The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-31
Every Ballot Box in Denver
Will Be Opened
BAD MUDDLE IN COLORADO
Republicans Claim That 10000 Fraudu.
lent Votes Were Cast for Adams
In Denver, and Adams
Wants Investigation.

Denver December SO.-stretehing its
hand so far as to cast a shadow over
every man ana woman in any way impli-
Gated in election frauds of the city and
county of Denver, on or before or after
November 8, the supreme court today Or
dered an investigation so sweeping In Is
scope that every phase of the election may
be scrutinized and everything that bears
in any way upon the election may be
made known by judicial inquiry.
Alva Adams, democratic candidate for
governor, who appeared from the returns
to have been elected but who has de-
clared that he does not want the office
tainted with fraud. asked the court to
open every Denver ballot box. hut the
order Of the court goes beyond the mere
examination Of the ballots, and provides
for an Investigation of the registration
lists. the campaign in each precinct and
all briefs and election matters.
Attorney Samuel w. Bedford, attorney
for Adams, and Attorney J. II. Hersey for
the republicans asked the court to make
its order of such breadth that the court
need not stop at anything in the invesd
CATION. The court said that was what it
meant TO do, and instructed the .awyefs
to agree upon the wording of the order,
and present 1t to the court for approval
next Tuesday morning.
VIII Require Several Months.
As there are 2O4 ballot boxes, it is
evident that several months Will te aon-
sumed in the examination of their con-
tents by the two handwriting experts to
be appointed for this work
It is expected that the supreme court
will be asked to make an order placing
| special watchers at the court house to
| guard the registration books until such
time as the investigation is made.
There are probably 2O.oOo fraudulent
registra ions on the books of the city and
county s9f Denver" said Attorney J. H..
Brown the principal adviser of the re-
publican city central committee, today.
r. A. Williams, chairman of the repub-
| lican committee, has published the fol-
lowing statement over his signature
"Our investigation into the conduct of
the recent election in Denver has devel-
| oped the fact that approximately 20.000
| fraudulent votes were cast or counted
for Adams in this city There is now no
reasonable doubt that Governor Peabody
and the entire republican state ticket was
fairly elected on November 8 by the
votes of a large majority of the legal
voters in this state"
What effect. if any. the courts action
today will have upon the course Of the
legislature in respect to canvassing the
vote for governor and determining
whether Peabody or Adams is entitled TO
the seat, has not become apparent. Chief
Justice Gebhardt particularly stated the
| courts investigation will not be permitted
In any way to interfere with any inves-
tigation that may be set on foot by the
! general assembly.
CompIicates the Situation.
| Republicans as well as democrats admit
| that the opening of all the Denver boxes
| complicates the political situation in Col
| oTado. but believes that 1t means that
there will be no rough house as pre-
dicted.
Governor Peabody expressed himself as
| follows regarding the courts decision;
| II am more than pleased that the su
| preme court has decided TO open every
ballot box In Denver and my only regret
| Is that every box In the state Is not
| opened. A point in favor of opening the
| boxes by the supreme court is that it
takes the matter away from politics.
There is confidence among the public
in what the supreme court does and when
|
through counting the votes I'm Denver,
| II will settle beyond question who is
| elected / consider the decison of the
court an eminently wise and just one"
1t was announced late today that the
republican plan to unseat democratic SEN
ators had been modified and that possi-
| bly, only Senator's Osborne and Healey.
| who were seated by the democratic ma
jority on contests two years ago, would
| be turned out.
| 1t was also reported that on the advice
of influential republicans the proposition
to memorable the United States senate
| to unseat Senator Teller would be aban-
| doned
Attorneys for Adams tonight notified
Attorney Hersy representing the republic
cans that he would ask the supreme
court tomorrow to modify its order con-
cerning ne opening Of the ballot boxes
In Denver under the supervision Of
| referee
They will request that another agree
| ment for paying the expenses of the In
| yestigation be made. The court having
| no fund at It's disposal for meeting the
| expenses directed that the two political
| parties divide 1t equally. The democrats
| object to this, and will request that the
court find another way for paying the
| cost of the investigations. The republl-
| cans. who say they are only too willing
| to follow the suggestion of the court.
pretend to see in the announcement Of
| the democrats attorneys a wish to avail
| themselves Of loophoe through which
TO escape the investigation they suggest
| cd themsslves
| The four members of the state canvass
| ing board. other than Governor Peabody.
tonight issued a signed statement in
which they deny that there Is conspir,
acy to seat Governor Peabody and ex-
Lress desire to see seated as governor
the man who has been legally elected.