The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-16
DENVER'S EXCITING DAY.
cor. WAITE ClLLs OUT THE MILL
TIA TO ROM THE POLICE.

hourr-Wane, IN Defiance OF the Courts,
Determined 10 seizs the city Hail Ne.
psrtreut--The Police stationed Around
the BuiIdiuE 10 Protect ia Great
Crowd Looks On-LendinE Meu Counsel
10th Side. TO GO siow-w.ue At LAST
CsIs on the Usited states Troops to
Preserve the Feaee-Thsy Respond with
Aiscrity and the Day Esd, without
BIood.hcd-A w-rrsrt for wnite's Arrest
DENVER. March &. The pslltical fight waged
by Gov. Waite eliminated to-day in most ex-
citing scenes. and mob violence was i'm minent
many times during the day. Fortunately. most
citizens were calm and collected. and the
prompt action OF leading men In leaving their
business and appearing In solid bodies to beg
for time to consider the situation carefully.
ca used delay that probably prevented blood
shed. riotinR. and the assassination OF Gov.
Waite. In all probability had shot been fired
q mob would have quickly formed that would
have captured the Governor before official as
sistance could have rescued him.
The history Of the trouble dates back some
weeks. Some years ago tho citizens OF
Denver asked the Legislature to give them
q new charter that would take the police.
fire. and public works departments out
OF the hands Of the municipality and put
them In the handA Of Boards of1icored By APP
pointments madesby the Governor. It was
believed that this would result in removing
these departments from the corruption Of
politics. Gov. Waite had shown q desire
to make these departments subserve
his political ambitions. and has tried
to make all OF them political Boards filled with
Populist followers. The Board Of Fire and
Police has been changed repeatedly to suit his
whima
Two members resisted. but the Governor
won his case before the Supreme Court. which
declared that be could remove for cause.
When he demanded the removal OF members
Martin and Orr recently. they refused to go I'M
til the courts should so decide. Gov Waite.
relying upon the decision OF the Supreme
Court In the first case. did not ask Of the courts
how to proceed. He declared that the men,
bers had violated their trust By placing spe-
cial palicemen at gambling houses con-
trary to law. and he appointed two
new memberA The deposed members APP
piled to the District Court and obtained
q temporary Injunction to restrain the Gov
ernor. the Mayor. and the new m embers from
taking possession OF the once OF the Police
and Fire Board by force. This was objected to.
but aftor arguments had been heard Judge
Graham declined to remove the Injunction.
Then after several days elaboration the
Governor decided to ignore the Injunction. and
so issued last night his order to the militia to
take possession OF the City Hall.
As early as o o'clock this morning spectators
began to assemble around the City Hall build
ing. and by IL o'clock Larimer and Fourteenth
streets for q block in each direction wero
AZ 10 o'clock two wagon loads OF brseeh-
loading shotguns and ammunition were un-
loaded at Police Headquarters in the City
Hall The Police Department intended to re-
.G-kA a
q shotgun and two revolvers for each man. in
addition to tho regulation club. A quantity OF
dynamite cartridges was also stored In the
police vaults In readiness for an emergency.
We will hold the City Hall against oil at
tacks from the outside. II IL takes dynamite to
do it," was the expression OF Chief Of Police
Stone. I'VE have 40 men on duty and they
will be here as long as they are needed. II the
Governor wants blood to the brides We will
give it to him. but he cannot have the City
Hall"
BY noon the crowd about the armory was
nearly or quite as great as that assembled at
the City Hall. and when the miltiamen began
to arrive they found it difficult TO make their
way to headquarters. The militia started from
the armory promptly at 2 o'clock. Adjt- Gen.
Tarsney was in command. assisted by Brig
Gen. Brooks.
At 3;15 T. N. Gen. Brooks. accompanied By
four aides-de-camp. rode up to the City Hall
and said that the Governors orders must
be obeyed. Gov Waite remained In his
private rooms at the Douglass all day
and admitted NO one but his closest
friends until q committee OF citizens
from the Chamber OF Commerce called upon
him late In the day. The result was failure
TO get him to consent to anything
Il shall order the militia to fire." he 70.
iterated. The people may assassinSte me II
they will. but propose to have my way"
"Soapy" smiths crowd OF sports had been
sworn In as deputies. and they were placed at
the City Hall to await orders. From 2 o'clock
until long after dark q dense mass OF people
was packed in front OF the City Hall and upon
the streets adjacent
They cheered and chaffed and ioked. yet did
not hesitate TO express indignation ct the sit
uation. On Fourteenth street the First Regi-
ment OF the Colorado National Guard stood.
ing OF four Calling guns, with calssons filled
with solid shot. grape and canister. and Cat;
the entire front OF the hall and at one time the
militia was under motion to attack the hall
This message asked Tor q hall hours delay
to permit another conference looking toward
From that time until late in the afternoon, |
when icy, Waite became s a little reckless and
anxiety prevailed. All sorts OF rumors foated |
about The Sheriff issued an order to arrest |
the militia and take their arms away.
A friend OF the deposed members of the Fire |
and Police Board went out OF the City Hall to |
apply for warrant to arrest the Governor
Committees OF the most influential citizens |
were arguing with the Board, with the militia, |
with the Governor ard with the police. but
clArsd that he would order the militia /
to fire upon the City Hall regardless |
of the crowds OF spectators and the police |
board within. who as solidly maintained their
position 70 resist attack; The police stood
essary. and Chief Of Police Stone said
he would die before he would surrender,
Meanwhile business Was practically sus-
pended and crowds gathered on eyery corner
ana upon the tops OF adjacent buildings
Then Gov Waite sent his appeal to Gen. Me-
Cook. and soon after o o'clock this evening
Chief OF Police Stone received a telephone
message from Gen. MeCook, saying that he
had ordered troops from Fort Logan 10 aid |
him In preserving order. soon after II. NJ /
Patterson asked. on behalf Of the Governor
for Committee OF Arbitration. but the Ctr |
Hall people declined the Ofrer, saying that
they made a similar olfsr early in the daT and
a a -