Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-05
or the election, laws or the Sc
States"
A FIERY REPLY.


Mr.. Wheeler, of kentucky. replied in
fiery speech. He admitted that the
situation was humiliating TO every
Kentuckian, but had hoped that 1t
would not be ventilated here. He
eulogized the Goebel election law. He
would not contend that the dominant
party had not taken advantage of its
power in distributing the State. It had
done So following the tactics of the
dominant party in most of the States
The threat of e. Federal election law. he
said. was used TO terroriZe the Demo-
Gratis.
MIR. Boreing disclaimed any intention
of threading the Democrats. But the
law must be repealed.
1T will never be repealed" retorted
Mr.. Wheeler.
Continuing, Mr.. Wheeler said that
'all the fuss WAS being kicked up in
Kentucky by fellows who were trying
to hold Office in defiance of the courts,
whose mandates they refused to obey"
EXCHANGE OF HOT WORDS.
Mr.. Wheeler then became involved I'm
the controversy with Mr.. Pugh
THE Election Commission did not
declare Taylor Governor OF Kentucky"
said MIR. Wheeler. They said that on
the fuce of the returns he had the
majority, but that 1t bore such unmis-
taxable evidence of fraud that. # they
III
and Kick him out, as the Legislature
did,
II do know that some of them tried
TO nave the way for the contest" re-
Piled MIR. PuGh hotly, that was after
wards waged on partisan lines in the
legislature. to the Disgrace of our
commonwealth and to the disgrace OF
you as citizen thereof IAppIause
on the Republican side.)
Inat Is the gentleman'S opinion"
retorted MIR. Wheeler surcastically. IL
would rather be disgraced, Mr.. Chair
man. at any time by taking my lot with
the Democrats of Kentucky than to be
identified with the men who took the
ne or Governor Goebel of that State"
(Applause OH the Democratic sideI
Are you quite certain that tho men
who took the life of Goebel could not
ne carried to your own ranks rather
than to the Republican party In Ken.
tuckyF' asked Mr.. Pugh. ltvid with ex-
cltement, amid derisive laughter on the
Democratic side.
NOBODY believes that" shouted some
one on the Democratic side.
A TRUE STATEMENT
DO you say nobody believes that?"
asked Mr.. Pugh, facing the Democratic
Slde. was not q more bitter contest
waged against Mr.. Goebel in that State
by his own party than was waged in
the Republican ranks? Was he not de-
nounced more from every stump in the
State of Kentucky by Democrats than
by Republicans?
Mr.. Wheeler-"That is true. Mr..
Chairman. (Applause on the Republi
can side.) It has been the fate OF every
great man who was true to the interest
OF the people 10 incur the implacable
nostiity Of hirelings and corruptionists,
IL matters not what he has been CAP
plausc on the Democratic side) And
the worst element of the Democratic
party did assail him, but, thank God.
he received 10000 votes, 10000 more
votes than were even given to n Dem
ocratic candidate for Governor in Ken
tuck before. That shows whether or
not he was close to the people OF the
State of kentucky"
Mr.. Pugh-"How many votes did
Governor Taylor receiver"
Mr.. Wheeler-"That is n question
that nobody but the Republican lead
ers and God Almighty will ever know.
rupted further"
Mr.. Pugh-''If you will only state the
truth"
QUITE PERSONAL.
Mr.. Wheeler-"The gentleman GER
stute anything else. Il
Mr.. Pugh (continuing)-"If you will
state the facts. Yes, I do state that
when you state that the Kentucky
election law is identical with the Ohio
election law. that you utterly msrep-
resent that law"
Mr.. Wheeler-I say It is similar in
all respects and Identical in many. DO
| understand the gentleman to say my
statement is false?
Mr.. Pugh-If you mean that to be
true, say, speaking advisedly. 1 will
use milder term and say that you
greatly misrepresent facts. do not
say that you Intentionally do 1t, and
must attribute 1t TO a lack of knowl-
edge.
A DISCLAIMER
Mr.. Wheeler want the gentleman
to be a little more careful in what he
says In this matter. do not care to
have the gentleman Insulting in his
remarks. 1 hope IL is not so in
tended
Mr.. Pugh-Surcly you do no. take
it In that way. 1t is not so in
tended.
Mr.. Wheeler-I did not think so.
Having accepted Mr.. Pugh's dis
claimer, Mr.. Wheeler then reviewed the
history of the whole controversy. step
by step, and declared his readiness
to abide by the decision of the court
or last resort in the gubernatorial is
sue.
ABSOLVED FROM BLAME.
II do not believe, Mr.. Chairman"
said Mr.. Wheeler. that the Republic
can party of Kentucky is responsible
Tor the assassination of William Goebel.
l would be willing to leave the State
If I thought so. Some OF the best
friends I have got on earth are Re-
publicans. am not so Eangrened with