The Morris County chronicle., 1905-03-21
PEABODY WINS LONG FIGHT
Former Governor Temporarily Takes
Over Executive Office.
ALvA ADAMS FORCED OUT

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naIIy Settled After Many Heated Dis
cussions-Retiring Governor Adams'
Secretary Declined to Shake Hands
with Peabody-aTcDonaId is Governor
Denver, CoI.-Jesse f. Mcdonald, a
mine owner Of LeadvilIe, is now Gov
ernor Of Colorado, He took the oath of
Office at 5 O'Clock In the afternoon, and
completed the record claimed for Colo
RADIO of having three Governors within
twenty hours.
Faithful to his promise that if the
Legislature would oust Governor Alva
Adams and seat him he would resign
within twenty hours, James H.
Peabody released his resignation writ
ten few days ago and stepped down
and out, thus paving the way for the
elevation to the Gubernatorial chair
of the Lieutenant Governor. Mcdonald.
James III. Peabody won his contest
Tor the Office of Governor of Colorado,
from which he retired on January 10,
after serving a tenn Of two years.
Governor Peabody took over the office
Democratic opponent.
The vote in joint convention of the
General Assembly by which Adams
was ousted aad Peabody installed was
81 to Al. Ten Republicans voted with
the Democratic members for Adams.
Peabody maintained that Adams was
elected only by fraudulent ballots, cast
for the most part in Denver.
Although the Republican majority on
joint ballot is 30, the membership OF
the Legislature being sc Republicans
and 81 Democrats, it had been found
Impossible to gain for Peabody enough
Republican votes to reinstate him as
Governor for the remainder of the BIZ
ennial term ending in January, 1907
twenty-five Republican members of
the General Assembly, according to
report refused to be bound by any
action in caucus in the contest, and en-
tered into a compact not to vote for
Peabody A majority of them, how
ever, was in favor of seating Lieut.
GOV. Mcdonald in the Governors chair
If means could be found to do so le-
gally.
Governor Adams who had spent the
day packing his effects, surrendered
his office to Gov. Peabody shortly after
5 o'clock. Scores of letters. kilograms
and telephone messages had reached
the executive chamber during the day
urging Gov. Adams to hold his seat by
force, but he decided to ignore this
advice
He said he felt outraged at the ac-
ton of the General Assembly, and ex-
pressed surprise that Mr.. Peabody
should become party to what he
termed a conspiracy to secure the
Office Of Governor for man who had
no claim whatever to the place.
He gathered up his belongings and
vacated the office, leaving Alfred
Patek, his private secretary, In charge
of the office. Peabody Immediately
started for the Governors room. Ac-
fcompanying him were Adjt. Gen. Sher-
man Bell and Lieut.. Gross. Entering
the Governors office, Gov Peabody
asked:
rs Mr.. Adams IN? should like to
see him If he is
"Nfr. Adams has gone to the hotel"
said Mr.. Patek. Il am his private
secretary
why. how do you do" exclaimed
Gov. Peabody, genially. Il am glad
to meet you
Patek ignored the Governors offer
to shake hands, and said:
mo, draw the line at thieves,
and"
Here Lieut.. Gross drew back as if to
strike Patek, but Gen. Bell leaped be-
tween them and commanded both men
to desist.
Alva Adams was inaugurated Gov
ernor on January 10, the canvass of
the election returns by the General AS
sembly having shown a plurality of
9774 votes for him. Two days later
James FL. Peabody filed a contest for
the Office which he had surrendered.
On January II the General Assembly,
in Joint convention. authorized COM
mittee of twenty-seven members,
eighteen Republicans and nine Demo-
Gratis, to hear evidence in the contest
and report its conclusions.
Fourteen Republican members of the
committee signed a report submitted
by Peabody's counsel, which found a
majority of 22S0 for Peabody in the
State, by rejecting votes on the ground
of fraud. The nine Democratic COM
mitteemen presented a report declar-
ing that Peabody had failed to prove
his election
Senator Morton Alexander. one Of
I. the signers of the majority report. also
presented another report which recon-
mended that the election Of Governor
be declared null and void, and that
Lieut-Goy. Mcdonald, Republican. be
seated as Governor Asked for an
opinion on this method of settling the
contest. the Supreme Court declared
It Illegal
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