Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-02-22
TRULY HONEST
CONGRESSMAN
MEMBER VOLUNTARILY GIVES UP
SEAT NOT HIS OWN.
BUT GAINS EXHONERATI0N
Fraud in Colorado Election, no Fault
of the Candidate Benefited, How
ever He Refuses to Keep the Place
Against the RightfuI Owner-Ac-
ton Applauded.

Washington, Feb. 16.-In voluntarily
relinquishing his seat as a member of
the house, Mr.. Shafroth of Colorado
furnished a profound sensation during
the 40 minutes session yesterday. The
manly and earnest words of the Colo
RADIO member fairly took the breath of
the house as he proceeded TO put the
first case on record in that body where
a member gave up his seat, acknowl-
edging that his election had been faint
ed by fraud. For this fraud, Mr..
Shafroth declared he was not in any
way responsible nor was he aware that
it had been perpetrated until the evil
dence had been adduced before the
elections committee of the house. II
was not done, he said, further, for the
purpose of causing his election. As he
announced the conclusion of eight
years service in this manner most un-
satisfactory to himself, his voice be-
tOkened the emotion he felt The hush
which spread over the floor and gal
leries when the purport of his re-
marks was realized became almost
painful, but when he sat down with
words of thanks on mis- lips for the
treatment he had received from his
colleagues on both sides of the cham
Der, applause burst forth and con-
tinued lcng and heartily. The demo-
cratic members arose almost en- masse
and extended personal expressions of
sympathy and encouragement. Mr..
Olmsted, chairman o. the committee
in charge of the contest, recognized
the unusual position Mr.. ShafrOth had
taken. He said the investigation by
his committee eXOnerated Mr.. Sha-
troth from any connection with the ir-
regularities which had been shown.
The stand taken, he said, was a most
manly and courageous one. The COM
mittee had taken no action toward
formulating its report to the house on
the case and the surprising initiative
taken by Mr.. Shafroth was based on
the showing made by handwriting ex-
pert employed to examine the ballots.
Following the suggestion of Mr.
Shafroth i'm his speech TO the house,
Mr. Olmsted hastily drew up a proper
re~olution for his unseating and the
seating Of Mr.. Bonynse and this was
agreed TO with silent assent. where
upon the house adjourned.
Secretary Wilson of the agriculture
department relinquished a seat in the
house TO a contestant in order that the
bill to make General Grant a full gen.
Ella: on the retired list might be pass
ed. A report had been made from
the committee and the case was pend.
ing on the last day of congress. Sam.
uel J. Randall brought in a bill in be-
half of General Grant, but the demo.
Gratis, who were in the majority insist
ed there be a vote on the contest
against such vote being taken but Mr.
Wilson arose and stated he did not
want to stand in the way of the Grant
bill and asked that the contestant B.
L. Frederick, be seated This was
done about two hours before congress
expired, March 4, 1885. The Grant
bill was then unanimously passed
While Mr. Wilson voluntarily retired
it was for a special purpose and not
because he felt that his election was
void.