The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-12
TAYLOR AND HIS LEGISLATURES

lie gentleman who acts az chief ex
ecutive of the state of Kentucky evident
ly regards the legislative assembly of
that commonwealth as portable pronertv
which may be removed from one place to
another at his own sweet will His latest
proclamation recovering the legislature
at Frankfort naturally accustomed as
much wonder to its members, of all par
ties. as 1T doubtless does to the mass of
American citizens. His failure to accent
the greement4entered into between the
representatives of both parties springs
from the same absolute understanding of
his powers as that Which urged him to
declare martial law, to adjourn the body
to 'LoTdon, and afterwards to declare his
Willingness to accept the terms of the
agreement which had been reached.
There is, however, a decided advantage
in his latest action in refusing to ac-
cept the agreement. 1t leaves the stu
atien relieved Of many of its most dan
gerous and forbidding features 1t must
necessarily result in leaving the final
determination to the courts, PROPOSE
ton in which all good citizens must con-
cur
The only difficulty which now appears
in the path of a peaceful and speedy set
tlement is the possible clash between
federal and state judiciary authority.
That, however, on the face Of the stu
alton does not seem to be at all serious.
1t may. of course. produce such further
complications as the desperate coterie
considering the very proper attitude Of
the national executive power In refusing
to send soldiers to Kentucky, 1t is not
likely that any radical or unreasonable
attitude will be assumed by Judge Taft
in the premises.
1t does not seem to matter much now
where any one Of the two legislatures
may meet. The question which will be
presented to the courts will be whether
the action of the legislature, taken as it
was in joint and several sessions, is final
as to the right to discharge the duties
Of the executive Office. That question is
simple one on It's face; and In the In
terest Of law and order both sides must
be expected TO abide by 1t. Throughout,
the course pursued by the Democrats has
oh 70, Ia
support. They will, no doubt. continue
to adhere to that course. and will be re-
warded by having their claims recognized
by the highest court OF the state. Should
the present usurping. official continue TO
occupy his present position, the conse-
quences will certainly be serious, at least
for him. He has placed himself outside
| the pale Of the law and the constitution,
| and he merits whatever punishment the
laws provide for such desperate action.
| IL his deserts are awarded to him ne
will cool his heels in the prison of Ken
| lucky for some time after he lays down
! the cares of the dangerous position
which he now occupies.
1t has been the custom to charge upon
that class of society in Kentucky which
! Is naturally identified with Democratic
politics the many disgraceful things that
have occurred. in recent years in that
state. Republican party organs havs
chosen to treat such occurrences as the
natural outcome of Democratic wicked
ness. For all and everything that may
| occur in the immediate future in that
| state in violation of the peace and good
name Of the state. arising from political
differences. 1t certainly will not be DIFF
fcult to locate the responsibility.