The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-31
Mr.. BLACKBURN'S SEAT
Governor TaylOF'S Stand on the
Certificate Of Election.
The Probable Effect of the Shooting
of state Senator GOebeI-Entnngie-
ments That Are Likely 10 Ensue.
barred Out of the senate Until
Action Is THken-sOme Opinions

Two diametrically opposite views
are taken Of the probable effect
OF the attempted assassination Of
GOebel on Senator elect Black
burns chances OF getting the certificate OF
election. Both are adhered 70 strongly. A
few days ago It was officially announced
from Frankfort that II this Gubernatorial
contest in the legislature resulted ad-
versely to acting Governor Taylor ho
would refuse to certify 10 Blackburn's
election. Without this certificate Black
burn could not presenl himself to the Sen
ate TO be sworn in. A few hours after the
assassiu's bullet laid Goebel low the con-
test committee at Frankfort held a specia!
meeting and declared him entitled to the
gOvernorship. Thus is brought about the
result which acting Governor Taylor has
declared would cause him to withhold his
signature from Senator Blackburn's GER
tifcate Of election. Some OF the Kentuck-
ians in Washington who know Taylor well
say the tragedy will in no way affect his
predetermined course. Others who know
him equally well think it viii shake his
resolution. and in order not to be Justly
charged with displaying a mean and dan
gerous partisan spirit he Will Immediately
II he has not already dore so. afix his sig
nature TO the Senatorial certificate.
On this point some fine distinctions are
the subjects OF speculation. Should Tay-
Tor date the certificate after the contest
board had formally declared that be was
not entitled 10 the Office OF governor. it is
claimed by his supporters here that he
would strengthen his case in the litiga-
tion certain TO be brought before the Fed
eral courts. as that act would show that
he regarded himself as governor. despite
the declaration Of the Democratic Legis-
lature 10 the contrary. On the other
hand, il he should date the certificate
back TO the day on which Blackburn was
regularly elected by the legisture In joint
assembly. Taylor would. IL is pointed out,
accomplish the double purpose of officially
certifying his belief in the regularity and
honesty Of the election in which he as
well as the legislature was put in power.
and would also exhibit a magnanimity
that would have a salutory effect upon the
public judgment regarding him personally
and officially.
Senator Blackburn will not discuss this
phase II the case for publication. HIS
friends. however. say that ne Is not az
all worried over the prospects Of his being
deprived Of his seat in the Senate by any
thing acting Governor Taylor may do.
At the joint caucus Of Senate and House
Republicans yesterday afternoon the Ken
tucky tragedy was cited 10 emphasize
alleged conditions which may call for most
important considerations by Congress.
Representative Bartholdt OF st. Louis
brought up the subject OF vicious election
laws In certain States that are calculated
Ito thws:t the expression Of The popular
viii and 20 defraud the ballot" He said
to the caucus that the Democratic party in
NJ ssouri had written on the statute books
a law which was every BIT as bad as the
election law Of Kentucky, IT, indeed. il was
not worse than that The result OF such
'iniQuijous election laws had been seen
in Kentucky, having resulted 30 blood
shed. declared Mr.. Borthoidt In the be-
lief that an ounce Of prevention was tet-
ter than a oOund Of cure. the three Repub-
lican Rep -esentatiyes from Missouri had
decided 20 bring the election law question
TO the attention OF Congress.
Dr. Bartholdt said he desired to have
from the leaders Of the party an expression
Of opinion as to whether it was wise 20
take up the question in its relation 10 the
impending Presidential election The Re
publicans OF Missouri, he said. had cast
eco votes in the last Presidential cleo
tion, and II was only through complete fu-
sion OF Democrats and POpuiiSts that the
State had been carried for Bryan This was
conclusive proof that the Republicans had
a good fighting chance in Missouri at the
coming election. IT, however the present
election law OF the State remained in force
and Congress did not protect the national
election against the machinery set up by
that law he predicted that no more Re
publcans would be seen in the House OF
Representatives from Missouri. He sug-
gested that a committee be appointed to
canvass the situation and 10 report 10
future meeting Of the caucus.
As soon as DR.. BarthOldt had concluded
there was an informal conference OF a
number Of Representatives. The opinion
was general that the motion would better
not be adopted then. but that another eau
Gus should be held TO take up the matter
Many members expressed sympathy with
the proposition. Some said this was the
most important matter before Congress.
The conclusion. however. was that the mo-
tiOn should not be pressed at this time. Or.
Bartholdt gave notice that call would be
drawn up and presented for signatures
within the next few days, asking for eau
Gus on this question.