The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-16
SHAFROTH SURRENDERS
SEAT IN LOWER HOUSE
AND CAUSES SENSATION
Surprising Announcement by the
Representative from the First
Colorado District.
GIVES WAY TO OPPONENT
When He Learns His Recent Elec-
ton Was Tainted by Fraud
Dramatic Scene.

WASHINGTON, Feb. BIN voluntarily
relinquishing his seat as a member of the
House of Representatives Mr.. ShafrOth, of
the First district of Colorado furnished
profound sensation during the forty min
utes session to-day. The manly and earn
est words of the Colorado member fairly
took the breath of the House as he proceed
ed to put the first case on record in that
body where a member gave up his seat,
acknowledging that his election had been
tainted by fraud. For this fraud, Mr.. Shaf-
roth declared, he was not in any way re-
sponsible nor was he aware that it had been
perpetrated until the evidence had been adj
duced before the elections committee of the
House. 1t was not cone, he said further,
for the purpose of CO using his election.
In concluding Mr.. Shafroth said: ION
Thursday afternoon l commenced examin-
ing the ballots. 1 do not believe that 2.792
illegal votes were cast Chat being my ma
jority, as returnedD, yet my examination
disclosed the fact that the assurances which
1 have received as to the regularity of the
votes i'm many of the precincts were not
true, and that there were illegal votes there
in which tainted the polls, and the polls so
tainted gave me a greater plurality than by
bitter disappointment to me, but neverthe-
less true. 1 must say that if L were judge
upon the bench considering this case
would be compelled 10 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 10 find that, according to law,
Mr.. Bonyinge is entitled to the seat 1
therefore will say TO the committee on cleo
70 fha laDTG of
House that they can seat Mr.. Bonyinge at
their earliest convenience"
AS he announced the conclusion of eight
years service in this manner, most unSat-
isfactOry TO himself, his voice betokened
the emotion he felt. The hush which spread
over the floor and galleries when the pur-
port of his remarks was realized became
almost painful. But when he sat down with
words of thanks on his lips for the treat
ment he had received from his colleagues on
both sides Of the chamber, applause burst
forth and continued long and heartily. The
Democratic members arose almost EN- masse
and extended personal expressions of SYM
pathy and encouragement
Mr.. Olmsted, chairman of the commit
tee i'm charge of the contest, recognized the
unusual position of Mr. Shafroth had taken.
He said the investigation by his commit
nection with the. Irregularities which had
been shown. The stand taken, he said, was
a most manly and coura geous one. The
committee had taken no action toward for
mulating it's report 10 the House on the
case, and the surp- ising initiative taken by
Mr. ShafrOth. as had been explained by
him. was based on the showing made by
the handwriting expert employed to eX-
anime the ballots.
Following the suggestion of Mr.. Shafroth
in his speech to the House, Mr.. Olmsted
hastily drew up the proper resolution for
his unseating and the seating of Mr.. Bon
ynge and this was agreed To with silent
assent. whereUpon the House adjourned.
Secretary James r. Wilson, of the Agri-
cultural Department. relinquished a seat
in the House 10 a contestant in order that
the bill To make General Grant a full
general on the retired list might be passed.
report had been made from the COM
mittee and the case was pending on the
last day OF the Congress. Samuel j. Ran
dali brought in bill in behalf of General
Grant but the Democrats. who were In the
majority insisted that there should be a
vote on the contest against Wilson. The
Republicans We're flibustering against such
a vote being taken, but Mr.. Wilson arose
and stated that he did not want 10 stand
i'm the way of the Grant bill, and asked that
the contestant Il. l.. Frederick. be seated.
This was done about two hours before the
Congress expired March 4. 1885. The Grant
bill was then unanimously passed. While
Wilson voluntarily retired IL was for a
special purpose and not because he felt that
his election was void.