The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-02-20
POIiCl| Comment
The Results CT GoebeIism.

Another trial for the murder of
GOebel has been held in Kentucky
without arriving at the identity of
the man who fired the fatal shot. 1t
is Il deplorable fact that the assassin
was not singled out long ago and pun
ished according to his crime. But
the reasons for the failure are clear.
The authorities charged with the
prosecution have played politics
throughout, and not sought the ends
Of Justice. They started out with theo-
ries invented for partisan advantage
and have steadily followed that course.
Their purpose has been 10 benefit them
selves, not 10 avenge the deed of blood
along the lines of direct testimony. 1t
was assumed that the Republicans
elected to State Offices. and duly in
stalled therein. had %conspired 10 kill
GOebel. Therefore. they must be driv-
en- from office and put on trial for
their lives before partisan juries. \
legislative reward of 100000 was offer
ed to run down the alleged murderous
conspirators, and has been spent with
out even revealing the assassin who
handled the gun. The excessive re-
ward was intended to be scattered
with partisan intent. and there is moth
ing else to show for the money.
Back of the shot by which Goebel
fell is the dark story Of the worst
aOncafroax ornfpCr fhn hol1n% This
country has ever known. In the open
ing stages it was rightly described by
the leading Democratic paper in the
State as n political scheme to leave
nothing TO chance" at the ballot box.
Elections and returns were placed I'M
der the control Of one party. and a
State returning board was authorized
to make a final revision. But In spite
of this arrangement the Republican
majority In the State in the fall of
1899 was too large to be overcome.
The State returning board awarded the
certificates to the Republicans. and
Gov. Taylor and his associates were
installed. GOebel then pushed a con-
test In the legislature. where there was
n Democratic majority and show
ed his intent to override the ballot ar
any hazard. 1t was clear that M would
halt at nothing. and men from the
mountains fiOcked in to see what could
be done to defend the right Of suffrage.
GOebel was shot January so. 1900, was
sworn In as governor the g day.
and died three days later. The Re
publicans who had been elected by
the people were driven from office. and
Gov. Taylor, Secretary of State Pow
ers, and others. were indicted for the
murder.
Caleb Powers has been tried four
times. The first three juries We're
made up of Democrats and found Pow
ers guilty. But for the highest court
in the State he would have been hung.
The latest jury stood ten to two for
his acquittal. Many witnesses in the
case have been jIggled with on the
strength of the 100000 appropriation.
Some have died or disappeared. Pos
sibly the murderer himself, whoever
he may be, has been knowingly used
to swear away the lives of the limo
cent. 1t is a grim travesty on justice
and free institutions. 1t began when the
plotters against the ballot got to work.
Goebel had pistOled a personal enemy
to death on a street of the town
where he lived. His record is a fear
full one from the moment he schemed
to substitute the will Of a boss for the
ballot. 1t is only when the whole
story Is told that the moral can BIZ
drawn.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.