Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-01-21
THOMAS YIELDS HIS
GREATEST AMBITION
In Tears He Announces His Intention
to Withdraw and Notifies His
Opponent.
Openver Repnblican.l

Denver Republican,
Ex-Governor Thomas gave up the
fight about o'clock yesterday after
noon AT that time it became appar'
ent that his following was slipping
away from him and he notified his re-
naming friends. 90 or so in all. thai
he would not allow his name to so be
fore the caucus which had been called
to meet in the capitol in the even
ing,
The fight that was really "A hope
less fight at noon Sunday was all
over at noon Monday. Pueblo county
turned the tide Alva Adams is cred
tied with getting the Democrats oi
his following into line for Patterson.
and while with the Pueblo represent
t-atives Thomas had a fighting chance,
without them he could do nothing.
As soon as it was known that the
Pueblo delegation was for Mr.. Patter-
son. the doubtful and weak-kneed-
and the weak-kneed in the assembly
are in the majority, for
the headquarters of Mr.. Patterson at
the Albany hotel. The Patterson
| caucus in the afternoon was attend
ed by a majority of the entire legis
lature. and even if there had been no
caucus Mr. Patterson could after
| the stampede. have been elected on
| the first ballot.
AT the headquarters of Mr.. Thomas
at the Brown Palace hotel the few
faithful friends sat in silence. 1t
seemed certain that nothing could
lie Cc-e to avert impending defeat,
and the only question was whether
l. Thomas was to remain in the fight
only to be defeated or whether he
should withdraw to allow his friends
| in the legislature 10 vote for the win
ming candidate. A conference was
held behind closed doors. Some at
| the conference We're emphatic in their
| declarations that they would vote
| for Il Democrat, whether Mr.. Thomas
remained in the race or not. Some
advised Mr.. Thomas to withdraw
| Between the two Mr.. Thomas hest
| tated not moment He said that
while he thought there was a chance
| to win he could fight as hard as any
one.
But said the former governor. lit
is n question of votes and the other
| side has the votes"
| Tears rolled down his checks as he
went on to tell the score OF faithful
| friends that he must withdraw for
their sakes-not for his own. But
in that moment of grief with his few
supporters about him he stood up like
a man and. without an unkind word
| for anyone, without remark that
| could be construed rs even a criti-
cism Of the Democracy of Mr.. Patter-
son, he thanked his friends again and
again for the way in which they had
stood by him in the fight. The scene
was pathetic.
After the former governor had ended
his remarks. and several of those pres
ent, including Senator Samuel V. New
ell and Senator w. l.. Clayton had
spoken also, the meeting was declared
at an end. The understanding was
that Charles S. Thomas. former gov
ernor, senatorial candidate and Dem
ccratic leader. was nothing more than
Charles S. Thomas, the kind-hearted
private citizen and lawyer.
To signify that the conference was
over Mr. Thomas arose tall but slight
ly stopping. a large handkerchief
loosely folded in one hand, and his
right hand extended to grasp the right
hand of Senator S " Newell who
rushed forward to Did him adieu in
silence. Then came a line of a score
Of his stalwart friends. The line
passed and each member shook the
governors hand much as they would
have shaken the hand of a mourner
al funeral.
After the conference at which Gov
ernor Thomas decided to protect his
friends by Withdrawing from the raye
the telephone was put into use, and
Mr.. Patterson was told that II he
wanted to come up to the Brown Pal
ace hotel and call on Mr.. Thomas he
might hear something to his advant-
age. He came. He and Mr. Thomas
shook hands for the first time in two
years. 1t was only formal hand
shake, how ever and did not mean
anything. Then the two men step
ped into side room where Mr.. Thom-
as formally notified Mr.. Patterson
that he had withdrawn Mr.. Patter-
son said little ii anything. except that
in his victory he had no enemies to
punish. Then Mr.. Patterson went
his way rejoicing and it was all
over.