The Anaconda standard., 1899-12-06
Denies That He Has Brought Sol
diers Into Frankfort.
CANVASS|NG THE RETURNS
Board o: Election Comm 'ssioners Of Ken
lucky Finishes the Count and Will
Hear Arguments To-Day.
The Crowd Loft.

! Der to hear arguments in the case of
| II contested counties. The first of
them will come up on whether or not
! the board has a right to go behind the
| certified returns filed with the secre-
! tary of state by the different counties.
! Upon the issue CT the argument on this
| point will rest the name of the next
! governor of Kentucky.
In the face of the returns now on file
with the secretary of state Mr.. Taylor
has a plurality Of 2,&S3, his total vote
! being 193114 against l9l,431 for Goebel.
If there is to be no going behind"
| the returns the board will have no OPP
! ton but to issue the certificate of cleo
tion to Taylor. If the board decides
that it has the power to go behind the
returns there is no telling who will re-
| Ceive the certificate. Ii will depend
entirely upon the results OF the con-
| tests to be decded before the board,
| and the matter will without doubt be
carried for final settlement TO the state
| legislature which meets next month.
The morning proceedings We're enliv-
ened by Governor Bradley, who made
| an address to the board regarding the
statement that he had brought soldiers
! into Frankfort. Before the meeting
began the election commissioners sent
ley:
His Excellency, Governor Bradley,
Governor of KentucSy-Sir: Since the
board of election commissioners con-
vened in this city yesterday it has
been persistertly asserted in the public
building and on the streets of this city
as well as published in the newspa-
pcrs that a body of armed men in cit
liens garb have been brought here
with your knowledge, by your con-
sent or with your approval to stand
by with a view of overawing this board
while it discharges the duties imposed
upon it by law. These reports, though
emanating from republican sources,
have not. so far as we know, been de-
! MED. Under these circumstances we
hold it to be our duty to inquire di-
rcctly OF you whether or not there is
any truth or semblance of truth in the
reports to which we herein call your
attention.
wv. S. PRYOR,
wv. T. ELLIS,
"CHARLES b. POINTER,
state Board Of Election Commission
Governor Bradley wgote the following
reply which he carried personally into
the board room and handed to Judge
Pryor, chairman Of the board:
"Gentlemep-I regret very much that
YOU should have for one moment be-
lieved the malicious lie that has been
circulated and of which you speak
have absolutely become Wear1ad by con-
tradicting the lies of a partisan press.
You should know me we'll enough to
know that l don't resort to any sven
clandestine methods, and especially
you should know that the report is
false in view of the fact that | waited
upon the chairman of your board yes
torday morning and offered, il he de-
sired, to exclude all persons except
those who had business in the depart
ments Of the building. Any statement
to the effect that any men or set OF
men have been brought here with my
knowledge, consent or approval, to
stand by with a view of overaWln5s
the board. is a malicious lie. | have
brought 10 man here for any pufp6sE
and no man is here by my orders
see it stated in the papers that certain
members of the state guard are here in
citizens clothes. l have seen several
officers here, but they are here indiVld-
ually and not as members of that or
ganzation and without any connivance
on my part Instead of intimidatine.
l am ready at all times to protect ev-
cry officer of the law in the discharge
Of his sworn duty.
w. Q. BRADLEY"
AS he entered, Governor Bradley in
uuired: Can | interrupt the board
moment? l want to make public
statement. l received your communi-
cation a few moments ago. | was
little busy at the time and my atten-
ton was not called to it until mo-
mcnt ago. l answered it at once.
not only want to answer it in writing,
but ! want to make statement for the
benefit of lying correspondents that are
purposcly misrepresenting me,
Here the governor was interrupted
hy Judge Hargis. the senior democratic
counsel, who for some time had been
trying to break in, but could not until
Governor Bradley paused for breath.
II object to this statement" sail
Judge Hargis. Il don't know what 1t
is about
1T is about the presence of the sol
diers." said Judge Pryor.
''Then l have no objection, replied
Judge Hargis.
Il don't care if you do object re-
piled the governor with strong en-
phasis on the Il" Il want to say there
are no soldiers here. There are some
officers here who have come mere on
Individual business. No soldiers are
here.-no citizens-by my order. do
not do things that way. ] want to say,
Mr.. Chairman. that | came to you yes
terday morning, seeing this crowd here,
and said to you, if you want the crowd
excluded from this building | would
do it."
.That is right" retorted Judge Pryor,
"and | so notified the board
Il sav to you" went on the governor.
speaking in quick. emphatic tones.
that no officer shall be intinfdated in
the discharge of his sworn duty as long
as am governor of this state, and any
man who intimates that I have called
soldiers here, or anybody here, is a ma
licous liar. That is all 1 have to say
to the board"
we thought replied Judge Pryor,
THAT it was due to us and just to you
that you should be notified of the fact
that was suggested
THAT is right" said Governor Brad
ley. as he walked toward the door.
UContinued nm para Five1