USA > Kentucky > The history of Kentucky, from its earliest discovery and settlement, to the present date, V. 2 > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
783
IMPORTANT EVENTS OF 1886 TO 1892.
CHAPTER XXXIL.
(1886-1892.)
INCLUSIVE OF THE CENTENNIAL YEAR OF KENTUCKY.
Barriers to constitutional changes.
Chafing of the people under the same.
Devices to solve the difficulties.
Plan adopted by the Legislature, 1885-86.
The results satisfactory in IS87.
Also in the second ballot, 1889.
Legislature provides for a conven- tion.
Administration of Governor Knott.
Act permitting the acquisition of lands by the United States Govern- ment.
Other acts of 1885-86.
Reform of the revenue laws.
Construction of the same by the courts.
Party State conventions, IS87.
Election of the Democratic ticket.
Board of Equalization provided.
Defalcation of Treasurer Tate.
Action of the Legislature on same. Stephen G. Sharp appointed treas- urer.
State inspector and examiner.
Treasurer Sharp, resigning, is suc- ceeded by Henry S. Hale.
Presidential election, ISS8.
Harrison and Morton elected.
Centennial of the United States Government, 1889.
People's party organized.
Decision of the boundary of Ken- tucky.
Terrible cyclone in Louisville, 1890.
Great epidemic of la grippe.
The " Tyler grippe," 1843.
Constitutional Convention sits.
The work of the convention set forth in an address to the people of Ken- tucky.
Results of late geological survey.
Coal and iron in South-eastern Ken- tucky.
Other natural resources of wealth.
Products of mining ; reports.
Charles J. Norwood.
Increase of manufactures and wealth.
W. W. Longmoor.
Administration of Governor Buckner. Bureau of agriculture.
Munificent charities of Kentucky.
State election in 1891.
Ed Porter Thompson.
Administration of Governor Brown.
John Young Brown.
Centennials of the State and of the nation.
John W. Headley.
Celebration of the State centennial.
W. J. Hendricks.
L. C. Norman.
W. H. Bartholomew.
The people of the State were chafing under the restrictive provisions of the constitution of IS50 against any future change. The failure at the polls in 1884 to register the requisite proportion of votes, though the majority in favor was large, was piquantly felt. The sentiment for a change had grown for years, with a sense of its necessity. The framers of the fundamental law, in their very earnest desire to discourage agitation, had builded less wisely than they would have done had they known the future.
784
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
As the barriers to popular adjustment seemed the more formidable. impatience under such restraint became more manifest. One generation had no right to assume superior wisdom, and to fetter the sovereignty of the next. Various devices for a solution of the difficulty were suggested ; some favored cutting the Gordian knot by calling a sovereignty convention of delegates from the people, without respect to constitutional forms. This would have been but revolution at the ballot-box. It would have been justifiable, but only as a last resort.
Finally, during the session of 1885-86, the General Assembly enacted that the question of calling a convention for framing a new constitution for the State be submitted at the State election in August, 1887; and that a registry of the voters be made previous thereto, to ascertain and fix the number of qualified voters in Kentucky. The method hitherto of enu- meration included all males over twenty-one years of age, a large percentage of whom were annually absent from the polls. All efforts to secure a majority of such a count of the polls had failed. It was correctly assumed that, if through negligence or indifference on the day of election, a large percentage would fail to exercise the privilege of suffrage, as great a pro- portion would neglect to register. The assumption was well taken, and this very proper and just device proved a final and satisfactory solution. The results of the election showed that there were 162,557 votes in favor, and 49,795 against, 65,956 not voting. A majority of all the qualified votes as registered were shown to be in favor of a Constitutional Convention.
In compliance with constitutional forms, the question was a second time submitted at the State election on the first Monday in August, 1889; a like favorable expression of the popular will was given. In response to this expression, and as required by the constitution, the Legislature, during the session of 1889-90, provided for the election of one hundred delegates, one from each representative district, and for these to meet in convention at Frankfort on Tuesday, the 8th day of September, to frame a new con- stitution for the State. The history of this convention and its proceedings marks an interesting epoch.
