The San Francisco call., 1899-12-06
WILL 6. PRYOR.
r " ELLIS

State Board OF Election Commissioners
Governor Bradley wrote the following
reply which he carried personally into
the boardroom and handed TO Judge
Pryor. chairman OF the board:
Gentlemen: I regret very much that you
should have for one moment believed the mai
you speak. / have absolutely become wearied
by contradictug the lies OF partisan press.
You should know me well enough 70 know that
] don't resort 70 any such clandestlne methods.
and especially you should know that the report
is false In view Of the fact that waited upon
the chairman OF our board yesterday morn
ing and offered. II he desired. 10 exclude all
persons. except those who mad business In the
department, from the buildings ANY statement
that any men set Of men have been brought
here with my knowledge. consent or approval 70
stand by with a view Of overawing the board,
Is d malicious lie. l have brought no man here
for any purpose. and no man is here by my or
der l see il stated in the papers that certain
members OF the State Guard are here In citi-
zens' clothes have seen several officers here.
but they are here individually and not as mem
hers of that organization and NOT bv any com
nivance my part. Instead Of intimIdating I
am ready at ali times 10 protect any officer OF
the law in the discharge OF his sworn duty.
w. .. BRADLEY.
AS he entered Governor Bradley in
quired:
MAY I interrupt the board a mo-
ment? | want 10 make a public state
ment. / received your communication a
few moments ago. / was a little busy at
the time and my attention was not called
10 ii until moment ago. l answered IL
at once. / not only want to answer IL in
writing but | want to make a statement
for the benefit Of lying correspondents
that are purposely misrepresenting me"
Here the Governor was interrupted by
Judge Hargis, the senior Democratic
counsel who for some time had been try
ing 10 break In, but could not until Gov
ernor Bradley paused TO breathe.
object to this statement" said
Judge Argis. IT don't know what ii is
about"
''It is about the presence of the SOL
diers." said Judge Pryor.
Then l have no objection" replied
Judge Hargis.
II don't care II you do object" replied
the Governor with strong emphasis on
the 81 Il want TO say there are no
soldiers here. There are some officers
here who have come here on individual
business. No soldier is here. no citizen is
here, by my order. / do not do things
that way. l want to say, Mr. Chairman
that l came to you yesterday morning
seeing this crowd here, and I said TO you
II you want the crowd excluded from
this building | will do IT,,
"and l so notified the board"
II say TO YOU" went on the Governor
speaking in quick. emphatic tones. that
no officer shall be intimidated in the dis
charge of his sworn duty so long as l am
Governor of this State. aid any man who
intimates that l have called soldiers here
or anybody here is malicious liar That
Is all have TO say to the board"
we thought replied Judge Pryor
that IL was due TO us and Just TO you
lndI you De nOuueQ OF the fact
that was suggested"
THAT is right" said Governor Bradley
as he walked toward the door. Turning
with his hand on the doorknob. he saio
emphatically:
And ] am responsible for it in here or
out of here"
After leaving the Commissioners room
Governor Bradley stopped In front OF a
large crowd OF spectators who filed the
outer office OF the Secretary OF State
Now, boys" he said. you know you
are talking about intimidation and |
don't really think II is wise for you TO
remain here. OF course we all know you
would not intimidate anybody. but II he
just as well that there should not be an
arrest"
In obedience TO the suggestion the
crowd, which comprised as many Demo-
Gratis as Republicans, quietly left the Of
flee.
In addition to the counties passed yes
terday for argument before the COntestfng
board the counties Of Hopkins Jefferson
Johnson, Knox, Lewis, Magoffin and Mar
in which Louisville is situated. was passed
without much argument. Immediately ON
the conclusion OF the canvass Judge
Pryor remarked 10 the Democratic at
torneys:
Gentlemen. you will please submit in
writing when the board cOnveues to-rnor-
row written copies OF the charges YOU
bring In each county and will OF course
other side"
Mr.. Wilson OF the Republicans then sug-
gested that as the. great question 10 be
settled by the board tomorrow was
hind the certified returns IL might be well
TO argue that question first as all the
others depended upon IL. The matter was
hhot decided: but It probably will be
test In the morning. So far there has not
been the slightest Indication OF trouble i'm