Idaho Springs siftings., 1905-01-07
CRISIS IN THE ELECTION
FRAUD SENSATION
Denver.

Ad1l WEEK hlEn the AffAA0AAoA+~ 1850
ayers, through their attorneys. sud
denly changed from vigorous policy
OF opposition 10 the opening OF the
Denver ballot boxes to a demand that
the Supreme Court open them all.
They had up TO this time resisted
every step that had been taken 10 un-
cover the frauds. to punish the guilty
or to throw out the fraudulent pre-
cincts. This change OF tactics was
disastrous. as the Republicans who
had been doing their utmost TO get the
Supreme Court to open the boxes
which came before 1t In the contempt
cases promptly accepted the chal
lenge The subsequent action OF the
Democratic leaders In trying to back
out OF an awkward situation disclosed
the .nsincerity OF their original inten-
tons In asking the court TO open the
bo1es.
Mr.. Patterson is held responsible for
this blunder by the other leaders and
he Is roundly scored on all sides.
There can be but one result from the
opening OF these boxes. and that re-
suit was sure to add very much to the
disgust and pain OF the rank and file.
Further. Il was very likely to have
as finale the eutangling OF some OF
Mr.. Adams personal friends from the
upper ranks OF the leaders.
The point that caused the most Sc
rious criticism among the Democratic
lawyers was the fact that in making
the demand on the court they recog-
nlzed the courts jurisdiction. which
they had vigorously denied and which
they sent Senator Teller to Washing
ton to dispgoye before the United
States Supreme Court. They cannot
consistently accept the courts jurls-
dIction and the same time deny IL be
fore the national Supreme Court
Sentiment of State.
The overwhelming sentiment o, the
state as reflected in Denver appears to
favor the Peabody side OF the question
at the present writing. The extraordi-
ILFf tAitHI VI AiAAAo IA 4fRafNt
and In few other counties has be-
come well known. At first IL was be
lieyed that the Republican estimate Of
the number OF fraudulent ballots cast
in Denver was perhaps exaggerated,
but the further the investigation pro
eeeded the more convincing became
the evidence that the original estimate
OF from $1,000 to 10000 was approxi-
mately correct
when the Republicans found that
they could not get the fictitious names
stricken from the registration lists, be
fore the election. they at once can
sassed the wards with view Of find
ing ont how many non.resldenis were
registered. After the election they Sc
cured by a court order for the poll
books and copied them. and immedi-
ateiy started a new canvas TO see how
many OF the bogus names were voted
This canvas has been made hur-
riedly and far from thoroughly. but II
has revealed enough fraud TO shock
even the "savages" themselves In
addition to this the attornews for the
local Republican organization have ac-
eumulated an enormous mass OF eyi-
dence In the form OF aifidayits. OF wilt
nesses to the crimes. OF people who
were refused the right to vote. and Of
the repeaters and impersonators them
selves which when presented to the
Legislature and the courts will be
equally as convincing as the opening
of the ballot boxes.
The opening OF the ballot boxes will
divulge but a portion OF the frauds.
This method will show much OF the re
peating. but not all OF II by any means.
Il will show II the returns have been
OF the "impersonated" votes nor the
number OF Republicans who were dis
franehised by being dropped from the
registration list or kept from the polls
by the rough tactics and intimidation
OF the police machine. Neither will it
show the fraudulent scratching which
afidayits show was carried on to a
great extent in some precincts.
Mr.. Fairiey's Statement.
II will. however. be basis. and a
good one. from which the extent OF the
frauds may be justly estimated
The statement issued by Chairman
Farley OF the Republican state cen
trail committee last week regarding
the frauds was the first issued from
that headquarters and the facts he
listed construct q most convincing in
dictment OF the election machine