The Springfield herald., 1905-03-24
.PEAB0DY'S REASONS
FOR REsIeNlNe eovERNoRsHIP
Letter Of Resignation Defines His Po.
eition-Retires to Endeavor to
Heal Breach In Republic

| Heal Breach In RepubIi-
can Party.
| Denver March Ex-Governor Pea
bodys letter, in which he resigns his
position, Is rs follows
state of Colorado, Executive Cham
ber, Denver, March II. 1905.
ITO the Hon. James Cowie, Secretary
OF State OF the State of Colorado,
Denver, Colorado.
Sir: i herewith officially inform
you that l hereby resign my position
as governor Of the state of Colorado,
the same to take unqualified effect
upon the delivery hereof to you.
IN view Of the peculiar conditions
now existing, l deem 1t proper u
briefly state. for the information OF
the public, the prime reasons that have
moved me to take this step.
Il initiated the contest before 'hc
Legislature of Colorado to establish
my title to the office of governor, in
the early part of the present year, be-
lieving then, and fully convinced now,
that / received plurality of the lawful
votes cast for the office of governor
at the last general election.
II deemed 1t my bounden duty to the
people of Colorado and to the Republi'
can party, whose principles 1 revere,
that l should begin and prosecute such
contest, to the end that the will of the
people, lawfully expressed at the polls.
should be carried into effect.
THE action of the legislative as
sembly of Colorado. in joint convention
assembled, in deciding that my com
petitor, the Honorable Alva Adams,
was not lawfully elected to the office
of governor, and that l was SO elected.
is complete vindication of my course
In prosecuting such contest.
ITO my surprise and regret, discov-
cred toward the latter stages of the
contest, that certain members of the
Legislature, elected as Republicans,
entertained feelings of i'll will and dis
like toward me personally; 1 was, of
course, conscious that an unfortunate
schism existed among the members of
the Republican party at the time l be-
gan my contest proceedings, but was
not then aware of the extent to which
such schism extended.
81 shall not attempt in this comniuni-
cation to vindicate myself against
what / conceive to be personal en-
nifty, unwarranted by the facts, and
ungenerous to degree, suffice it to
say that am now painfully conscious
Of its magnitude.
II have always been, and will ever
continue to be. a faithful adherent of
Republican principles and doctrines,
and l conceive it to be the duty of ev-
cry true citizen to make personal sac
rifices, II need be. for the welfare of
the political organization to which he
may belong.
'Imbued with these sentiments l am
constrained to the conclusion that the
best interests of the Republican party
| of this state will be subserved If l now
retire to private life, hoping thereby
that my present effacement as a polit-
ical factor in Colorado will restore
peace and harmony now SO sorely
needed in the Republican party of this
state.
"In taking this step, 1t affords me
pleasure to say to the people of Col
orado that my legal successor in office
the Honorable Jesse F. McDondald, is
a true and loyal Republican. as firmly
devoted to its principles and policies
as I am. I confidently believe that he
will carry out both In letter and spirit
the true Republican doctrine that law
and order must be preserved at all
hazards. that every law-abding citi-
zen shall be permitted to freely enter
| into contracts of employment with
whom and for what wage he may eleS
free from any domination or control
by so-called labor organizations or 9TH
ers. The business interests of Colo
RADIO and its welfare will be as fully
safeguarded in his hands as though
| remained at the helm of state
~ feel that l have been cruelty as
persed by those who should have
stood by me Loyalty. but 1t is not meet
that l should dwell upon this topic.
For the good of my party, for the best
interests of the state l love so dear,
the step am about to take seems lee
essary from the standpoint Of patri-
otism. l retire from the office much
poorer man than l entered II, and |
indulge in the hope that in the near
future those whose enmity has prompt
ed me to retire from public life will
come to realization of the fact that
their ill-regard was undeserved.
For the foregoing reasons l now
herewith formally and unqualifedly
resign the office of governor of the
state of Colorado, the same TO take eff
feet Immediately, to the end that my
lawful successor, the Honorable Jesse
f. McDondald, now lieutenant COVER
nor of the state. may be forthwith duly
inducted into Office as governor of Col
orado. Respectfully submitted,
JAMES II. PEABODY,
Governor of Colorado"