The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-16

of US desired to send to the expert for the
purpose of examining Them, that we
should have that privilege. After that
the case was to be set for hearing before
the committee.
On Thursday afternoon 1 commenced
| examining the ballots and continued do
ing so through Friday and Saturday.
do not believe that 2,7s2 Illegal votes were
cast chat being the majority as returnedJ
yet my examination disclosed the fact
that the assurance which I had received
as to the regularity Of the votes in many
of the precincts was not true and that
there were Illegal votes therein which
tainted the polls. and the polls so tainted
gave me a greater plurality than my re-
turned majority.
That fact was a bitter disappointment
to me but nevertheless true The law
says that wnen a poll is tainted by fraud
and II Is impossible 10 purge the poll OIL
the fraudulent votes, the vote of The
entire precinct. legal or Illegal, must be
thrown out The committee has given ms
every opportunity TO ascertain the illegal
vote so as to give the valid vote in those
districts Until l saw the ballots last
Thursday thought the Illegal vote could
be detected and scratched from the legal
vote. but 1 must confess that my inspec-
ton has convinced me that it is impossi-
bic to do so in this case.
THE case being as l have stated. and
the number of precincts tainted contain
ed majorities for me greater than my
returned ms jority, l must say that II
were a Judge upon the bench considering
this case | would be compelled to find
against myself and as the vote in the
contested precincts aggregates less than
one-tenth of the vote in the congressional
district. l would be compelled to find that
according to law Mr.. Bonynge is entitled
to the seat.
II did nv best to have an honest cleo
ton. My law partner with my approval.
organized a citizens committee com
posed of both Republicans and Demo
Gratis who desired fair election. The
headquarters of that committee as shown
By the evidence in the case was in the
law Offices of Rogers, Shafroth & Gregg,
Denver.
| have always been in favor of pure
politics. and when the test is applied to
an election where ! was voted for as one
of the candidates upon the ticket 1 should
not shirk my duty or change my convic-
tons concerning honest elections
therefore will say to the committee on
elections No. 2. and to the members of
this house, that they can seat Mr.. Bo-
nynge at their earliest convenience.
LAS this is the last time / will have an
opportunity Of addressing the house,
want to thank the committee on elections
No >. and particularly the chairman. Mr.
Olmstead; the sub committee. Mr.. Midled.
Mr.. Currie and Mr.. Sullivan. for the fair
and impartial manner in which they pro-
ceeded to investigate this case Every
suggestion which l made as to the inves-
tigation was readily concurred in.
Il wish also to say that 1 appreciate
the repeated declarations Of Mr.. Bonyngo
that l was not a party TO or in any man
ner connected with any of the frauds or
irregularities.
Il also desire to thank the members OF
this house for the uniform courtesy and
evidences of respect which l have re-
ceived.
'urng the eight years of my services
have formed friendships here upon botn
sides of the chamber which l shall cher
ish through life. I fully appreciate the
high character of men who compose this
body but ii is only when I am about to
leave that l fully realize the distinguished
honor il is TO serve as a member of the
legislative body.
Wishing YOU all a happy and prosper
Gus future, l will say goodbye"
I Il r;
metn following Mr. Shafroth. Mr.. Talbot
announced his concurrence in all that
the chairman had said. particularly in
that relating to the upright manner in
which Mr.. Shafroth had acted through
out.
Mr. Hogg CRep.. Colo) said that the
action taken by Mr.. ShafroIh would not
be a surprise to those who knew the
man. No one know him, he added who
did not know him 10 be an absolutely
. honest man.
Following the suggestion OF Mr.. Sba-
froth in his speech 10 the house, Mr.
Olmstead hastily drew up the proper res
olution for his unseating and the seating
of Mr.. Bonynge and this was agreed to
with silent assent whereupon the house
adjourned.
Secretary James F. Wilson Of the agri-
cultural department reiinquished a seat
in the house to a contestant in order that
the bill TO make General Grant a full
general on the retired list might be pass
ed 4 report had been made from the
committee and the case was pending on
the last day OF congress. Samuel J. Ran
DAN brought in the bill in behalf Of Gen
sral Grant but the Democrats who were
in the majority insisted that there should
/ be 4 vote on the contest against Wilson.
/ The Republicans were fiibusteriug
against such vote being taken. but Mr..
+ Wilson arose and stated that ne did no,
F want 10 stand IN The way Of The Grant
bin and asked that the contestant 3 L.
; Frederick. be seated. This was done
about TWO hours before the congress eN-
pired. March I lSs5
| The Grant bill was then unanimously
passed.
! While Wilson voluntarily retired 1t Vas
+ Tor special purpose rad not because h
F felt that his election was void
/ After the resolution char gins the ocCu-
pant Of the seat fro mthe First Colo-ad d
district had been agreed on. Msssrs. Hitt
HIS. Adams ard DansnOre 5ArA-4 were
! spVoin-sd couferees Of The diplomats and
consular appropriation bil
/ The house adjourned Al E.s0 ? T.
Mrs. Winslcws Soothing 5yruc-
4as Desr used Tor over FIFTY TEARS
/