During the administration of Governor Knott, J. P. Thompson, John D. Young and A. R. Boone were appointed and served as railroad com- missioners ; John F. Davis, of Shelby county, was made commissioner of agriculture.
The Legislature which adjourned May 18, 1886, passed an act granting the consent of the State to the acquisition by the United States Government of certain lands bordering on navigable streams, especially on Green and Barren rivers, for the purposes of improving the same for navigation. In response to the growing dissatisfaction of working convict labor in compe- tition with free, and the reports of the cruel treatment of the prisoners at the coal mines, a law was passed prohibiting the employment of the convicts at such labor, after the expiration of the contracts then in force. An appro-
1
ELECTION OF 1887. 785
priation of seven thousand dollars from the treasury of the State, for the construction of a Training School for colored teachers, and two thousand dollars annually for the maintenance of the same, was made. This was supplemented from other sources. An eligible suburban site at Frankfort was selected for the location, and a neat and commodious building erected. Since that time a successful Normal School, with modern equipments and features, has been conducted by a faculty of trained colored teachers, under the lead of President Jackson.
Under the reforms of assessment and revenue inaugurated by Auditor Hewitt, relief came barely in time to save the treasury from the annual depletions, so repeatedly annoying. At the meeting of the last General Assembly, the report of the treasurer showed a deficit of $293, 185.52. The total assessment of taxable property for the State was $390,827,963, in 1885. Under the effects of the amendatory legislation in 1887 it was $483,497,690. This increase added $180, coo to the general expense fund, and $220,000 to the school fund, or $400,000 in all to the receipts of the treasury. The results show that one-half the property of the State was excepted to elude taxation, under some evasive pretext.
About this time the Court of Appeals held, in a decision, that all laws exempting private property from taxation were unconstitutional. Under this decision, much property which hitherto had paid no taxes, under the plea of exemption by special law, or by inference of law and usage, was compelled to bear its due proportion of the public expenses. In some cases the ques- tion arose as to what limitation to the term "private property " should be given. The most important test case that came before the courts for a prec- edent was that of the Louisville Water Works Company. This company was separately incorporated ; but the stock was owned, all or nearly all, and the directors elected, by the city. It was held by the management to be public property, and suffered suit for the collection of taxes claimed for a series of years. The last court of resort finally held that the property of the Water Works Company must be classed as private, and subject to taxa- tion as other private property.
The Democratic State Convention assembled at Louisville on the 4th day of May, 1887. The nominations were : For governor, S. B. Buckner ; for lieutenant-governor, James W. Bryan; for auditor, Fayette Hewitt; for treasurer, James W. Tate; for attorney-general, P. W. Hardin; for superintendent of public instruction, J. D. Pickett; for register of the land office, T. H. Corbett. The Republican Convention nominated in opposition to these : For governor, W. O. Bradley ; for lieutenant-governor, Matt O'Doherty ; for auditor. R. D. Davis; for treasurer, J. R. Puryear ; for attorney general, John W. Feland ; for superintendent of public in- struction, W. H. Childers ; for register of the land office, T. J. Tinsley. At the election, in August, the Democratic candidate for governor received a majority of sixteen thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven votes.
50
786
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
This was about twenty-five thousand less than the average majorities in similar State elections for the previous twenty years. There were some elements of growing discontent for some time apparent in the party, and the sentiment of approval did not heartily respond to the action of the con- vention. On the Republican side, the canvass was conducted under the able and aggressive leadership of the nominee for Governor, and waged actively to its close. There were nominations made by the Prohibition and Union Labor parties, in the same contest; these received but few and scattered votes.
In furtherance of revenue reform, the Legislature, which met December 31, 1887, and adjourned May 4, 1888, passed an act creating a State board of equalization, before which all annual assessments of property for taxa- tion by counties should be submitted for revision.
On the 20th of March, the governor sent a message to the Legislature, announcing that he had suspended from office Treasurer Tate, and that a large deficit had been found in his accounts. This intelligence was a shock of surprise to the public. In twenty years Tate had been nominated and elected by his party to this office for ten successive terms. No name was more familiar throughout the State, and no official had ever a deeper hold on the confidence of the public. "Honest Dick Tate " had become a familiar household phrase, and there was never a difficulty in his making the bond of three hundred thousand dollars required by law.
