Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-02-08
KEyTUCKY'S CRISIS.
A Complicated Situation Confronts
Politicians Of Blue Grass State.
1AYLOR'S ADDRESS TO The PEOPLE.
Coebrl sworn In ~ Governor and Beckham
as Lieutenant Governor Whitaker De-
eiares His InnOcence-tiO
Proclamation.

IlulIhlbils Nin ~ W - - -.
there II more complicated political
situation than hat which confronts
the politician, Ct kentucky, and never
was there oar Of which il seemed so
difficult to l0im an accurate guess
al The outcome. The republican party,
which two das ago was vainly strlv-
ing to hold IT'S mt mbers to their seats
upon the foor of the house and which
seemed almost powerless, is in the
saddle strong snd vigorous and car
rying things with high hand. The
powerlcssness of the republicans OF
two days ago is more than equaled
by the apparent helplessness OF the
democrats of to-day. All yesterday
the democracy were cropping
around. trying to find some way in
which il could seat in the guberna-
tonaI chair lis leader William G0ebel,
who lies slowly dying of the wound
inflicted by the bullet of an assas-
sin, no matter which way the dem
ocruts turnel they We're confronted
by The same prospect, line OF blue,
edged with s'eeI. and il was fully I'M
dcrstood by both parties that the
line and the steel were there for bus
mess purposes only. There was no
blur, no Ease alarm about II. All
day through the streets OF Frank
fort soldiers marched and counter
marched. Drills in the street were
frequently held in order that the men
might be w.rmed by exercise after
They had remained in the biting wind
Around the pententiary was a line
of troops, IN front of the opera house
was guari, three companies stood
at rest in the open space in front OF
the Capitol hotel, sentries patrolled
every side Of the building in which
ex-Gov. Bradley resides and detach-
ment of infentry held the courthouse
against the possible coming of the
members Of the legislature with the
intention Of declaring that not the
living William 8. Taylor, but the dy-
ing William Goebe was the lawful
head and chief executive of the com
monwcnlth Of Kentucky.
The republicans laid their plans
well and secretly. They carried them
through vigorously and triumphant
IT, The proc lamation declaring that
n state of instruction existed in the
state and warrants for the arrest Of
every democratic member of the iegis-
lutule were prepared Tuesday night.
II was he intention of Gov. Taylor
and his advisers that no meeting of
the legislature should be held yester-
day, even though II proved necessary
TO arrest ami detain in custody all
those who persisted in holding meet
ings. Once adopted, the policy was
carried out t. the letter Compelled
to retire from the capitol building,
they went to the opera house, Held
back from tie opera house they went
to the courthouse; prevented from en-
tering the courthouse, they went to
the Capitol hotel only to be told that
any meeting they might attempt to
hold in the building would be sup
pressed, all found taking part in it
would be arrested and the hotel itself
seized by the soldiers. It was hope
less game,
There is much doubt among the
members of the legislature as to
whether they will go TO London at
ALL Some of the republicans left
Frankfort during the day declaring
that they were going direct to Lon
don. but no democrat so declared
himself
Adjt Gen, Collier declared yester-
day that il they did not attend the
legislative meeting which is called to
meet on February 8, he would arrest
them individually, provided he re-
ceiyed the necessary orders from Gov.
Taylor, and convey them to London.
The democrats have not said they
would not 20 to London, but their
legal advisers have counselled them
that Gov. T,ylor had no right to ad-
journ the legislature from Frankfort
and IT is like J that the matter will be
tested in the courts before any cir
cumstances can arise that would call
for he arrest of the members.
All day the shadow of the death
of Mr., Goebel hung oves the Capitol
hotel, His strength began to fail
him late in the morning, the hustle
and excitement of The morning
which, despe an precautions, prnc-
truted into HIS quiet room, had most
serious effect upon him, At noon it
was declared that he could not live
but short time and Mt one o'clock
II was said that death was upon him.
The halls AID stairways We're filled
with people who sat in silence ex-
pecting to hear at any moment that
the end had come. He called for a
clergyman during the afternoon and
Rev. p, Y, Taeferro and Prison Chap.
lain Wallace were twice with him
Later clerical friend residing short
distance in the country came in and
remained for an hour at his bedside,
The physicians declared that there
was nothing that could have kept him
up so long but his wonderful nerve
and will power. They gave absolutely
| M hona and sni1 TINT deatb M Aha