Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-12
TO THE COURTS.
Kentucky's Political War to
Be Settled by the Law.
Gov. Taylor and Republicans Decide
Not to Sign Louisville Agreement,
.l-....
Troops Withdrawn and Legislature Will Now
Meet at Frankfort.

Frankfort, Ky. Feb. 10.-"I have
only this to say: After mature dclib-
Grafton and conference with my friends
from every section Of the state. have
concluded to allow this controversy Il
take it's due course, vigorously contest
ing every inch of ground and uphold
ing the rights of the people to the ut
termost. If those rights be destroyed
the responsibility for that destruction
must rest with those who sit i'll JudS-
men.
The above was signed by Gov. Tay
Tor and issued as a proclamation. Inc
decision not to sign the Louisville
agreement was reached by GOV. ray
lor, this afternoon. For more than
two hours he had been in conference
with fully $50 prominent Republicans
from all parts of the state. The meet
ing was secret. Judge George Denny
presided. The members of the confer
ence with the exception Of GOV. ray
lor. gathered in the Legislative nan
usually occupied by the State House Of
Representatives. After the hall was
filed Gov. Taylor entered and was
greeted with three ringing cheers. The
door was then closed and the secret
proceedings begun. Gov. Taylor
stated to the conference that there
We're two courses to be pursued.
First, to sign the Louisville agree
ment. the second to quietly Withdraw
the troops, allow the Legislature to
reconvene in the Capitol building in
Frankfort to call off the session now
being held in London and to ignore
the Louisville agreement entirely.
Several speeches We're made. and it
was soon apparent that the sentiment
of the gathering was very strongly in
favor of the second course, and this
was adopted.
This action was decided upon at l
o'clock, ana the first information Of the
decision was given to the outside world
by Gov Taylor himself. He came rapidly
through the doors. unattended and look
ing nervous ana haggard. He walked
hastily toward the Capitol stairway, re-
peating several times to the newspaper
men who stood in the hall: Il don't sign;
/ don't sign; | don't sign.
From the Capitol he passed to the TX
ecutive building. where he at once made
up and signed proclamation rcconvtn-
ing the Legislature at Frankfort. Ky.
Orders were at once issued to Gen. Col
lier to prepare for the departure Of the
troops and in a very short time q large
number Of men were ready to leave.
Word was at once sent t. the members
Of the Republican L. gislaturc now in s-S-
sion at London. that the next session
would be in Frankfort. and the prompt
reply was received that they would all
leave in a body. Sunday, and be m
Frankfort Monday morning. After GOV.
TAYLOR had left the hail, a resolution en-
bodying the sense If the meeting was
adopted.
After the adjournment of the meeting
1t was the opinion of the Republicans
that the Gubernatorial contest was prac-
tically over They understood the action
Of today To mean ana it wus intended -
mean, that the matter should now hc
fought out before the courts. ana the is
sues there reached to b accepted as
final.
There was no intention OF asking That a
new vote should be taken on the Goebcl-
Tavlor contest. hut GOV. Taylor stated I"
several prominent Republicans thal n
would ask that any former action be rat-
fed by a vote of both Houses, taken
coully and without passion.