It was soon known that Tate had escaped and fled the country several days before. A reward of five thousand dollars for his capture was promptly made public, but no trace of his flight was discovered. An act of the Gen- eral Assembly was immediately passed, authorizing the governor to appoint a successor. Stephen G. Sharp, of Lexington, was named for the vacancy, and at once installed in the office. The Senate resolved itself into a court of impeachment, and went through the forms of trial. The officers of State were summoned as witnesses; the fugitive ex-treasurer was found guilty, and formally deposed from office.
On March 31st, the governor appointed a committee to examine the accounts of Tate. After a full investigation, the report made to the Legis- lature through the governor showed that the defalcations had been running a series of years, as far back as 1876. The total amount reached the sum of $247, 128.50. As a partial offset to this sum, there were found in the vaults of the treasury due-bills to the amount of $59, 782.80, showing that he had not only been diverting the public money to his personal use, but had loaned it freely to importuning friends. For the purpose of effecting a settlement, and ascertaining the final extent of the liability of his bonds- men, the Legislature created a commission to be filled by the appointment of the governor, which entered upon its duties in May. After realizing from all available sources, it was found that the deficit for which the sureties would be held responsible was about $174,000.
787
CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST TREASURER TATE.
In June criminal proceedings were begun, and an indictment was brought against Tate for embezzlement under several counts. To guard against such contingencies in the future, the Legislature passed an act creating the office of State inspector and examiner. This official, ap- pointed by the governor, must annually examine the management and con- dition of the accounts of the auditor and treasurer, and of all other heads of public departments and institutions having charge and disbursement of the funds of the State. He must also be present at the monthly settlement between the auditor and treasurer, and report to the governor his findings in all of these inspections and investigations.
State Treasurer Sharp, after some months of service, resigned his office, and Henry S. Hale, of Graves county, was appointed to fill out the remain- der of his term. To this date of 1895, nothing definite is known to the public of the wanderings of the unfortunate ex-treasurer. Among those to whom James W. Tate was long and intimately known, while lamenting and abhorring the crime of embezzlement of the public funds, the opinion is charitably held that, in the beginning, the great wrong was not premedi- tated. For thirty years he had lived in the confidence of his fellow citizens, in social, religious, business and official life, without a blemish upon his name. Amiable and genial in disposition, accommodating in spirit and prudent in counsel, he made many warm friendships. No citizen as well known in private and public life in Kentucky was more respected ; certainly no one such had fewer enemies. It is not strange that so many are ready to drop the mantle of charity over the first intention, and to lament the weakness which in the end became a great crime. He yielded too ready indulgence to importunate friends, until, involved in liabilities from unpaid loans of money from the treasury beyond his means to restore, or longer to conceal, when exposure and dishonor became inevitable, he boldly robbed the treasury to provide against the contingencies of poverty in exile, and evaded the penalty by becoming a refugee from avenging law.
The presidential contest came off on the first Tuesday in November, 1888, resulting in the election of Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, president, and Levi P. Morton, of New York, vice-president of the United States, by the Republican party, over Grover Cleveland and Allen G. Thurman, the nominees of the Democratic party. The defeat of Cleveland was unex- pected, and a great disaster to the latter party. Its leaders had sustained the organization and alignment of the historic Democratic party in the face of defeat, for twenty-four successive years. In 1884, Mr. Cleveland, by the prominence he had won as the Governor of the State of New York, was chosen as the most available candidate of his party for the presidency and elected. This victory was won against the Republican party with a trained and organized array of one hundred thousand office-holders in fortified possession. The election of Mr. Cleveland reversed this army in posses. sion, and brought its full strength to his support in 1888. With such an
788
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
advantage it was expected that success in the second campaign was reason- ably assured. The disappointment was most severely felt in Kentucky and the South.
