The Elbert County tribune., 1905-01-26
ADAMS ANSWER
IN peAso0v ELECTION CONTEST
Accuses Big Corporations and Aafns
Owners Association of Fraud, Coz.
ruption and Intimidatiou-Clai.
10000 Plurality Of Legal Votes


ruption and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
10000 Plurality Of Legal Votes
Denver. Jan. 22.--Bcfore the jotna
assembly yesterday afternoon Cover
ror Adams filed his answer 10 the Con
test OF James II. Peabody for the once
of governor. II is lengthy document
covering from 10000 to 5000 words,
or about twelve newspaper coIumns-
On its receipt II was ordered printed
and distributed to members and thcn
referred to the committee hearing tho
contest.
Following, In brief, are the charges
made by Governor Adams:
That gigantic conspiracy was
hatchcd 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 stuci and Iron Company. d.
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 tho
crimes committed for the purpos<n
named.
That these corporations pracijced In
umidation and coercion on their cn,-
ployes by threats of discharge unicBs
they voted for Peabody.
That corporation agents and public
officials padded the registration lists
with fictitious names: that aliens wern-
imported into the coal mining counties,
were fraudulently naturalized and com
= a.
That an immense corruption fund
was contributed by these corporations
to debauoh the election In Denver, Ps-
eblo. Las Animas, Teller. lei paso.
Boulder and Huerfano countieg.
That in Pueblo county County Clerk
Fairfax and County Judge Gibson as
sisted in the naturalization OF buS
dreds OF foreigners at the bchcst of
the smelling and fuel company agents
who imported them shortly befdrc the
election.
That armed deputy shcrifrs and
armed guards acting under the per
Honal direction of ID. A. Chappellc were
used to intinlidatc the coal miners OF
HueTfano county To vote for Peabody
That 1000 armed deputy shcrins Sc
lccted by the mine owners association
ran with high hand the election In
Teller county, terrorizing and driving
from the district thousands OF voteux.
That in Las Anlmas county open
bribery was practieed by the coal mag
mates In addition to other clectioa
crimes.
That In San Miguel county miners
were threatened with deportation, loss
of their homes and permanent separa-
ton from their families unless they
agreed to support the Peabody ticket
That az a result OF Il scheme con
cocted by the heads of the Republicans
county committee OF Denver, scorcs OF
ballot boxes were stuffed with frandn-
lent Democratic ballots In order thai
at an investigation planned for the fs-
turc the entire vote of large Demo
cratic precincts could be thrown ont,
thus DISTINGUISHING thousands OF legal
voters.
That the Republicans in Denver ear
ried on a general system Of registrs-
tion and election bribery; that hun
dreds of repeaters were employed By
the Peabody managers.
That instead of a plurality OF 9,774
over Peabody, contestee was elected
by at least 10000 plurality, II the elce-
ton and count had been honest"
Denial is made that any conspiracy
was entered into by election judges ar
clerks to encompass the defeat OF the
contostor. IL Is also denied that II is
impossible to determine between legal
and Illegal votes in the precincts In
question.
Governor Adams further avcru thai
If any Illegal ballots were cast for him
which he denies, or for the coDlest0x-
that they should be separated from tho
legal ones by the joint convention, and.
the latter should be properly credited
to the contestee or condensation, as the
case may be. Unless this be done there
will be many thousand legal vOtern
disfranchised, Is the claim Of the an
swer.
Another allegation is that II is \
part OF the conspiracy In the interest oz
the confession to attempt to induce The
Joint convention to nullify the esee-
ton in the precincts compIaineS
against by throwing opt all the votes
cast therein.
Contestee further AYERS that the pro
ceedipgs which occurred before the g.
preme Court have nothing to do VIM
this contest, for the reason that lhs
contestee was not a party 10 the pro
ceeding and had no opportunity To be
heard by the court or to present to tho
court any matter which be may have
desired, and that II Is contrary 10 law
that Judgment entered by the Eaid
court In proceeding to which he vsz
not party should be permitted to pro
judice the rights OF the contestcc.
Therefore the contestee denies thai
any consideration or weight shouII te
given by the joint assembly to any m
vestigation or judgment OF the S.-
preme Court In the contest. proceed
ings in the final determination Of tke
contest.
Z
II NvER ELECTION FRAuDs-