The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-16
THREE GOVERNORS
Colorado Likely to Have That
Number in One Day.
Plan to Gust Adams Has Been
Agreed Upon.
PEABODY TO RESIGN.
Lieutenant Governor Mcdonald
Then to Assume the Office.
Adams Men Are Talking About
FOrcible Resistance.

Denver, Col, March 16.-Three men
may occupy the chair of chief executive
officer in the state of Colorado within a
single day if the joint legislative con-
vention ratifies the bargain said to have
been agreed upon by leaders of contend
ing factions in the Republican party.
Lacking the necessary votes to oust
Governor Alva Adams and secure for
himself for the remainder of the BIZ
ennial term which began on January 10,
the Office for which he is contesting,
James H. Peabody has agreed to resign
Immediately after being seated as gov
ernor and permit Lieutenant Governor
Jesse F. Mcdonald, who is also a Re-
publican, to succeed to the governor
ship. 1t is said that five of the % Re-
publican members of the general assem-
bly, who had agreed not to vote for
Peabody, have consented to this COM
promise Their votes. in addition to the
A which Peabody previously had. would
give him a majority of one on joint
ballot and when the success of this
scheme is assured it is likely that some
other anti-Peabody Republicans will
fall in line with the majority of their
party.
Governor Adams is being urged by an
element in the Democrat party, it is re-
ported, to refuse to surrender his office
to the lieutenant governor and to hold
possession by force. His brother, Frank
Adams, is police commissioner of this
city and could furnish a strong guard
for the governor should he decide to hold
on Governor Adams has refused to
make any statement as to his inten-
tions but it is generally believed that
assembly declares Governor Peabody
elected, even if such action is taken
only in pursuance of a deal by which
the lieutenant governor is to be made
governor. Mr.. Peabody's resignation,
his supporters admit, has been written
and placed in the hands of a neutral
party to be filed with the secretary of
state when the joint assembly has given
him vindication by affirming his title to
the governorship. He determined upon
this course his friends say, in order to
restore harmony in his party.
There was a full attendance of mem
bers when the joint convention assem-
bled shortly after 10 C'clCck today. The
galleries were again crowded and the
spe ctators were confident that the long
CrawnCut contest would be fiaaIly dis
posed of today The report of Senator
Morton Alexander, a member of the
contest committee in favor of declaring
a vacancy in the Office of governor and
seating the lieutenant governor in the
court had decided could not be legally
adopted by the legislature, was first ta-
ken under consideration By vote of
50 to 80, leave was granted to withdraw
the report. The report submitted by
Chairman William H. Griffith and three
other Republican members of the con-
test committee was next taken up. This
report found that there was much
fraud committed by the Democrats at
the election on November 8, in As pre-
cincts of Denver, but that Governor
Adams was legally elected.
Senator P. J. Mccarthy. of Pueblo,
asked to be excused from voting on the
governorship contest. He refused to
give any reason for his request but the
Joint assembly excused him by a vote
of IS to 80.
There was no discussion of the Grif-
fifth report. Representative Griffith
moved its adoption, but the motion was
lost by vote of II to 81.