For years past a growing discontent manifested itself among the labor elements throughout the country, under a claim of the intolerable burdens of taxation imposed in insidious forms upon them by class legislation. The rapid accumulations of enormous wealth in the hands of the favored few, and the impoverishment of the great industrial masses, in an era of marvel- ous growth, are viewed as evidences of wrong in the policy of government and in its legislation. Out of this has grown widespread discontent with the leadership and principles of both the great opposing Republican and Democratic parties. With the agitations for remedies and reforms, several organizations have sprung up among the farmers and workingmen of vari- ous orders from time to time. Of these, two organizations of the farmers in Kentucky, the Wheel, and the Farmers' Alliance, in 1889, merged into one body, styled the "Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union." At first this labor movement was not designed to be political, so much as to benefit the fraternity, materially and socially. The venality of legislation and the prostitution of the powers of government, however, it was claimed, had be- come so odious and oppressive to the children of toil, that they were forced to organize for defense and protection against the moneyed powers. The Alliance and Union offered the opportunity ; it asserted itself in politics, controlling the elections in several States, and threatening further control in State and national politics. In sympathy, and with a common interest and purpose, the labor leagues of the cities and industrial centers have allied with the farmers and formed the People's party. Already this party has succeeded in electing senators and representatives in the Congress of the United States, and members of the Constitutional Convention and of the Legislature in Kentucky. It promises to become a formidable factor in the presidential election of 1892, having placed a ticket in the national field. Candidates for the next Congress arc nominated in several of the districts of Kentucky.
The year 1889 was the first Centennial of the government of the United States. The first Congress assembled and the first president was installed in office under the Federal Constitution adopted one hundred years ago. On the 30th day of April, 1789, Washington, having been duly elected, was inaugurated the chief magistrate of the nation. On the 30th day of April, 1889, this memorable event was appropriately honored in the city of New York. Kentucky, with her sister commonwealths, was represented on the occasion in the presence of her governor and his staff, of many patriotic citizens, and a portion of her military forces and equipment. In the ages to follow, this centenary epoch will be celebrated as one of the most cher- ished in the memories and hearts of the American people.
In this year the United States Supreme Court rendered a decision in
789
THE CYCLONE OF 1890.
favor of the claim of Kentucky to Green River Island, in the Ohio river, nearly five miles long and one-half mile in width, containing about two thousand acres. According to the description by its boundaries, it would belong to Indiana, but when Kentucky became a State, the main channel ran north of the island, and the jurisdiction and boundary of Kentucky then extended to low-water mark on the north side of the channel, embrac- ing the island. These facts, as well as the long continued jurisdiction of Kentucky, over the island, were decreed conclusive. The boundary line of Kentucky, established at the time of her admission into the Union, could not be changed by any subsequent changes in the conformation of the river.
On the 27th of March, 1890, a fearful tornado passed through Kentucky, taking the city of Louisville in its path. The elements seemed to gather in force for their destructive sweep through the State at a point near Smith- land, on the Ohio river, above the mouths of the Tennessee and Cumber- land. The northerly track of the tornado passed through the counties of Livingston, Crittenden, Union, Webster, McLean, Daviess, Hancock, Breck- inridge, and Meade. Parallel to it on the south, another track of destruction lay eastward in the adjoining counties of Lyon, Caldwell, Christian, Muh- lenberg, Ohio, and Grayson, The two columns of storm-forces seemed to come together in Meade and to enter Jefferson county with gathered power for a descent upon the city of Louisville. The number of killed in the counties thus traversed was reported at sixty, and the wounded at over two hundred. Forests of timber, farm houses, barns and outbuildings, fencing and other property were laid waste, and desolate ruins in every county marked the path of destruction. A partially spent force detached from the main columns of the storm reached the counties of Allen and Barren and did some serious damage there. But the cities of the falls were fated to receive the fullest fury of the tempest. The united columns of the tornado, gathering new strength, swept over the rugged slopes of Muldraugh and across the valley from the foot-hills, to break upon the city, at the hour of early night-fall. It was half-past eight o'clock in the evening when the first signals of approach were observed. The angry and turbulent motion of the clouds, as they seemed to seethe and boil over- head, gave uneasiness to some. Above the horizon everywhere the dark- ened sky was lurid with electric flame, alternated every minute with vivid and blinding flashes of lightning, followed by answering peals of thunder that caused the city to tremble to its foundations. As the clouds ap- proached the border of the city they were funnel-shaped with the rotary motion so ominous of the approach of a cyclone. A terrific gust of wind swept through the city, wrenching the creaking signs, rattling the roofs of metal, and toppling over a tree here and there. After a lull of five minutes another gust followed, fiercer than the first. The dread of suspense came upon many, as the people, after the first vibrating shocks of an earthquake,
790
HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.
