Evening star., 1900-03-23
Kentucky Republicans State Their
Case to the President.
CHIEF CLAUSE IN TEE AGREEMENT
Either Side May Appeal to the
Supreme Court.
MAY DELAY THE SETTLEMENT

John Marshall, the republican lieutenant
governor Of Kentucky; Samuel ]. Roberts,
editor Of the Lexington Leader and Col.
Andrew Cowan, a prominent business man
Of Louisville, talked with President Nc
Kinley for half an hour before the cabinet
meeting this morning. At the conclusion
of the conference the three men made a
full statement to a representative of The
Star.
1--WE called on the President they stated,
for the sole purpose Of explaining to him
the exact situation in the state at the same
time giving him briefly some of the history
OF the entire matter. We sure that he
was aware of all the facts.
I'VE want it distinctly understood now
that we did not come here to ask for fed
eral troops. We do not want troops, and
did not make any suggestion of this kind to
the President. Neither did we come to
Washington to ask Congress to make an in
VeSugatlon, as has been reported. Such
step has been suggested to us, but we have
not thought OF taking advantage of 1t.
May Go to the Supreme Court.
Among other things we wanted the
President to know was that this matter
does not stop with the decision of the state
courts. We wanted him to see the agree
ment which had been entered into by the
democrats and republicans. The chief
paragraph of this agreement, to which we
propose to live, was as follows: Should any
party, after the final determination of the
causes by the court Of appeals, desire a
writ of error to the Supreme Court of the
United States to review such determination
It is agreed that such writ shall be iname-
diately applied for and diligently prosecut-
ed. II secured, and that all parties to said
causes Will unite in an application to said
federal Supreme Court to docket and ad-
vance said causes and give them the earli-
est hearing and determination possible
Alleged Democratic Threats.
In spite of this agreement" continued
the spokesman of the party, threats are
being made in the democratic newspapers
and among the leaders of the party to take
possession of the state house and archives
as soon as the state courts have decided
against the republicans. We will not sub
init to this, and will demand that the terms
of the agreement be complied with We
claim that the existing republican govern
ment is the de facto government of the
state and remains SO until the Supreme
Court of the United States has decided one
way or the other. If the federal Supreme
Court decides against US we will submit
al once ana turn the state government over
TO the democrats. The appeal we will
make to the United States Supreme Court
Will not delay the case long and We can
say that We are not seeking any delay, All
we want is our rights. We intend to ex-
"a -, oSe aii Tic ieSdl remedies suggested in
the agreement.
The existence of dual governments is. of
course, grave. The presence of two sets of
state troops is dangerous We did not dis
cuss with the President the possibilities of
clash between the two forces, as we are
not even suggesting a desire for federal
troops. The President would no doubt
Know what TO do in of fighting by the
Two forces. Our call on him was for the
very purpose of enlightening him.
10 IN
The circuit court of Kentucky has never
entered into the merits of the case. 1t has
simply decided that it had no right or law
to go behind the journal of the legislature.
which decided in favor of the democrats.
That is all that is now before the court of
appeals of Kentucky, which will hear the
case In about two weeks and hand down
an early decision. If this decision is against
us we will appeal by writ of error to the
United States Supreme Court The case
ought to be settled before the time for the
November election. In fact, we believe if
Will be settled before that time"
Will Not Surrender,
The Significance of the call on the Presi-
dent is found in the assertion of the Ken
tucklans that theyswill not surrender their
possession of the state house until the mat
Ter has been taken to the Supreme Court
OF the United States. In pointing out to
the PRESIDENT the agreement on this feature
they wanted him to understand that if
trouble follows they claim to be standing