The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-02-08
VIOLENCE IN KENTUCKY
GOVERNOR TAYLOR DISSOIVES
THE LEGISLATURE.
Democratic Majority Declare Goebel
Elected-Goebel is Shot But Takes
the Oath of Office.

Elected-Goebel is Shot But Takes
the Oath of Office
FRANKFORT (Ky), January 81
Kentucky now has two Governors, each
claiming full de facto and de ture
powers of office. William Goebel,
fighting death in his rooms at the Cap
itol Hotel, martyr to his political
ambition, was given the oath of office
as Governor by Chief Justice Hazel
rigg at 8 o'clock this evening. The
oath was administered to him as the
result of the action of the Democratic
members of the Legislature, who sign
ed a resolution declaring Goebel and
j. w. c. Beckhman the rightful exc
cutive officers of the commonwealth.
Propped up in his bed Mr.. Goebel took
the oath of Office, and Immediately
signed proclamation disbanding the
militia gathered here under Governor
Taylor's orders. He also appointed
Brigadier- General John b. Castleman.
United States Volunteers, retired, Ad-
Jutant-General to take charge of the
troops.
The contest between the two men,
each claiming full legal powers as Gov
ernor of the State, has now reached
its climax. At the end of the most
eventful day in Kentuckys history the
issues are so sharply drawn that open
conflict and bloodshed, If not real in
ternal war, seem unavoidable. Until
O'Clock this evening all the events of
the day seemed to go in Governor Tay-
| lor's favor. Instead of being in the
position he was in two days ago, when
| 1t was only with the greatest efforts
| that the Republican members of the
| Legislature were kept together upon
| the floor and there seemed no way for
the party to turn to save itself, all the
| cards seemed for the time to have fall
| an into his hands Where last night
every one had predicted that the shoot
ing of Goebel meant ruin for the Re-
publican claims, the very reverse SEEM
| ed to be the case Now the issue is
! such that no one can predict the out
come.
The possible eventually freely dis
cussed tonight is the calling of Federal
| troops to preserve peace. Advices from
washington indicate that such action
! VIII be taken only as a last resort
Should it become necessary, say dis
patches, President Mckinley will send
! United States troops, but only when
such course is the sole way to stop
! bloodshed.
! Governor Taylor began the morning
! by a display of resourcefulness that
took the town by surprise Instead of
putting martial law into effect. as had
! been announced was his intention last
night, he took a less radical step, and
one that astounded his supporters and
opponents alike. Declaring the procfa-
nation that revolution existed in Ken
/ lucky, he adjourned the Legislature
and ordered it to meet next Tuesday at
London, Laurel county, in the heart of
| the Republican mountaineer country
! BY the aid of the militia he assured
| himself that he would prevent the as
sembling of the Democratic LegisIa-
ture to confirm the decision of the con-
test board last night. that Goebel and
Beckham We're elected
| The Democrats seemed for the time
to be as powerless to accomplish any
thing against these plans as the Re-
publicans had been two DAYS before.
All dav the Democratic leaders rushed
through the city hunting for a meeting
place. but wherever they went they
met blue coats and rifles and glistening
bavonets.
Then in the afternoon they developed
their plan. All was done quietly.
stealthiy, but surely. Every Demo-
cratic Senator and Representative sign
ed a declaration that Goebel was cleo
ted. The put forward this act as the
best thew could do while they were
prevented by force from meeting in
formal session. The work of securing
signatures took all afternoon. AS soon
as it was COMPLETED word was sent 10
Chiet Justice Hazelrigg of the Court of
Appeals who accepted the declarations
as all that We're required to enable him
to administer the oath
The condition of Governor Goebel al
1880 O'Clock tonight was better than al
any time during the day. He was rest
ing comfortably no unfavOrable symp-
toms had appeared, and it was announ
ced that he would internationally get
through the night in good shape.
~ a NKTNPT XIV. January 20
While walking through the Capitol
grounds on his way to the Canitol AT
1l;1O O'Clock this morning. William
Goebel the Democratic contestant FOR
Governor of Kentucky. was shot down
and very dangerously wounded.
That the shooting of Goebel was the
result of carefully laid plan is with
out question. The man who did the
work had evidently taken his stand al
the window, which had previously beer
raised in order to allow the free pas
sage of the bullet, and waited until his
victim was in full sight before firing
Ever since the influx of mountaineers
last week large number of them have
been sleeping in the upper part of the
= state house. 1t is not known, however
that any of these men did the work. OF
that they had any knowledge OF the
premediated crime. There has not sc
far been discovered the slightest direct
evidence pointing to any man, and II
is not likely now that any will ever be
found.