Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-08

Hon. f. A. Pike, Interviewed by a
Kennebec Journal Reporter i'm
relation to the Contingent Con-
spiracy.
Hon. +. A. Pike, member of the Repub-
lican advisory committee and also one of the
Counsel in the Mandamus case, has been in
this city for several days, giving close atten-
ton to the situation in all its phases.
He was waited upon by Reporter of the
Kennebec Journal on Saturday, and gave his
views at length without reluctance or reserve,
as follows
Reporfer-Have you applied personally to
see the election returns of Senators and Rep
resentatves from your county?
NJ. Ptke.-No, not in person. | am here
as advisory counsel to those who have APP
piled. The application has been made by
Senator Harris of my county in person, by
his immediate attorney, Mr. Heath, and in
deed by many others, made in every form
and always evaded or refused. An applca-
ton is now pending before the council asking
them to name any day or hour when we can
see the returns But have no faith that we
shall get sight of them.
Repoyter.-What in your Judgment is the
motive for refusing to show the Returns?
NJ. Pike.-Well various motives have been
avowed by the council and charged by the
Republicans Councillor Foster SAYS the
purpose of the Council is to guard the returns
against any possibility of being tempered
with by the "Rabble' as he is pleased to term
the few innocent Senators and Representatives
elect and their attorneys who have applied to
see them. Mr.. Foster further said if the Sen
ators and Representatives saw the returns
they might change the records at home and
then come and wish to change the returns here
to correspond.
Reporter-Do you think this was the
real motive of the Council as thus expressed
by Mr.. Foster?
Mr.. Pike.-IIow could it be the real motive
when as soon as the hint was thrown out by
Mr. Foster the Republican Senators and
Representatives procured certified copies of
the Records and came to the door of the
Council Chamber with them and asked to
compare them with the Returns, thus prompt
ly and voluntarily and unanimously putting it
out of their power to change the records
But when they had done this the refusal to
exhibit the returns was only repeated in some
other evssive form.
Reporter.-How about the Returns from
Democratic towns? DO you think they have
been as carefully guarded from inspection as
the Returns from Republican towns?
Mr.. Pike.--Well, to begin with, it is very
suspicious circumstance that so far as | can
learn no Democrats have come from any part
of the State to look after their returns.
Hitherto. in previous years, the persons COM
ing to Augusta to look after returns have been
about equally divided between the two par
ties, as was natural. repeat it is most
suspicious circumstance that no Democratic
candidates have been here at all, this year.
Al. n. :. .sA, H. -
their absence.
Reporter.-How? What do you mean?
Mr.. Pike. Why; suppose they feel
that their case is being taken care of by the
Fusion State officers. County Attorney
Rounds charges directly that the returns were
surreptitiously and prematurely opened at
the State House, and that Democratic towns
all over the State were advised of the errors
in their returns and that the necessary
changes and amendments were made, in some
cases going so far, it is said, as Withdrawing
the original return and substituting an entire
ly new one, and certifying it as though it was
the original. OF course this, a most is serious
charge, and one that the Governor and
Council! cannot afford to ignore.
Repo1er.-Is Mr.. Rounds a considerate
man, or is he hot headed and disposed to do
rash things?
M Pike.-Quite the contrary of rash. He is
a very cool man, a man of character and abi-
ity, who knows what he is talking about; a
lawyer who has been for several years a sue
cessful County Attorney, accustomed to scan
facts closely and weigh the value of evidence
He never would have made this grave charge
without having the facts to back it up. Mr.
Rounds has really discovered the key to the
Democratic position.
Repoyter.-Do you know any reason why
rat,, H. l.
more correct than from Republican towns?
Mr. Pike-None in the world Surely no
one will contend that the Democratic towns
in this State are more intelligent than the
Republican towns, or would be likely to have
more intelligent officers. know, moreover
that the Republican Committees in the State
gave special warning to town officers to be
careful this year in their returns. They had
sort of instinct in advance of what we might
have to deal with. Here we have in round
numbers say five hundred cities and towns
and plantations in the State OF the thirteen
cities the Republicans carried all but one by
absolute majorities. Take the State through
it may be, counting small towns and planta-
tons, the Fusionists carried as many as we
did. Now, on the fair doctrine of chance
there would be as many errors and omissions
in the one class of towns as in the other. 1t
is pure nonsense to maintain any other
theory.
Reporter.-You said moment ago that
the Governor and Council cannot afford to
ignore the charges made BY Mr.. Rounds
What was your exact meaning?
Mr. Pke.-Well, the Governor and Coun-
Gil either cannot afford TO ignore, or possibly
they cannot afford to investigate. Perhaps
l had better have said, they cannot afford to
investigate. Mr.. Rounds did not charge col
fusion on the part of the Governor and Coun-
Gil, but every one can see that if they pass
by so grave an accusation as this they are
in danger themselves of being held as acces-
series after the fact.
Reporter.-I see that some papers, supposed
to represent the views Of the Governor and
Council, intimate that they will withhold
certificates of election from Senators and
Representatives charged with bribery. What
do you think of that?
NJ. Pike.-Well, as to bribery, they are
getting along better with their charges than
with their proof. The Governor is Doctor,
and the gentleman who lately spoke for the
Council is Doctor, but / should think they
would know enough law to know that secret