The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-02-06

Milton H. Smith. its local president. I
was then, as am now, and have been,
fer thirty years the friend OF that great
corporation. Mr.. Belmont showed my
letter the courtesy of submitting 1t to
his executive board and did me the
honor to send me a copy Of its delib-
erations embracing the reasons OF its
refusal to consider my appeal in the
affirmative. The sole purpose of the
Louisville & Nashville was at every
cost and hazard to defeat the election
of Mr.. Goebel to the governorship of
Kentucky.
Mr.. Goebel was a man Of unlm-
peached purity of private life and Of
conceded professional ability. During
ten years service as senator in the
state legislature, no act Of his except
ing what is known as the Goebel cleo
] tiOn law. had brought the least re-
proach upon him. nor any unclean coll
lar had ever been charged egainst him.
although money to corrupt legislation
often flowed as free as water at Frank
fort. But, in some way. he had given
deadly offense to the management Of
the Louisville & Nashville and this
management felt that it must destroy
him.
1T has certainly done this. But in
doing it, it has brought upon the people
of Kentucky the incalculable wrong
and the dire disgrace of transactions
unexanIpled in the history Of republic
can government. There is not at this
moment nor has there been at any mo-
ment, the least disorder, or menace of
disorder, except such as has emanated
from the hand Of the defacto governor.
Taylor The mountain men were
brought to Frankfort, if not by his ex-
press cor,mand, yet by and with his
knowledge and consent. Their pres
ence in Frankfort could have but one
meaning and purpose; and. as If to
augment both meaning and purpose,
some of them who had been
arrested by the local police for carry
ing deadly weapons and for disorderly
conduct were, in advance of trial, par
doned by the defacto governor.
The shot that killed Mr.. Goebel was
fired from an upper window Of the exc
cutive office, which swarmed with the
armed adherents Of the defacto gov
ernor. Admission to this building was
at once denied the civil authorities; a
Gordon Of troops was thrown about it
and there, under the patience of being
in stage Of siege, the defacto govern
or has ever since held himself a volun-
tarily prisoner, though surrounded by
the state militia, called out by himself
and issuing thence proclamations dis
banding the general assembly and
transferring the seat of government Of
the commonwealth.
"AlI this while the contestants before
the legislature were proceeding strictly
in accordance with laws of contest, as
old as the constitution Of the state,
With not the least threat Of violence,
or show of disorder. There was posi-.
lively no thought Of insurrection, out
side the imagination Of the governor.
BY his orders the general assembly Of
the commonwealth has ben denied ac-
cess to its chambers in the state capi-
tai, close by, guarded by troops; by his
orders its members have been chased
through the streets Of Frankfort from
one place to another, seeking legisIa-
tive abiding place; and by his orders
the processes of the courts Of law, in
Guiding the writ Of habeaus corpus are
denied service and the lawful procedure