Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-03
KENTUckIANs PROTEST.

Washington. Feb. "a delegation OF
Kentucky Democrats. consisting OF
Senator-elect Blackburn and Represent
atives Rhea. Wheeler, Smith, Allen and
Gilbert and Colonel Phil Thompson,
called upon President Mckinley to-day
at the White House to protest against
Federal interference in the contest in
Kentucky. Senator Lindsey arrived
soon after the delegation had been ad-
mitted and was Immediately ushercd
Into the Presidents private office,
where the conference was in progress.
Senator Blackburn and Representative
Rhea acted as Spokesman. They ex-
planned their deep sollcitude lest q col
lision should occur between the war
ring clements in Kentucky, and made
the report that Governor Taylor had
solicited Federal intervention the text
or their protest. They assured the
President that the law and constitution
OF Kentucky had been strictly followed
by the Democrats in the contest over
The Governorship, and that they pro-
posed to stand by the law. The crisis
that had arisen they desired should be
met in the courts and determined by
the law. The Democrats. they assert
ed. would abstain from violence. They
simply desired u lawful and orderly
settlement of the controversy. Fed
oral intervention would only agra
v1te matters. intensity the excitement
and almost certainly lead to trouble
and perhaps loss of life. They earnest
such Il calamity by abstaining from In
preference of any sort. Senator
Blackburn and Representative Rhea
said that they were going to Kentucky
to counsel peace and obedience to the
law. Senator Lindsey endorsed what
his colleagues had said about the DEM
ocrats acting within the law and CON
sitution, no matter how much men
might differ as to the wisdom and Jus
tce of the merits of the contest The
dispatch of Federal troops to Kentucky.
he said. would. in his opinion, create
anarchy and chaos.
INTERFERENCE 4 LAST RESORT.
The President, in reply, expressed his
great anxiety over tho situation, his
profoundest wish that violence be
avoided. and that the contest should be
legally determined. He assured the del
eEation III general way that he de-
plorcd the situation. and that FEEDER
nj interference would come only as the
last resort. after having been invoked
by the proper authorities under the law
and constitution.
DELEGATION SATISFIED.
While the President spoke in general
terms the delegation expressed them
selves as perfectly Satisfid with his as
surances. The members of the delega-
ton, when they left the White House,
said they had counselled their friends
In kentucky to avoid violence at any
cost, and they said they were satisfied
that If trouble came Il would be precip-
itated by their political advcrsaries.
OFF FOR KENTUCKY.
Senator blackburn left this afternoon
for kentucky. and Representative
Rhea will follow him tonight They
will use their utmost cndeavors to pre-
vent II collision. At the same time they
Will act as advisors OF Goehel in the
legal proceedings that are to be insti-
tutcd. They assert that C;oebel Is the
legal Governor, and that the courts will
uphold him.
SENATOR LINDSEY HOPEFUL.
Senator Lindsey remained with the
President Il quarter OF an hour after the
delegation had left. On leaving the
White House lie said that IL was the
opinion OF the authorities that u case
had not been made out which would
warrant Federal interference In -knn=
lucky. and that he O.indsey) was dis
posed to share that view. The Scna-
tor said further that he did not believe
there would be any more bloodshed and
that before the week closed the present
difficulties would he amicably settled,
or In a fair way OF settlement