Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-03-16
HIS LIFE THREATENED
Gov. Waite Has Got Him
self Into a MuddIe.
RlOTOUS SCENES IN DENVER
Militia Was Called Out to Remove
Police From City Hall.

DENVER, March lo.-The political nght
waged by Governor Waite eliminated In
exciting scenes, and mob violence was inn
minsnt. The prompt action of leading
citizens caused a delay that probably pre-
vented bloodshed, rioting and the assas.
sination of Governor Waite, against
whom all sorts of dire threats were
made
The National Guard of Colorado Is un.
der arms; the troops from Fort Logan
have been called out, and although mar
tial law has not been officially proclaimed
there Is no other authority in Denver but
the strong arm of the military.
The situation has been brought about
by the determination Of Governor Waite
to oust the two members of the fire and
police board-Jackson Orr and ID. J. Mar
tin-whom he removed for protecting
gambling houses, and placed in Office
their successors, s. ID. Barnes and Dennis
Mullins.
Orr and Martin, having obtained from
the district court an injunction restrain
ing Governor Waite from forcibly remov-
ing them, were determined to resist to the
utmost They accordingly kept the en-
tire police force at the city hall yesterday
under orders to resist il the soldiers at
tackled II.
In addition, several hundred of the
toughest citizens, many Of whom have
records as mankillers, were sworn in rs
dsputies by Sheriff Bushnell and placed
In the city hall az a reinforcement for the
police department. Each deputy was
armed with two six-shooters and In
structed to use them In case of necessity.
The police were armed with shotguns, in
addition to their clubs and revolvers.
Troops Out In Force.
The First regiment and the Chaffee
Light artillery arrived at the city hall at
8 o'clock, and General Brooks, command
ing officer, delivered to Police Lieutenant
Clay, in command outside of the city hall,
q message to the effect that II the police
commissioners did not vacate within half
an hour the offices would be taken by
force. Orr and Martin refused to sur
render.
Before the half hour expired promineps4
citizens entered into negotiations with
both parties of the controversy, with a
view to reaching settlement by arbitra-
ton. and while the negotiations were in
progress a truce was declared. The
streets around the city hall were packed
with an angry mob, numbering many
thousands.
On the governments representation
that the state militia would probably be
inadequate to cope with the mob that
had full possession of the city, General
McCook called out the United States in
fantry from Fort Logan to act In con-
junction with the state and local authori-
ties In clearing the streets and preserving
the peace. The United States troops ar
rived about $50 p. m.
A warlike Aspect.
Adjustant General Tarsney, an old
Indian fighter, has placed the militia
In front Of the city hall In Fourteenth
street, with two gatling guns, covering the
two big Napoleons, loaded with grape
and solid shot, trained on the city hall,
and four companies Of militia IL front
and around them to stand the crowd off.
The excitement Is intense, and Is in
creased by the reinforcement OF the
local state troops numbering 220 men, by
the Boulder and Fort Collins companies
of the First regiment and the Second
regiment companies from Colorado
Springs and Pueblo.
Since 2 o'clock Yesterday morning the
city has been entirely without protection
from the criminal classes. The causes
leading up to this state of affairs are as
follows:
For Cause or Politics?
Governor Waite has been changing the
personnel Of the city fire and police board
from time to time, ostensibly for cause,
but 1t is claimed for political purposes
purely. This mode of procedure began
last June, when George II. Phelps was
removed for illegal neglect of duty In fail
ing to prosecute gamblers.
The appointment Of S. w. Trimble In
his stead was tested on an appeal to the
supreme court which decided that all APP
pointments by the governor are made
with power Of suspension or removal at
any time for cause, to be stated in writing,
but not for political reasons. In the face
Of this decision, Judge Graham of the
district court enjoined the recently ap-
pointed memb bers of the fire and police
board from taking their seats, although
they had been sworn In.
This action the governor regarded as an
infringement upon his prerogatives, and
he accordingly ignored the injunction.
He expresses a willingness TO leave the
whole controversy to the supreme court
to decide, but the removed commissioners,
who wish to delay a final decision as long
as possible, refuse to consent to such an
arrangement.
His Life Threatened.
Governor Waite refused to make any
statement, further than that he had with.
drawn his troops for the night. What
his next step will be he would not say.
His pale face told more than words OF the
strain through which he had passed