The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-06

pends Upon Their Right to Go
Behind the Returns as Certified
to the Secretary of State.
FRANKFORT, Ky, Dec. 5-The state
board Of election commissioners, sitting
rs a canvasslng board, finished Its work
1T o'clock this afternoon, and tomorrow
morning at IL o'clock the members will
rit in the state senate chamber as con-
testing board, to hear arguments in the
cases Of eleven contested counties. The
hrst great fight will come Up on the ques-
ton of whether or not the board has
the right to go behind the certified re-
lurns filed with the secretary of state by
The different counties. Upon the issue of
the argument of this point will rest the
name of the next governor of Kentucky.
On the face of the returns now on file
with the secretary of state, Mr.. Taylor
has plurality of 2,3S3, his total vote be-
ing 1873, ia, against 191, ,331 for Mr. Goebel.
If there Is TO be no going behind" the
returns, the board Will have no option
but to issue the certificate OF election to
TaylCr If the board decides that it has
the power to go behind the returns, there
is no telling who VIII receive the certiti-
cate. 1t will depend entirely upon the
results of the contest to be decided be-
fore the board, and the matter will, with
out doubt, be carried for final settlement
to the state legislature, which meets next
month.
The morning proceedings We're enlIven-
ed by Gov Bradley, who made an ad-
dress to the board regarding the state
ment that he had brought soldiers into
Frankfort. Before the meeting began the
election commissioners sent the follow
ing letter to Gov Bradley:
His Excellency, William o. Bradley,
Governor Of Kentucky-Sir: Since the
state board of election commissioners
convened in this city on yesterday it has
been persistently asserted in the public
building and on the streets Of this city,
as we'll as published in the newspapers,
that a body of armed men IN citizens
garb have been brought here, with your
knowledge, by your consent or with your
approval, TO stand by with a view OF
overawtng this board while 1t discharges
the duties imposed upon 1t by law. These
reports though emanaJing from reputa-
pie sources, have not, SO far as we know,
been denied either by you or any one for
you. Under these circumstances we hold
1t 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.
Charles B. Poyntz
Will S. Pryor.
w Ellis
State Board of Election Commissioners.
FLAT DENIAL
Gov. Bradley wrote the following reply,
which he carried personally into the
board room, and handed it to Judge Pry-
or, chairman Of the board. 1t was as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen: regret very much that
you should have for one moment be-
neved the malicious lie that has been
circulated, and of which you speak. I
have absolutely become wearied by con-
tradicting the lies of a partisan press
You should know me we'll enough to
know that l do not resort to any such
clandestine methods. And especially you
should know that the report is false in
view of the fact that l waited upon the
chairman of your board on yesterday
morning and offered, If he desired to eX-
clude all persons except those who had
been in the departments from the build
ing. Any statement that any men or set
of men have been brought here with my
knowledge, consent or approval to stand
by with a view Of overawing the board,
is a malicious lie. 1 have brought no
man here for any purpose and no man
is here by my order. | see 1t 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 individually, and not as mem
bers of that organization, and without
COnniVance on my part. Instead OF in
timidating I am ready at all times to pro-
teCt every OfT1C6r OF the law IN the QlS-
charge of his sworn duty.
w O. Bradley"
As he entered Gov. Bradley inquired:
"Can l interrupt your board a minute?
! want to make public statement. J
received your communication a few mo-
mel4ts ago. I was a little busy at the
time, and my attention was not called
to ii until a moment ago. 1 answered il
at once. I not only want to answer 1t ir
writing, but I want to make statemen
for the benefit of lying correspondent:
that purposely misrepresent."
Here the governor was interrupted BY
Judge Hargis, the senior Democratic
counsel, who for some time had been try
ing to break in, but could not until Gov
Bradley had paused to breathe"
Il object to this statement" said judge
Hargis. Il do not know what 1t il
about"
''It is about the presence of the sol
diers," said Judge Pryor
'Then I have no objection" returned
Judge Hargis.
y don't care If you do object" replied
the governor, with a strong emphasis OF
the I. Il want to say there are no sol
diers here. There are some officers her,
who have come here on individual busi
ness, but not in uniform. No soldier Il
here, no citizen is here by my order.
do not do things that way want t
say, Mr.. Chairman, that I came to yol
here, and said to you, if you wanted tn
crowd excluded from this building
would do it."
THAT is right" retorted Judge Pryor
''and I SO notified the board"
GOV. BRADLEY BELLIGERENT.
81 say to you," went on the governor
speaking in quick emphatic tones, ''tha
no officer shall be intimidated in the dis
charge of his sworn duty as long as I an
governor of this state, and any man VIII,
intimates that L have called soldiers here
or anybody here, IS a malicious liar. Tha
Is all l 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 fac
that 1 suggested"
That is right" said Gov. Bradley. a
he walked toward the door Turning witt
his hand on the door knob. he said EN-
phatically:
"And I am responsible for it in her
or out of here"
After leaving the commissioners room
Gov. Bradley stopped in front of a larg
crowd Of spectators who filed the onte
office of the secretary Of state. Now
boys" he said, you know they are talk
Ing about intimidation and 1 don't reaII,
think 1t is wise for you to remain here