The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1905-01-24
ADAMS FILES
HIS REPLY
COLORADO EXECUTIVES ANSWER
TO CONTEST.
MANY FRAUDS CHARGED
Ballot Box Stuffing, Fraudulent Natur-
aIization, Padding of Registra
tion Lists.

Denver, Jan. 22.-The answer OF
Governor Alva Adams to the allega-
tions of former Governor James H.
Peabody, contestant for the office of
governor, was filed yesterday after
noon. 1t consists OF $50 typewriter
pages. The answer makes general
denial of the allegations OF the con,
testant and specifically charges
fraud in several counties against the
contestee. 1t alleges that divers cor
porations and mine owners associa-
tions conspired with 1.-THE republican
state central committee and expended
large sums in securing fraudulent nat.
uralization, padding registration lists,
corrupting election officials and buying
votes for the purpose Of re-electing
Peabody.
Stuffing Is Charged.
The answer alleges, upon informa-
tion and belief, that the ballot boxes
of Denver do not now contain the bal
lots which were actually cast by quail
fled voters; that the ballot boxes have
been tampered with and stuffed since
the election by persons in the employ
and under the direction of the repub-
lican committee of the city and county
of Denver, and that said spurious bal
lots have been substituted in the in
terests of the republican candidates
and the interest of the contestant,
pursuant to an unlawful conspiracy
entered INTO by the republican com
mittee, it's tools and employees, for the
purpose of making it appear that the
ballots were substituted in the inter
est of ithe contestee, whereas, in fact,
whatever substitution of ballots has
occurred in the city and county OF
Denver, ii any has occurred, has beeu
committed in the interest OF the con.
testant.
Actions of Corporations.
1t is alleged that in Las Anamas
county the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company, the Victor Fuel company,
the Rocky Mountain Coal anu Iron
company and various other corpora
| tions imported from Italy, Austria and
other countries and states thousands
of persons to take the places of en-
ployes who had left on account of la
Dor troubles; that none of these per-
sons were citizens OF Colorado, but at
least 1000 of them were fraudulentQy
naturalized, registered and voted. The
contestee further charges that large
bodies of armed men were about GER
tain voting places in Las Animas
county for the purpose OF intimidating
voters
In Teller County.
In Teller county, the contestee al
leges, the Mine Owners and Opera.
/ tors association is not only i'm full
control of the mines, but also directs
the manner in which public offices
| shall be conducted.
It is further alleged that in 1.-THE Grip
pie Creek district on election day
| 1000 armed deputies, under the direc-
tion of Sheriff Edward Bell, paraded
the streets for the purpose of intimi.
dating voters, and constables were
killed without provocation. Prior to
the election, it is charged, 200 des-
peradoes, many of uhem ex-convicts.
were imported and organized into
bands by the republican committee;
that at least 1000 democratic voters
were driven from their homes in this
county and not permitted to vote, and
that there were placed ON the registra-
tions books and allowed to vote over
1000 persons who were not entitled
to register.
Miners Threatened.
Moreover, the contestee alleges THAT
the members of tine Mine Owners as
sociation threatened to deprive any
miner of his working card" II he
failed to vote for the contestant
against the contestee.
In Pueblo county, the contestee AL
leges. there were 1000 fictitious names
on the registration books, and In addi.
tion at least 1900 persons voted by
impersonating either people.
The answer alleges that the rCe'ubs