Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-01-25


war of the governor of the state upon
the gamblers commenced. In all pre-
ceding state administrations gambling
had been practically licensed and pro-
tected by the police No vigorous war
has ever been waged against gambling
by any governor Of the state or fire
and police boad. The present governor
found Messrs. Orr and Martin guilty Of
malfeasance in Office in protecting in
stead of prohibiting the gambling
houses Of the city and removed them
according to law. The officers SO re-
moved refused to vacate their Offices
in the interest of the gamblers arose
in instruction and by aid OF the
sheriff's Office took illegal and armed
possession of the city hall. A district
court, in the interest of the gamblers,
enjoined the governor from the exer-
else Of his constitutional rights The
issue was sharply defined between the
gamblers and the governor, who called
out the militia of the state to suppress
instruction. Now where was the
clergy Of Denver, the Y. M. G..
A., the w. c. T. U. and the
prohibitionists in this fight? They
were dead against the governor The
exceptions are so small and insignifi-
cant as to be unworthy Of notice. The
wealth and aristocracy of the city was
unit against the governor. In many
of the churches Of Denver the elders
and trustees actually voted down a
motion to indorse the action Of the
police board. Even the most promi'
nent and influential members OF the
Peoples party assembled themselves
together, called the governor before
them, and implored him to withdraw
his demand that his last appointees
should take possession Of the city hall,
which was their legal right, and con-
sent that the matter should be left fol-
the decision Of the various courts, which
practically meant that Orr and Martin
should con tinue in Office and the gam
bling houses remain open. All this
pressure was resisted by the governor,
who commended that Orr and Martin
had no legal authority after they were
removed, and that the control of the
police belonged to Mullins, Barns and
Rogers. The Supreme court of the
state, in its final decision, declared the
possession of Orr and Martin illegal,
and ordered them to vacate in favor OF
Mullins and Barnes, who were de.
clared entitled to legal possession, and
thus the Supreme court sustained the
right of the governor to enforce the
law.
But the governor, the fire and
police board and the chief of police
stood alone The saints, the pious
women and the prohibitionists, who
had for years been praying for the
suppression of gambling houses and
tipping houses, had no words of en-
couragement for those who had estab
lished reform. In the hard fight the
governor had been compelled to make
in the courts, and by resort to his
constitutional rights as commsnder-in.
chief of the state militia, the entire re
ligious sentiment of the city acting in
harmony with the gamblers and lewd
women, had denounced the state ex
ecutive as an anarchist, usurper and
tyrant.
"That the republicans in Denver
were in league with the gamblers and
lewd women is indisputable. Aside
from the statement of the gamblers
themselves, who tell the amounts they
contributed, and the number Of votes
they colonized, is the fact that large
pecuniary offers were made to the
Peoples party to let up on the gam
blers, and the further fact that the
gamblers have always demanded and
received o consideration for their
votes. When the republican press and
preachers preached continually that the
Populist state administration had In
inred the business of the state, and the
only business injured was the gambling
halls and houses Of i'll fame, when the
county republican ticket was nomi
mated in the interest Of these injured
classes, who were induced to vote the
republican ticket on the promise that
their injuries should be redressed, 1t IL
rather late in the day, after the con.
sideration has been fully paid, for the
preachers to now maintain that the ar
rangement made with their political
co-laborers and bosom friends-the
gamblers and lewd women-is off.
Even /, who have had no small exper
fence as the subject Of personal and
political ingratitude, stand appalled, at
such heartliness. But l do not thinL
the C. o. p. will betray Its allies. The
same sweet city council who refused &c
use funds of the city already in the
treasury for public improvements, be
cause the expenditure by law would
have to be under control of Populist
board Of public works, have cut dowr