The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-06
Delivers Heated Words to Kentucky
Election Commissioners.
IS IN FIGHTING HUMoR
DENoUNCES REPORTS ABOUT
HIM AS LIES.
Denies That He Ordered Troops to
Frankfort and Declared That Of
ficers Counting Returns Should
Not Be Intimidatsd In any Way
If He Could Prevent It.


board of election commissioners. sit
ting as canvassing board finished its
work at O'Clock this afternoon. and
tomorrow morning at IL o'clock the
members will sit ii the state senate
chamber as a contesting board to hear
arguments in the cases of eleven con-
tested counties.
The morning proceedings were 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 be-
gan the election commissioners sent the
following letter to Governor Bradley:
His Excellency. Governor Bradley,
Governor of Kentucky:
Sir-Since the board of election com
missioners convened in this city yes
terday it has been persistently asserted
in the public buildings and on the
streets of this city. as we'll as pub
lished in the newspapers. that body
of armed men in citizens garb have
been brought here with your knowl-
edge. by your consent, or with your
approval, to stand by with a view of
oyeraweing this board while it dis
charges the duties imposed upon it by
law. These reports, though emanating
from Republican sources. have not. so
far as we kno' been denied. Under
these circumsts ces we hold it to be
our duty to inquire directly of you
whether or not there is any truth or
semblance of truth in the reports to
which we herein call your attention"
The Governors Reply.
Governor Bradley wrote the follow
ing reply, which he carried personally
into the board room and handed TO
Judge Pryor, chairman of the board:
Gentlemen regret very much that
you should have for one moment be-
lieved the malicious lie that has been
circulated and of what you speak.
have absolutely become wearied by
contradicting the lies of a partisan
press. You should know me well enough
to know that / don't resort TO any
such clandeStine methods. and espec-
tally you should know that the report
is false in view of the fact that waited
upon the chairman OF your board on
yesterday morning and offered, il he
desired TO exclude all persons except
those who had business in the depart
ments. from the building. Any state
ment that any men or set of men have
been brought here with my knowledge,
consent or approval, to stand by with
a view of overaweing the board is a
malicious lie. / have brought no man
here for any purpose. and no man is
here by my order. / see it stated in
the papers that certain members of
the state guard are here in citizens
clothes / have seen several officers
here, but they are here individually and
not as members of that organization.
1 am ready at all times to protect every
officer of the law in the discharge of
his sworn duty"
Denounced as Lies.
As he entered, Governor Bradley in
quired: Can / interrupt the board d
mt 70 r rhlio n state
ment. / received your communication
a few moments ago; l was little busy
at the time, and my attention was not
called to it until a moment ago. l an
swered it at once. l not only want TO
answer it in writing. but 1 want to
make a statement for the benefit of ly-
ing correspondents that are purposeiy
disappearing me-"
Here the governor was interrupted by
Judge Hargis, the senior Democratic
counsel, who for some time had been
trying to break in, but could not until
Governor Bradley paused to breathe.
Il object to this statement" said
Judge Hargis. Il don't know what it
is about"
1T is about the presence of the sol
diers," said Judge Pryor"
Then 1 have no objection" said
Judge Hargis.
Il don't care if you do object" re-
piled the governor. with g strong en-
phasis on the - 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. 1 want
TO say. Mr.. Chairman, that I came 10
you yesterday morning. seeing this
crowd here and said TO you, If you
want the crowd excluded from this
building. would do it,"
Says He Is Responsible.
THAT is right" retorted Judge Pryor,
"and l SO notified the board
Il say TO you" went on the governor,
speaking in quick emphatic tones.
that no officer shall be intimidated in
the discharge of his sworn duty as long
as am governor of this state, and any
man who intimate5 that 1 have called
soldiers here, or anybody here, is a ma
Iicious liar That is all have to say to
the board"
I'VE 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 all right" said Governor
Bradley, as he walked toward the door.
Turning. with his hand Oh the door
knob, ne said. emphatically: And am
responsible for it in here or out OF
here