in the terror of suspense, tremblingly wait to learn if the worst is yet to come. It was but a moment's interval of paralyzing fear, and the worst came with appalling waste and death, never to be forgotten by any citizen, nor in the history of the Falls City.
The great black column, with its inverted base in the clouds above and its trunk reaching to the earth, whirling onward, swaying to and fro and bounding over the valley, touched here and there a spot and tore in frag- ments every perishable thing that fell beneath its fury. For a few moments, in passing, it swooped down upon the pretty suburb of Parkland, leaving the marks of its wrath, for time only to efface. At a bound, leaping over the border, it fell in merciless wrath upon the city of Louisville. It tarried but a brief space of fifteen minutes within the metropolitan limits. In this short time the ruin was wrought. From the south-west limit the track of the tempest coursed entirely through in a north-eastwardly line, for over one mile, crossing Broadway street about Eighteenth and Twentieth, and passed out at the river wharf, near the foot of Sixth and Ninth. In width it embraced three squares, or about three hundred yards. It swept over forty squares of buildings, unroofing some houses, blowing down the walls of others, and utterly wrecking many. One thousand buildings were more or less in ruins, and the streets everywhere piled and barricaded with the debris of general wreck. The terrors of the awful night that followed were partially described in the daily press of the time; but no pen-picturing could do justice to such scenes. The wildest rumors filled the city. The belief was, in the midst of the confusion, that the wounded and dead were numbered by the thousands. Parents searched for children, husbands and wives for each other, and many for kindred and friends, not knowing but the missing ones were among the dead or injured. The greatest calamity was at Falls City Hall, on Market street, near Eleventh, where hundreds of citizens had assembled but half an hour before for an evening's entertain- ment. The structure fell in upon them, roof and walls, burying all in the common wreck. Three-fourths of those who were killed in the city met their deaths here. It was found in a day or so that only some four or five hundred received personal injuries, of whom less than one hundred were fatally hurt.
Every phase of human nature, from its forms of divinest virtue to the lowest depths of forbidden vice, found occasion for its display. Before the dawn of light on the following day, busy thieves were at work, skulking and pilfering among the broken timbers and furniture, the safes and drawers of deserted houses, and the bodies of the dead, for money and valuables. It was impossible for the police force to guard the entire stricken district and the city at large. The military were called upon to reinforce the police arm; and the Louisville Legion, three hundred strong, was assembled at the Armory. For a week or two, divisions of this body of State troops re- lieved each other through the twenty four hours of each day, patroling the
791
EPIDEMIC OF LA GRIPPE.
district, until the streets were cleared and some degree of order restored. On the other hand, heroic humanity was even more brave and active in the work of relief. The usual expressions of sympathy and tenders of aid came in speedily from all points abroad ; but the citizens at home met in confer- ence, and resolved that they alone would care for the unfortunate and suffering, without assistance from the outside. On the early morning after the dread calamity, a meeting was held at the Board of Trade rooms, and twenty thousand dollars contributed on the spot. Committees. were appointed, and this sum was soon increased to one hundred and fifty-six thousand dollars, and through committees, relief and aid, wherever needed, were continued until all urgent wants were supplied. Within one year the work of rebuilding and repair restored the district to order and industry, as before the cyclone. Among the worthy citizens who were killed outright, or died after from injuries received, we may mention the names of Rev. S. Barnwell, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church, and his little son ; J. B. McCollum, Capt. Theo. Engelmeier, J. B. Schildt, August Fleisher, Christ Miller, Prof. Gustave Kutzler, Sr., Prof. Andrew Steubling, John Emerick, Mrs. Belle Patterson, Mrs. Carrie Baker, Sister Mary Pius, Dr. Kalfus and others.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.