Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-02-27
DENVER LETTERS.
Denver. Feb. 81. 1905.

Denver. Feb. 81. 1905.
The contest committee afforded q
small sensation last evening, by
reaching its previous action in Hp
pointing a subcommittee to prepare
findings. The subcommittee was ap
pointed in the absence of Chairman
Grifiith. who was sick. He took 1t as
mark OF disrespect to him. and re-
sented 1t as such He argued that the
matter was not one ior sub-com.
mittee, anyhow. but for the whole
committee; and finally by vote of
IA to 1.-two members oeing absent
the subcommittee was recalled.
This action was at once taken by
the Democrats to mean that majority
of the committee were favorable to
the Adams side OF the contest. but it
may be stated positively that this is
not the case. Careful inIriry among
the mel bera OF the contest commit
ice this morning shows that the Re-
publicans VINO voted with the Demo
Gratis to recall the committee are not
disaffected, and are Just ready as ever
10 ''go down the line" for whatever
is right
II is remarkable fact that the
Adams answer alleged fraud in ten
different counties In favor of Peabody,
and that from seven Of these coup-
ties no evidence was produced at all
II was charged in the answer. for in
stance, that in precinct 10 of Jeffer-
son county 100 votes were counted
W irT, ah
counted for Adama The Jefferson
county authorities informed the Ad-
ans managers that they were entire
ly ready to have the boxes produced
before the committee and opened, but
not one of them was called for and
no evidence in regard to that county
was introduced Similarly, charges
of fraud were made in the answer in
regard to precincts In Fremont. Cos
tilla, San Miguel Pitkin, La Plata, and
Weld counties, but no evidence was
introduced in regard to those coun-
ties.
No ballot boxes from Teller county
were sent for, and none opened, but
an inquiry was conducted there, and
evidence was sought to prove allega-
tions of fraud. None was produced
not a single illegal vote was shown
TO have been cast In that county.
In Pueblo county, a similar inquiry
was conducted, and there was evil
dence Of irregularity on both sides;
but SO far as appears, the net result
Is gain for Peabody of about 700
votes.
There remains Las Animas county,
from which several ballot boxes were
brought in and opened before the com
mittee. These boxes showed Repub
lican majorities, and that many of the
ballots had been written by judges
and clerks for voters. The record of
assistance was neglected in most
cases.
There was no evidence of the large
bodies OF armed men" spoken of in the
answer. of the threats, intimidation.
boycotting, and the like, which were
alleged in the answer.
County Clerk Vigil. who was on
the stand long while, testified that
the board OF county commissioners
there consisted OF three Democrats
lid cec Republican; that this board
appointed nearly all the judges of
election-the Democratic Judges from
list furnished by the chairman of the
Democratic central committee. and
some Of the Republicans, though not
all, from similar list furnished by
the chairman OF the Republican corr
mittee. The canvassing board con-
sisted of himself and another Demo
crat, and a Republican" whom he
picked up on the street about half an
hour before the board met, and ap-
pointed a justice Of the peace on the
spot, for the purpose of serving on
the board. In snort, all the election
machinery of the county was absolute
ly in the hands Of the Democratic
party. and If the judges and clerks
neglected to make a proper record OF
assistance. it seems hardly fair to
charge it against the Republican par
ty.
The affirmative allegations in the
Adams answer, therefore, are for the
most part not only unsupported by
the evidence, but in regard to most Of
them no evidence was even attempted
to be introduced.
The further allegations in the an
swer are negative, and relate mainly
TO Denver. Some Of these will be
dealt with in the next letter.
X. p. B.
Denver, Feb. 2S, 1905.
The session of the contest commit