Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-12-06
DENIES THAT HE IS ATTEMPTING TO
OvERAWE BOARD.
Canvass of Unc0ntested Vote Complet-
ed Yesterday, nnd Board Will
Sit nv Contest Court to
Pnss ON Disputed
Cases To-day.

d Contest DOarQ TO near dTSuAieits AL eAe
cases of eleven 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 sec
retary of state by the different counties.
Upon the issue of the argument of this
point will rest the name of the next gov
ernor of Kentucky. On the face of the
returns now on file with the secretary of
state. Mr.. Taylor has a plurality of 2,SS3,
his total vote being 1884, against 19l,33l
for Goebel. II there Is to be no going
behind the returns, the board will have
Election to 09 Tayior S # the @ board decides
that 1t has the power to go behind the
returns; there Is no telling who will re-
ceiye the certificate. 1t will depend en-
be decided before the board. and the matter
Will without doubt be carried for final
settlement to the state legislature. which
The morning proceedings were enlivened
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 the following letter to
Governor Bradley:
His Excelleney, Governor Bradley, Governor OF Ken
lucky.
sir:-since the state board Of election commission
ers convened in this city on yesterday. has been
persistenty asserted in the public and the
Of this city, well published in the newspapers.
that body OF armed men In citizens garb have been
brought here. with your knowledge. by
or with your approval. to stand by with view OF
overawing this board while it discharges the duties
imposed upon it by law. These reports though ema-
mating from Republican sources have not SO far as
We know. been denied. Under these circumstances
wefS WE hold to be our duty to inquire directly of
truth In the reports to which herein your at
tention. WILL 9 PRYOR
". T. ELLIS
CHARLES b. POYNTZ
State Board Of Election Commissioners
Governor Bradley wrote the following
reply. which he carried personally into the
board room and handed to Judge Pryor,
chairman of the board:
Gentlemen:-I regret very much that you should
have for one moment believed the malicious lie that
has been circulated. and of which you speak. have
absolutely become weared by coutradictIng the lies
of partisan press. You should know we'll enough
10 know that do not resort to such clandestine
methods. and especially should know that the
Fort is false view Of the fact that l waited upon
the chairman Of your board on yesterday morning
and offered if he desired. exclude all persons ex-
cept those who had business departments from
the building Any statement that any men or set of
men have been brought here with my knowledge.
consent or approval to stand by with view Of over
awng the board, is a malicious lie. have brought
no man here for any purpose. and man is here by
my order see 1t stated in the papers that certain
members Of the state guard here in citizens'
clothes. have seen several ofcers here, but they
here individually and not as members Of that or.
ganization and without any connivanee my part
protect every ofeef Of the law the discharge Of
his sworn duty. 'z44N,s W. O. BRADLEY
AS he entered Governor Bradley INQUIRED:
Can interrupt the board moment? 1 want to
make public statement. received your communi-
cation few moments ago. was little busy at the
time. and my attention was not called to 1t unit;
to answer it in writing. but want to make state
ment for the benefit lying correspondents that are
purposely misrepresenting-
Here the governor was Interrupted by
Judge Hargis, the senior Democratic coun-
sci, who for some time had been irving
to break in. but could not until Governor
Bradley paused to breathe.
II object to this statement" said Judge
Hargis. Il don't know what it is about
IT Is about the presence of the soldiers -
said Judge Pryor
Then l have no objection" returned
Judge Hargis.
II don't care II you object replied the governor
| with a strong emphasis on the T. Il want to
say there are no soldiers here. There some off.
GERS here who hare come here individual business
No soldier is here; no citizen Is here by my order
do not do things that way. want to say Mr.
Chairman. that i came to you yesterday morning
seeing this crowd here. and said you. II you want
the crowd excluded from this building 1 would do
That is right" retorted Judge Pryor. "and so
Il say to you," went on the governor speaking in
quick. emphatic tones that officer shall be in
timidated in the discharge of his duty long
as am governor of this state. and any man who
intimates that l have called soldiers here or any
body here. is malicious liar. That is all have
I'VE thought" replied Judge Pryor, that
| 1t was due to us and just to you that you
| should be notified of the fact that was sug-
gested."
THAT is right" said Governor Bradley,
| as he walked toward the door. Turning,
with his hand on the door knob, he said,
| emphatically:
And l am responsible for it here or out
of here
| After leaving the commissioners room,
Governor Bradley stopped in front of a
large crowd of spectators who filled the
| outer Office of the secretary of state. Now,
| boys" he said, you know they are talk
| ing about intimidation. and l don't really
| think 1t is wise for you to remain here.
| OF course, we all know you We're not here
to intimidate anybody, but 1t is 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 yester-
| day for argument before the contesting
board, the counties of Hopkins, Jefferson.
| tin were passed. Jefferson county. in which
| Louisville Is situated, was passed without
much argument The causes of the contest
have been published so extensively and
have been the cause of SO much argu-
ment already that II went to the waiting
| list without much talking. The causes for
| the contests are the alleged presence of
| United States marshals and militia and the
| action of the inspectors for the Brown
| Johnson party in forcing their way into the
| polling booths to watch the counting of
/
| introduce as an amendment to the original
| election certificate mass Of evidence
| which Secretary of State Finley refused to
| receive Yesterday and later caused. to be
| removed from his Office. The Republicans
| objected and the whole mass of documents
| was passed with the county.
| Immediately on the conclusion of the
| canvass, Judge Pryor remarked to the
| Democratic attorneys: Gentlemen, you
| will please submit In writing, when the
| board convenes tomorrow, written copies
| of the charges you bring in each county,
| and will, of course, serve copies upon the
| attorneys on the other side"
| Ex-Governor McCreary declared that II
would be very difiicult to do this in the
time allowed.
| Ellis "Just put them into the briefest
possible shape. Don't attempt any argu-
j ment, Just state your case.
i So far there has not been the slightest
i indication of trouble in Frankfort The
1 streets have not been crowded. There
| have been no more arrests than usual
i The -canyassing of the votes has been car
ried through in the most harmonious man.
ner. and there has been no lack Of courtesy
by the representatives of either party to-
| ward the other.
Scare I'm . New York Hotel.
NEW YORK, Dec. 5.-There was a scare among
the guests Of the Hotel Marlborough for short ts
| to-day because of q fire the roof No panic re-
| suited, Several PERSONS were carried down stairs