Gilpin observer., 1905-01-26
ADAMS ANSWER
IN PEABODY ELECTION CONTEST

Accuses Big Corporations and Mine
Owners Association Of Fraud, Cor
ruption and Intimidation-ciaims
10000 Plurality of Legal Votes.
Denver, Jan. 22.-Before the joint
assembly yesterday afternoon Cover
Eor Adams filed his answer to the con-
test of James H. Peabody for the Office
of governor. 1t is a lengthy document
covering from 10000 to $4,000 words,
or about twelve newspaper columns.
On its receipt it was ordered printed
and distributed to members and then
referred to the committee hearing the
contest.
Following, in brief, are the charges
made by Governor Adams:
That g. gigantic conspiracy was
Matched by the corporations and the
leaders of the Republican party last
fall to carry the election for Peabody
by unlawful means.
That the plot to debauch the ballot
was participated in by agents of the
American Smelling and Refining Com
pany, Colorado Fuel and Iron Company,
Victor Fuel Company, Colorado Mine
Owners Association, the sugar trust,
the Denver utility corporations and the
railroads, and that officials of these
| companies aided and abetted in the
| crimes committed for the purpose
named.
That these corporations practiced in
timidation and coercion on their en-
ployes by threats of discharge unless
they voted for Peabody.
That corporation agents and public
officials padded the registration lists
with fictitious Names that aliens were
| imported into the coal mining counties,
were fraudulently naturaliZed and COM
PEELED to vote the Republican ticket
That an immense corruption fund
was contributed by these corporations
to debauch the election in Denver, Pu-
eblo, Las Animas, Teller, Ell Paso,
! Boulder and Huerfano counties.
That in Pueblo county County Clerk
Fairfax and County Judge Gibson as
sisted in the naturalization of hun
dreds of foreigners at the behest OF
the smelling and fuel company agents
who imported them shortly before the
/ election.
| That armed deputy sheriffs and
armed guards acting under the per
sonal direction OF d. A. Chappelle were
used to intimidate the coal miners of
Huerfano county to vote for Peabody.
That 1000 armed deputy sheriffs Sc
d
ran with a high hand the election in
Teller county. terrorizing and driving
from the district thousands of voters.
That in Las Animas county open
bribery was practiced by the coal mag
mates in addition TO other election
crimes.
That in San Miguel county miners
were threatened with deportation, loss
of their homes and permanent separa-
tion from their families unless they
agreed to support the Peabody ticket.
That as a result of a scheme con-
cocted by the heads of the Republican
county committee of Denver, scores OF
ballot boxes were stuffed with fraudu-
lent Democratic ballots in order that
at an investigation planned for the fu
ture the entire vote of large Demo
cratic precincts could be thrown out,
| thus disfranchising thousands of legal
voters.
That the Republicans in Denver car
ried on a general system of registra-
tion and election bribery; that hun
dreds of repeaters were employed by
the Peabody managers.
That instead of plurality Of 9,774
over Peabody, contestee was elected
by at least 10000 plurality, If the elec-
ton and count had been honest"
Denial is made that any conspiracy
was entered into by election judges or
clerks to encompass the defeat of the
contestor. 1t is also denied that it is
impossible to determine between legal
and illegal votes in the precincts in
question.
Governor Adams further AYERS that
If any illegal ballots were cast for him.
which he denies, or for the contestor,
that they should be separated from the
legal ones by the joint convention, and
the latter should be properly credited
to the contestee or contestator. as the
case may be. Unless this be done there
will be many thousand legal voters
oIsfranchised, is the claim of the an.
swer.
Another allegation is that 1t is a
part of the conspiracy in the interest of
the contestor to attempt TO induce the
joint convention to nullify the elec-
tion in the precincts complained
against by throwing out all the votes
,ast therein.
Contestee further AYERS that the pro-
ceedings which occurred before the Su.
preme Court have nothing to do with
this contest, for the reason that the
contestee was not party to the pro
ceeding and had no opportunity to be
heard by the court or to present to the
court any matter which he may have
desired and that it is contrary to law
that judgment entered by the said
court in proceeding to which he was
rot party should be permitted to pre-
judice the rights of the contestee.
Therefore the contestee denies that
any consideration or weight should be
given by the joint assembly to any in
vestigation or judgment of the Su-
preme Court in the contest proceed
ings in the final determination OF the
contest.