The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-15
"BOODLERS, THIEVES"
Angry Denver People so Call
Perfidious Councilmen.
Thousands Watch Them Sell Out
to the Water Company.
FEAR THEIR WRATH.
Three Scared Councilman Hurry
Out of the City.
'WilI Get Him Yet" Said the
People About Emery.

pAtCh ONOE VIC aCblOn u bAS CITY COuACA
on the water question. Late Tuesday in
the presence of 5000 indignant taxpaY-
ers, the Denver board of aldermen de-
feated the Burpee water ordinance. For
nearly two hours a great crowd of people
had witnessed the spectacle of their sup
posed representatives playing shuttle
cock with the rights of the people. Pa
tiently they had endured the insolence
of the men they had elected to office
upon solemn pledge to readjust the
water rates.
Before the clerk had announced the
result of the vote the crowd knew it
and broke into yells of derision. The
men who had hidden for months, now,
without pretext or excuse, openly,
in broad daylight, in the presence
of their constituents. had violated the sa-
cred pledge given six months ago, Yells
of "bOodlers," thieves" TRAITORS" filed
the air. Men pushed forward that they
might be nearer the men who had be-
trayed them and be heard by the traitor
GUS eight above the noise and clamor.
There were shouts for each of the indi-
viduals to stand up and account for the
action to the men and women who had
elected them. Both sexes were in dead
earnest. 1t was as respectable q GRO wd
as ever assem- bled in Denver. There was
talk of another ordinance being pre-
pared, but this was throwing chaff in the
eyes of the consumers, and the mere
mention seemed to drive them crazy
with rage, for they renewed their cries
for the aldermen to come out and &C
count to their constituents.
The proceedings were in the nature of
gross farce. A report of the ordinance
was read as it came from the hands of
the crowd called for the author, the fact
| pany was admitted.
The turning point in the vote was dis
closed when it came to the turn of Alder
man Emery to cast his vote. He for.
merly was counted on for the water COM
pany, but after his constituents dragged
him from his place of retreat one night,
with three policemen to save him from
lynching, he yielded promise not to
again vote for the water company side of
the rate question. He was aware that
the change of vote might cost him his
life, or cause him to fee from Denver
for the rest of his days, for he wavered
when called to express himself Quick
/ prompting came from the water COM
/ pany, and then he allowed himself to go
| on record as a dOuble-dyed traitor. He
| could hardly be heard as he recorded his
vote, but the people who sat and stood
around the walls of the hall strained
every nerve and knew that he had be-
trayed them. A great roar went up and
the crowd swayed in the direction of the
railing that divided it from the aldermen,
but Sergeant futile and large force OF
men in citizens clothes came to the
rescue and restored order.
"We will get him yet" was the cry that
rang in the ears of the faithless repre-
sentative as he listened to the surging OF
| the masses and remem bered how the
rope looked when three weeks ago he
was allowed to see it dangling in front OF
his eyes with a whole lot of determined
men at the other end. He may have
recollected how his knees sank under
him at that time aud how he pleaded
with the people to let him live long
enough to redeem his pledge and oath
taken before the election.
He was revealing in these pleasant an
ticipations when the order was given tc
clear the hall, and the police went to
work with will, The attendance was
too respectable to justify the use of force
| as there were too many women voters
all of whom represented real estate in
terests With little wheedling the DO.
lice succeeded in getting the people
away from the floor. The treacheroul
| aldermen retained their seats until the
coast was clear and a strong array OF
deputy sheriffs had been summoned tc
take them to their homes
Aldermen Ames and Sewell, two Re
Dublicans, representing the party tina
had carried the election. and who had re-
manned true to their pledges, made i'm
FASHIONED speeches against the water
company, and every sentence was cheer
ed to the echo by the audience, which
the president threatened to exclude
Then some one in the back part of tn,
hall defied the president to carry out hi
threat, and the remark was withdraw
on the suggestion that a thousand people
outside the doors were not able to ge
in, and that they would wipe the eartl
with anyone who tried to exercise
little brief authority. This showed tina
the citizens we're in no mood for trifing
and good care was taken that no furthe
incentive to riot was offered.
Alderman Ames recited the fact tina
the company charged Is cents for eacl
pupil of the public schools, while Chi
cagO made no charge. and there was n
reason for the tax on children when the,
paid for water at home. He called at
tention to the ordinance which he SAT-
would transfer to the pockets of tn
water comb ine from 100000 to $500, 0O
a year, equal to the interest on two O
four millions of capital.
He concluded: "If the contract is u
good TO US, throw it away, but deliver u
from ever making another with the Den
YER Union Water company. But wha
will be the result? Why, when the poll
close on the next election day the goo
people will have elected such a tickle
that will come down to these chamber
and within the time that we have beef
elected will have the water company
plAut confiscated and Denver will the
be the proud owner of city water work
and our water taxes will be one-half O
what they are now and the compan,
will have no one to blame but themselves
They will have to take the consequences