Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-15
SHAFROTH CHEERED
Gave Up His Place in the
House.
ADMITTED HIS DEFEAT
ASKED THAT HIS OPPONENT BE
SEATED.
Had Examined Disputed Ballots and
Believed They Were Fraudulent
A Remarkable Scene.
OMITTED HIS DEFEAT

remarkable scene was witnessed in the
House of Representatives today when Rep
resentative John F. Shafroth of the first
col gressional district of Colorado volun-
tarily reIinquished his seat In the lower
body of the national legislature and asked
that the gentleman who had opposed him
at the polls year ago last November, and
has been contesting his election before a
committee of the House, be declared en-
titled to his seat.
Mr.. Shafroth rose to q question of per-
| sonal privilege. He said he had rested his
case upon certain sealed ballots which he
could not believe we're of the fraudulent
character charged by his opponents. Since
Thursday last he had devoted himself to
careful examination of the ballots, and
had found them SO tainted that If he were
judge upon the bench he would have to
decide the case against himself.
In view of this fact and the evidence that
without his knowledge there had been
fraud in the election by which he had
benefited, Mr.. Shafroth asked leave to re-
tire from the House in favor of his op-
ponent. Mr.. r. w. Bonynse. republican.
Heartily Cheered.
Representative shafroth took the House
and the members Of the elections commit
tee which was hearing his case completely
effective address Mr.. Shafroth. bidding his
collea CUES goodbye, and wishing them a
happy and prosperous future, sat down
amidst storm of applause which rang
through the chambers and continued for
long interval. Republicans and demo-
ocrats alike joined in the demonstration.
They quickly followed up the applause by
gathering around Mr.. Shafroth in scores,
grasping him by the hand and wishing him
prosperity and success.
1t was an altogether affecting scene Mr..
Shafroth, when he began, spoke with a
clear, strong voice, but toward the close
of his statement, when he spoke of the as
sociations which had grown dear to him
during the eight years he had served in
the House and the honor he felt in having
been member of 1.-The greatest Legislative
body in the world" his voice gave evidence
of the strain, and he finished with evident
feeling.
Mr.. Olmsted's Tribute.
Representative Olmsted OF Pennsylvania,
chairman Of House committee on elections
No. 9, which has heard the Bonynge-Sha
roth contest, speaking by unanimous con-
sent, replied to Mr. Shafroth. He said the
committee was not acquainted with all the
facts stated by the gentleman from Colo
rado, as it had not met for final de-
termina ton of the case.
Mr.. Shafroth had thanked the committee
Tor Its uniform courtesy and declared all
his suggestions regard ng the inquiry had
been readily acquiesced in. Mr.. Olmsted
In return, declared that Mr.. Shafro h s
course before the committee had been hon
est straightforward and upright. He said
that there was absolutely no word or testi-
mony to affect Mr.. Shafroth's integrity or
to connect him in an way with the frauds
which it was apparent had not been COM
mitted in his behalf, but by them he had
Indirectly benefited.
M. .Olmsted said the committee was not
ready to report a resolution unseating Mr..
Shafroth and declaring Mr.. Bonynge
elected.
Mr.. Shafroth asked that unanimous con-
sent be given for the immediate considera-
ton of such a resolution.
1t was therefore prepared and adopted
Representative Hogg. a republican MEM
Der of the Colorado delegation. declared
prise to those residents of the state who
are acquainted with him and his career.
They knew him to be fearless, upright
and absolutely honest man.
Representative Talbot Of Maryland, the
ranking minority member of elections COM
mittee No. z stated that he desired to say
there was absolutely nothing in the record
of the case rejecting In the slightest degree
upon Mr.. Shafroth. The latter, he declared,
had been as much surprised as any one al
the evidences of fraud when the sealed bal
lots were opened. Mr.. Shafroth and Mr..
Bonynge had agreed to rest their respective
claims upon the story told by the ballots.
The Election.
The first Colorado district, which Mr..
Shafroth represented includes the city of
Denver. Mr.. Shafroth was first elected to
the Fifty-fourth Congress as a republican
upon a free coinage of silver platform. He
was reelected to the Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth
and Fifty-seventh Congresses upon fusion
tickets of silver parties, and to the Fifty
eighth Congress as a democrat. The returns
showed he had received Al 40 votes to 3S,-
GAS for Mr.. Bonynge. The latter at once
began a contest, claiming there had been
gross frauds in Arapahoe county.
1t will be remembered, there was stiff
fight in the Colorado legislature over the
seating of the delegation from this county.
A general throwing out of delegates was
promised, as the democrats had control of
one house and the republicans the other.
The delegation was allowed to sit. 1t was
this legislature which reelected Mr.. Teller
to the Senate.
Mr.. Sanforth is the second democrat to
leave the House within the week to make
room for republican. Last week Repre-
sentative Howell, democrat, from the tenth
Pennsylvania district was unseated by "a
strict party vote of 161 to 151, and MIR. Con-
nell, republican, seated.
Bearing on Mr.. Teller.
The action of Representative Shafroth n
resigning his seat in the House as a men,
ber from the Denver district has called up
rather an interesting discussion on the
Senate side of the Capitol Mr. Shafroth
tCOK tnlS actlOn on the ground mat Irauo
had been committed in his district result
ing in his election. The same votes that
were involved in this case also elected
thirteen members of the lower house of
the Colorado legislature which reelected
Senator Teller. Senator Teller's majority
was but 8 or votes SO that on the basis
Of Mr.. Shafroth's action the case has
peculiar bearing on Senator Teller's cleo
tion. If these thirteen members Of the
legislature had been republicans there
would have been a clear majority of ten
for that party on joint ballot and re1ub-
lican would have been elected in Senator
Teller's place