The Grit-advocate., 1903-10-09
Who Expects to be Successful in His
Contest for John +. Shafroth's
Seat in Congress.
Denver Election Frauds.

Denver Election Frauds.
The editorial printed below appear
ed in the Camden New Jersey Post
Telegram of Thursday, September "a,
1903 The editorial calls attention to
the fact that Senator Il. NJ. Patterson,
boss of the democratic party in Col
orado, has publicly stated that the
most glarng frauds were perpetrated
by members Of his party in Denver at
the last congressional election. Sena-
tor Patterson's admissions will be used
by Robert w. Bonynge in his contest
for John +. Shafroth's seat in congress,
and there is no question but that these
admission upon the part Of the demo
cratic boss will materially assist the
committee on contests in the house of
representatives in arriving at a dccis-
ion favorable to Mr.. Bonynge.
In recent interview with the edi-
tor of The Grit-Advocatc Mr.. Bonynge
stated that the mass of evidence he
had accumulated in his contest->for
Mr.. Shafroths seat was overwhelming,
and conld not fail to convince any con-
gresSional committee that he was en-
titled to represent the First district
of Colorado in congress. That he VIII
be given his seat in that body Mr..
Bonyngc does not doubt.
The BOnynge-Shafroth contest will
come up for hearing Immediately after
the convening of congress in December.
The Post-Telegram editorial follows:
United States Senator Patterson.
editor and controlling proprietor of the
two leading morning and afternoon
Newspapers in Denver, and row the
recognized boss of the democratic par
ty in Colorado, recently made an argu-
ment in court demanding the appoint
ment of special grand jury to inves-
tigate frauds in the registry Of voters
for the election held in that city last
Tuesday to decide upon the acceptance
or rejection of Il new charter author
lied by the legislature for the city of
Denver.
Tue presiding justice was former
district attorney, and daring the pro-
ceedings said: Il have endeavored as
district attorney and as d court to up
hold civic righteousness in this conl-
snunity 1t is true that the charges
here are susceptible of proof i'll Den
yer for years past"
Mr.. Patterson charged that ''at the
last congressional election 5000 or
5000 names were on the books in cX.
cess of what should be there, and that
election frauds have been 50 common
in Denver that the people who commit
them walk the street with Il SWagger,
willing and anxious that every one
should know that they have taken part
in them"
There will be some further develop
ments made in the next congress re-
gardng corrupt elections in Denver
which will be of more than mere To-
cal interest. Mr.. Robert w. Bonynge,
the republican candidate in the First
congressional district, which includes
the city of Denver, and Mr.. John F.
Shafroth, the populist can
didate, will contest for the sca6 the
latter having been given the certitl-
cate in face of the most glaring frauds.
In two precincts, in which are cor
rallied most of the diSreputable houses
and low dives" Shafroth was credit
ed with 5000 more plurality than he
received two years previously when he
was on the democratic popnlist-free-
silver fusion ticket. 1t is known or
proven that these ballots were put in
the boxes the night before the election
by corrupt officials and counted to de-
feat Mr.. Bouynge, and when these
facts are presented, as they will be in
a convincing manner to the congress
committee on elections, quick work
should be made of sending MI. Shaf-
roth home.
If it was dispute in which Colorado
alone was concerned or confined 10
one or the other political parties,
the contest might not enlist more than
the ordinary interest in such contests,
but the frauds were so deliberately
and openly done that every state, and
the members of all political parties.
ought to Join IN correcting the wrong,
for if there is no remedy our form OF
government becomes a farce and
should be abolished or radically
Changed.