The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1909-04-30
GOVERNOR WILSON ISSUES PARDON
TO TAYLOR FINLEY and Others.

wherever my father GOES"
81 may return to Kentucky for a
VISIT" seid MIR. Taylor, ''but prob
aBqy Will not remain there. Go
not believe that have personnel
enemy in the State, and in my judg-
ment l could go back there without
fear of personal violence"
Following is the text Of the reason
Governor Wilson gives for extending
executive clemency 10 farmer Cover
nor Taylor.
william Goebel was nominnted for
Governor of Kentucky in 1899 in tire
Democratic Convention held at Music
Hall in Louisville, of which Judge Rec
wine was permanent Chairman. Tlais
nomination drove many Democrats
from the support of their ticket. and
In tire campaign which followed the
greatest bitterness Yves between the
Democrats who were for and agsinst
| Goebel.
"Williem S. Taylor was nominated
for Governor by the Republican State
Convention without 1actioual struggle
and made an earnest campaign marked
by fine public spirit and free from
bitterness in which the chief issue be-
tween the two parties was on the cleo
ton law, called after its author, the
Democratic nominee, TIE Goebel Elec-
ton Law.
"At the election many Democrats
voted for Taylor as the surest way to
defeat Goebel and many stayed away
from TIE polls and did mot vote ct
all.
1.-The State Election Board, compos-
ed of the venerable Judge William S.
Pryor Judge OF the Court of
Appeals for more than a quarter of
century and loved and respected by
all of the people of Kentucky; Hon.
w. T. Ellis an ex-Confederate soldier
and ex-membef Of Congress, and Mr.
Charles B. Poyntz, all three Democrats
and men who he'd voted for William
Goebel canyassed the return and found
that Taylor had a majority of about
5000 and by the vote of two Of the
three members Judge Pryor and Capt.
Ellis, gave the certificate of election
10 Gov. Taylor who WAS duly inhugur-
ated and began his service as Gov
eruo.r
AFTER some delay William Goebel
began the contest of William S. Teylor's
election and the greatest party pas
sion and most intense feeling and dis
cussion followed throughout the whole
Commonwealth. 1t is hand to realize
now, nine years after these troubles,
how intense the feeling was nor what
desperate passion were aroused. 1t was
almost civil war, and neighbor was set
against neighbor In every part of
the Commonwealth. For many month
lawabiding people everywhere were in
constant fear lest tidlngs should come
Of an open outbreak and mortal clash
between the members of the hostile
parties.
1.-The contest In the General Assembly
was close, and was believd to depend
at last on the votes of two or three
men; but Gov. Taylor and his friends
firmly believe that they would finally
vote against the contest, when sud
denly the news broke upon the State
of the munder of William Goebel, and
In the storm of passion which that
crime excited all conservatism and re-
straint were swept away. The usual
onderly methods of procedure under the
law were disregaded; domestic vio-
lence and danger were imminent.
There Is no need to try to tell
again, in this statement, all the story
of that time of trial and trouble. 1t ia
enough to say that In some way, a
record was made to show that the
General Assembly sustained the con-
test of William Goebel, which over
threw tire State election, and removed
Gov. Taylor from office. The courts
held that they could not go behind that
record, and that determined tire pos
session of the office.
1.-The murder of William Goebel de-
stroyed every chance OF Gov. Taylor's
winning the contest and every sensi-
bbe man felt this at the time. No man
Of common sense or amy knowledge
of public feeling could have thought
any other result possible. It was the
worst crime in our history, and 1t did