The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-02
FOUR REPORTS FILED.
Colorado Contest Postponed Owing to
Death of WolcOtt.

Denver, March Reconsideration of
the reports of the committee which
heard the evidence in James H. Pea
body's contest for the Office of COVER
nor was postponed today by the joint
convention of the general. assent bly, in
consequence of the death of Edward
o. Wolcott, formeFs United States sena-
tor from Colorado. Fhe. general as
resolutions. in m ENJOY of the late sen
ator and adjourned until 10 o'clock
tomorrow forenoon.
Four reports were filed with Lieu
tenant Governor Jesse A. Mcdonald
by the gubernatoriai contest commit
tee to be presented to the joint con-
vention of the general assembly which
will decide after hearing arguments
whether or not Governor Ava Adams
shall surrender his Office to former
Governor James H. Peabody, who con-
tested the election
Fourteen Republican members of
the committee, a majority of one,
finally signed the report in favor of
ousting Adams and seating Peabody
which was prepared by counsel for
Peabody, but six of these committee
men declared that they reserved the
right to vote as they saw fit after
hearing the arguments in joint con-
yention. They said they signed the
report merely to get the matter before
the assembly.
At the final meeting of the committee
yesterday afternoon for consideration
Of the contest, the Peabody report was
signed by thirteen members. One of
these, Representative @. E. DUNCAN, of
Montrose county, subsequently, with
drew his signature, notifying Chairman
Griffith later that he had signed
through misunderstanding. Two other
Republican members OF the committee,
Morton Alexander of Jefferson county
and Representative Alfred Stewart of
Douglas county, who refused to sign the
he VIC
their minds during the night and their
signatures were attached to the major
ity report when it was presented today.
Senator Alexander had previously filed
a report in favor of declaring the cleo
ton of governor null and void, creating
a vacancy to be filed by the lieutenant
governor. This method of solving the
difficulty received no support rom the
other members of the committee
The nine Democratic members made
report recommending the dismissal of
the Peabody contest because no case
had been made by the evidence.
The fourth report, Whlch may prove
to be the most important was prepared
by William H Griffith of Cripple Creek,
chairman of the committee and bears
in addition to his signature the names
of Representatives j. A. MclnLyre, OF
Denver. c. f. DUNCAN of Montrose ana
J. B. Thompson of Boulder an OF tneih
Republicans
This report sets out that there was
shown to have been fraud in 40 pre-
eincts in Denver which was not dis
proved by Adams. However, 1t also sets
out that Adams proved by his evidence
that 60 Of the 104 precincts attacked by
Peabody were proven to nave oeen
without fraud and that the eiecIOh III
them was regular
on this account the report says Ad-
ans stin has enough votes to give him
a good sized plurality and election. Inc
conclusions are the same as those OF the
report submitted by the Democratic
members of the committee, but they are
reached in a different way.