The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-10-18
Mayhem Will Contest,

Mayhem Will Contest.
Alexander Mayhem, late demo.
cratic candidate for congress in
Idaho, will contest the election OF
Judge Willis Sweet, on the grounds
of bribery, intimidation, and fraud
at the polls. Judge Mayhem has
no hopes before the present con.
gress, which reconvenes in Decem.
Der. but if the Democrats have q
majority in the house of represen.
tatives to be elected in November
he will push his contest.
Francis Agnew, chairman of the
Shoshone county central committee
during the recent campaign, and
Judge Mayhem were seated together
in the corridor of the Hotel Spo-
kane last evening.
Judge Mayhem has been in town
since the close of the campaign,
and Mr.. Agnew arrived yesterday
from Mullan, where the Hunter
mine, of which he is general man.
ager and part owner, is located.
Thus it was the first opportunity
the chieftains had of talking over
matters since the smoke of battle
cleared away.
Francis Agnew has a national
reputation as q politician and cam
paign manager, and took very ac-
tive part in the fight in Idaho.
He has been a lifelong democrat
and the time was when Chicago
bowed acknowledgment to his clev-
erness. He served Cook county as
sheriff for number of years.
"How do you account for your
defeat?' he was asked by Spokes-
man reporter.
"There are three very good reas-
ons," he replied. "Why Idaho was
lost to the democracy-money and
corruption, intimidation and illegal
voting. Every mine owner in the
Ceur d'Alene, with the exception
of the Hunter, contributed to the
republican campaign fund, regard
less of political beliefs and party
affiliations. Thus a very large
amount of money was realized and
it was used in the most outrageous
manner in buying votes. The sum
expended by the republican mana
ayers was far in excess of that need
ed to defray the expenses in an
honest and legitimate campaign.
Every effort was put forth to cor
rupt the voter. The vote of the
county was therefore corrupted in
the most shameful manner, a fact
which republicans themselves do
not deny. but rather boast of.
Intimidation was resorted to by
these same mine owners and the
railroad officials. The men en-
ployed on the railroads were told
that if they did not vote the repub-
lican ticket there was no work for
them. The mine owners did the
same. The miners were told they
could have work for the winter if
they voted as the managers wished
them to. If not their services
would be dispensed with. l can
furnish proof to substantiate the
truth of what l say. l am sorry
to say democrats yielded to the
threats of their employers and with
bowed heads, shameful Of their
conduct, went to the polls and voted
the republican ticket.
"Thus, Idaho commences life as
a state with stain upon her that
is only equaled by the manner in
which the negro is inundated in
the South. The charge I make
against illegal voting is based upon
the statement of Mr.. Pride, of Boise
City, that GOO Mormons in Southern
Idaho voted the republican ticket,
and had not they voted that way
they would have been disfranchised
in accordance with the test oath.
"For the reasons l give you the
next congress will be petitioned to
send the Hon. Alex. Mayhem as the
representative from Idaho. We
believe him entitled to the seat and
will fight for our rights.-Spokane
Spokesman.