The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-01
MR.. BLACKBURN's SEAT.
TnyI"r's Probable Action Regarding
the Certificate of Election.

/ The shooting of William Goebel in
Frankfort on Tuesday has started an in
/ teresting question regarding the proba-
| bility of J. c. S. Blackburn receiving a
/ certificate of election 1t was officially
announced a few days ago in Frankfort
! that if the guberlatofial contest in the
I legislature resulted adversely to Governor
{ Taylor he would refuse to certify to Mr..
( Blackburn's election.
Since this announcement was made the
special contest committee Of the Ken
lucky Legislature held meeting at Frank
fort and declared Mr.. Goebel entitled to
the governorship. Since then, also, the
bullet Of an assassin has laid Mr.. Goebel
upon his death bed and Mr.. Taylor is
confronted with the duty of certifying
to the election of Mr.. Blackburn.
Two widely divergent views are held of
what Governor Taylor will do. Some are
of the opinion that he will withhold the
certificate and thus defeat the will of the
legislature. iustifying his action on the
ground that Mr. Blackburn was not legally
elected United States Senator. because the
body by which he was chosen was not
legally constituted. Those who hold TO
this opinion claim that Governor Taylor
will not be affected by the deplorable
tragedy in Frankfort, but will hold steadily
TO the purpose formed some days ago.
others are equally certain that the
shooting of Mr.. Goebel has practically
changed the situation from Governor Tay-
lor's point of view. They believe that his
resolution to carry out the threat against
Mr.. Blackburn will be broken and that
he will hasten to make out and sign the
certificate, If he has not already done So
They say he will be afraid TO display
so mean a partisan spirit In the face OF
the tragedy which has occurred.
Among the politicians some fine distinc-
tions have been drawn in discussing the
situation in Kentucky. For instance. If
Governor Taylor should decide to issue the
certificate, he would be confronted with an
almost insurmountable difficulty. II be
should date the certificate after the con-
test board had declared that Mr.. Goebel
was entitled to the Office OF governor, the
act would show that he regarded himself
as governor. despite the declaration Of the
legislature to the contrary. This, it Is
claimed, would serve to strengthen his
position in the settlement OF the legal
question concerning his right to act as gov
ernOr, which will be tried in the Federal
courts
On the other hand. il Governor Taylor
should date the certificate back to the day
on which Mr. Blackburn was chosen SEN
ator by the legislature. it would be tanta-
mount to certifying his belief in the regu-
larity and honesty of the election which |
placed the legislature. as well as him
self. in power. This act. say the poll |
ticans would show magranimity worthy |
Of an honest man in great public emer-
gency, and the opinion is that it would |
have n very salutary effect upon public
opinion In Kentucky.
Senator Blackburn has been repeatedly
asked to make a statement of his views
upon this and other questions raised by the
tragedy at Frankfort. Thus far he has
either refused to meet representatives OF
the press or has cuntented himself with
indignant denunciation Of the political
enemies of Mr.. Goebel. Upon the real
merits of the situation Mr.. Blackburn for
some cause is silent His friends say he
IS not worried over the prospect OF losing
his seat. but he resolutely refuses to dis
:uss the most interesting phases of the
situation in Kentucky.