TalbO &