Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-09-08
COLORADO POLITICS.
Carried On in the Wildly Simple
Western Way with Winches.
tiers and So Forth.
FIGHT OVER A CONVENTION HALL

Results in tic Death of One of the Poll
ticians and the Wounding OF Three
| Others-PreIiminary Fusion Proceed
ings Are Little Warm, SO to Speak
Murder Trial 20 FoiIow-Fusion Gath
erinGs in Iowa and Washington.
Colorado Springs. Colo. Sept. s.-A
| pitched battle occurred in this city at
! daybrea yesterday between the two
warning factions of the Silver Republic
| an party of this state. in which oneman
| was killed and three wounded. The dead
man is Charles 5. Harris. an employe at
| Denver OF the Gulf railway. The
wounded were spirited away by their
| friends. and their identity has not been
| definitely established. 1t is said that
/ man named Palmer was shot in the
| cheek. but not seriously injured. Anoth-
er man had his hand shot nearly off
| and another got 4 flesh wound in the
| arm.
The fight was waged for the posses
sion of the Opera House in which the
Silver Republican state convention was
to meet today. An armed force repre-
sentinS the faction depcsed by National
Chairman Towne was sent TO drive the
guard out of the theatre. said guard
having been put in by the other faction.
Five Mcn Charged with Murder.
After hot scrimmage in which many
shots were fired the Tellerites fled in
dismay- Harris and the men who were
wounded are supposed TO have been
members of the attacking force. Chair
man Blood. A NJ. Stevenson and other
leading Silver Republicans openly
charge Sheriff Boynton, of this county,
and Internal Revenue Collector Frank
Howbert. of Denver. with leading the
attack Sheriff Boynton states that he.
Mt Howbert. and Chief of Police Gath
right did not go to the Opera House
until the battle began. and then only to
take possession of the place. Five men
were arrested in the Opera House and
one. it is claimed by the police. had a
smoking Winchester in his hands. The
prisoners are Walter Russell. ]. w. Lup-
ton. J. ]. Long. \. 9. Smith and y. z.
MOnge. all Of Cripple Creek. They are
charged with the murder of Harris and
information was filed in the district
court against them.
VIII Make a Split in the Party.
The delegates to the state conventions
of the Democratic, Populist and Silver
Republicans which opened today are all
on the ground. The fight yesterday
morning between the two factions of the
Silver Republicans, which seems to
have made certain a split in that party
have improved the chances for fusion
on the state ticket between the Demo-
Gratis PopUlists and a part of the Sill
yer Republicans There will he some diff
fculty in the distribution of the offices,
as each party is anxious to name the
head of the ticket and the various can
diCates. The Silver Republicans who
recognize as state chairman James II.
Blood. National Chairman Towne's ap-
pointee, and who are regarded as fol-
lowers of Senator Teller. are said to-
have agreed upon Frank c. Cloudy as
their candidate for governor The Dem
ocrats are divided between the present
governor, AIva Adams, and Charles s.
Thomas. With the Populists it is said
that Judge Thompson, of the court Of
appeals. is the favorite.
Opera House Difficulty Settled.
It seems that all danger of further Sc
rious trouble between the two factions
o. the Silver Republicans has been re-
moved. Yesterday afternoon members
of the Blood faction made application
before Judge Harris. of the district
court. for a writ Of mandamus compell-
ing Sheriff Boynton to turn over the
OLera House to them. Last night cit
liens Of Colorado Springs took the mat
ter in hand and the result was a COM
promise by which both sides relinqUish
all claims to the disputed room. BY
this agreement Judge Harris issued an
order to Sheriff Boynton To let neither
faction have possession Of the place.
The Broad faction has secured the CO.
burn library of Colorado college, and
the Blood wing viii meet at Durkee
hall