The Springfield herald., 1904-12-30
LEADERS in TIGHT FIX.


ocratic leaders should refuse to admit
that Mr.. Adams was not elected. They
have taken the position before the pub
lie that the frauds in Denver, which
they minimize as much as possible,
will be used as an excuse" by the Re-
publicans to rob Mr.. Adams Of what
the News terms his honestly won VIC
tory" But 1t is very noticeable that
as the facts of the extensive stuff1ng in
different precincts is brought out day
after day by the courts and the Den
yer Republican, both Editor Patterson,
Mr.. Adams, and other Democrataic
leaders, have no heart to discuss them.
Mr.. Patterson has made no direct ref
erence to-. the frauds condemning
them and justifying the punishment OF
the wrong-doers. He has condemned
fraud in general way, but ne makes
no reference or comment upon the ex-
traordinary volume Of fraud that Is
being constantly uncovered. While
the papers of the state and Of the Ma
tion are discussing the interesting and
shocking details of these crimes, the
News and the Times have nothing to
say except to charge that the exposure
is part of q deep and unholy plot to
rob Adams OF his seat.
is commented on a great deal, that the
position taken by the Democratic man
ayers in this crisis of their party is
virtually that the greatest offense was
not In committing these wholesale cleo
tion frauds, but in discovering them
and In laying the details before the
public. These leaders have been placed
in a very difficult and embarrassing
position by the braZen crimes OF their
Denver machine. The extremes to
which they are driven in defense OF
q weak and unpopular cause was
shown by the address of Ex-Governor
Thomas before the State Canvassing
Board last week, when he undertook
to curdle the blood of Mr. Peabody and
the rest of the board by describing
how governors are sometimes shot,
and mobs sometimes do much harm.
When a lawyer has case before
high executive body, and is obliged to
resort to intimidation, and playing
upon the supposed fears of "the
court" it certainly is good evidence
that he has weak case. Mr.. Thomas
made a most eloquent effort to con-
vince the board that 'the Gobelins
would get them il they didn't watch
OUT
The Democratic Grand Jury.
The so-called Democratic grand Jury
has heard many witnesses upon politi-
cal and other matters, but owing to
the short time has not been able to ac-
complish much. The impression which
prevailed in some quarters hat this
jury would indict Republican leaders
as a matter of retaliation is undoubt-
edly a wrong one. There is much
work for grand jury in Denver. and
SO far as this one has gone there does
not appear to be any evidence or indi-
cation that it will do anything that
can be charged to partisanship. An
effort is being made by Democrats
and others unfavorableit to Mayor Speer
to have the election of last spring in
vestigated. There is no doubt that If
this is honestly done 1t will make Mr..
Spcer moro trouble, for the fact that
he was elected by fraud is now DEM
onstrated by comparisons with the re-
cent vote which has been shown to be
largely fictitious. new grand jury is
recommended and Will undoubtedly be
called and given ample time to perform
| its duties.
i Whatever may be said Of the merits
of the Republican claims as to the
election of Peabody. the fact that
stands out prominently and which the
people of the entire state see with
pleasure, is that the mills of justice
have begun to grind upon the grist Of
notorious Democratic election thieves
who have for years made the election
in that city a farce, and frequently re-
versed the judgment of the people Of
the entire state by the simple, but now
dangerous, process of stuffing ballot
/ boxes.
Denver will. for several years at
least, be free from further election out
RACES, as it will be difficult to soon
again find crooks with sufficient nerve
! to so "the penitentiary route"
A. P.