The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-11
REPLY TO THE CRITICS.
Governor Bradley Tells Why He Modified
His Army.
CITIZENS SAID TROOPS WERE NEEDED
And Made Affidavit that the Mayor
and sheriff Could Not BE Trusted.
Rioting Was Feared.

I
Bradley tonight gave out statement II
reply TO the criticism of his action mad
| by the election commissioners in thei
report. He accuses the commissioners o
making their statement on ex-psrte evil
dence any says they oversteppel theii
duties in discussing his conduct. Governor
Bradley denies that the Legion was equip.
ped in order that 1t might be USE
in the election and tells at length of the
reorganization of the State militia after
the Spanish war
He continues: THE statement that
went to Louisville to call out the guard
was and is maliciously false Appoint
inents were made for me to speak a. three
places in the city Saturday night teiore
the election ard / went there to fill the n
After having spoken, number o he
uid2ens asked me to remain over AID speak
al the Auditorium Monday night. which
nounced. Meanwhile, before Monday
night, the press of the city shovel ye,y
great bitterness and excitement The
mayor issued proclamation saying blood
shed was apprehended and extra Police
were appointed. Monday some eishty-
seven election officers were sum.la lily
removed. and this added greatly 10 the
interse excitement alres dy prevailing. Al
fdaf.ts were filed with me- in which it
was stated that on account of the excited
condition of the publ mind, TAI cleo
ton would not be given and that lrse ex-
ercise of the right of franchise would
be interrupted by force and fraud. They
verify believed that there was great dam
ger, that many breaches of the peace, r.ots
and disturbances would occur on the day
Of the election. They believed tina, in or
der to preserve the peace. secure the
rights, lives and property of the citizens
1t would be necessary to strengthen the
civil authorities by the employment of
military force by ordering into service
so much of the State guard as might be
deemed necessary to prevent such dancers
Inc afhdavits further stated that atlantis
verify believed that the military force
could not be safely placed under the con-
mand, charge or direction of the mayor
sherin or jailer of the county, or chief
OF police. On the filing OF these affidavits
an order was issued to Colonel Chare,
u. Msngel to assemble the State guard
IN the city OF Louisville, at the armory.
oy O'Clock a m. the next day, and hold
them in readiness to protect the lives an
properly OF the citizens of Louisville. He
was ordered to exercise great caution and
90 nothing that the eXigencies of the occa-
sion dld not absolutely require"
governor Bradley then tells Of the pre-
cautionary orders given the troops, and
continues About $3.50 p. nj. after the
polls We're closed. Judge Toney's com
munication was handed to me, in which
was Informed that he had issued an or
uer commanding the election inspectors
TO admit the Brown and republican in.
spectors TO witness and inspect the count.
ana that these orders were being con-
temptuously ignored, and calling nv nj
tention to his inability to enforce the or
ders. so that | might take proper action.
On receipt OF this communication I or
aered out the troops to enforce the orders
Of Judge Toney, but owing to DELAYS and I
they did not leave the .
armory until after o'clock When they /
ana leave nearly every polling place in .
The city had been deserted and in no in
stance dld they use any force or intimi- 4
iate any human being. This was not I
he first time that troops have been Or /,
iereu INTO the armory at Louisville and |,
there on election day."
The governor says exactly similar ac-
ion was taken at Covington. State
nents were sent to him signed by some
'Ao citizens, representing that 1t was nee
,ssary for the safety and welfare of the
state, and TO avert threatened domestic
iolence and other dangers to the public
interest, to employ military force in aid {
II the civil power in preserving the peace
md securing the rights of property and
ives OF the citizens.
Governor Bradley concludes: at will
'e seen that in nc instance did | order ;
he election to be interefered with or
oldiers TO be sent to the polls, but gave
My such orders as were necessary To Y
reserve the public peace and the lives I
nd property OF the citizens. There is no a
eason that life and property should not :
e protected on election day as we'll az T.
n any other day in the year. That troops y
nay not be used to drive men from the r
oils who are exercising their rights OF "
mirage Will not be denied, but that they h
nay be used 10 prevent bloodshed riot t.
nd intimidation is equally true. In the q
notation from Mr.. Cooley by the com d
lifsioners 1t Is said, 1t is consequently
the highest Importance that the pres al
nee OF military at the polls be not SUI IL
cred except In serious emergencies. when S
isorders exist or are threatened for the u
Impression or prevention OF which the o.
rd,hary peace force is insufficient II q
M be observed that no soldiers were r
resent at the polls. and even il they m
al been. under the authority laid down IL
Mr. cooley, such presence would havA =
cen legal"