The Delta independent., 1902-10-10
A Red.HOt Roast.

the police and fire departments OF Denver are uhae
II the direct control of the governor. The mayor an
city council have absolutely nothing to do with then
The governor appoints Fire and Police board oil thre
whose authority is absolute and whose resigna
ton the demand at time The governo
also appoints and the police judge 1t Will thu
be that matter how good city council and mayo
Denver may elect however excellent ordinances the
may enact of these ordinances is beyon
their power In the spring of 1901 Republican counc
Republican mayor elected. They have rendere
the people faithful service and met the expectations
their friends in respect About the time they wer
elected Governor Orman appointed fire and police board
consisting of Frank Adams (brother of exGoverno
Adams) Charles F. Wilson, well known Democrat. and
Burpee Silver Republican These three men have ha
control of the police since Their administration ha
disgrace their party and to the state Apparently
effort has been made to restrain gamblin
vice of any kind Divekeepers and prostitutes hav
openly piled nefarious caings in utter contempt
the ordinances Women have been assaulted in day
children have debauched and the whole city terror
by the thugs and other dsreputable characters VIII
have ocked there from all sections of the country Con
dtons becoming unbearabe that Judge Lindsey
of the county court himself Democrat summoned the
lice board before him few weeks and gave them lee
which should have produced their immediate resgna
tions
Judge Lindsey said:
"To the Fire and Police Board, and Hamilton Arm
strong Chief of Poice
II have asked you, gentlemen, to come here and
look at these and there also girls in this city
who report here Friday. desire that you should
know something of this court, its workings and
relation to It, The law makes the court and its officers
responsible less for all boys and girls charged
with ofenses from truancy to those Of serious
nature 1t is duty to enforce the law Parents in
many and adults who violate the law. and partc
uary police officers who refuse to enforce 1t
responsible for juvenile delinquency and Juvenile de-
pendency than the children themselves and yet it is
the latter who brought in here and 1t is very sell
dom get adult ofhcer-who is really in
most to blame. A juvenile is less ire
sponsble An adult is not regarded. To illustrate
by case In point:
"It became the duty Of this court recently to send
young girl to the Industrial school. She not de-
praved or vicious. but capable of being good,
woman with any kind Of favorable environments Like
mortas thus situated. she subject to tempta
tions. What was one Of these temptations? wine
room-not one. but many. She was induced to enter
such places. You knowingly permitted them to
open violation Of the law Yet the child is placed
trial and must bear whatever stigma and disgrace that
attaches to conviction You and the divekeeper the
real culprit. go scot free.
"t is shameful that these places continue to
wide open and you have the power to order them
closed You have paid attention to the requests Of
this court to close certain places reported to
had to send girl to institution to be reformed who
ruined in place that reported to you several
weeks ago. sent my probationary officers to the
place within the last few days and they report still
open.
Il have ptiful gray haired old lady bent
with years and her face dmmed with tears pleading
in this court all she had EARTH by
wayward son relative in one of the gambling hes
of this city; gambling hell tolerated by you
II have written you gentlemen and talked to some
of about these matters weeks have not heard
prosecution. have asked the Humane Society to
act Mr.. Whitehead and Mr. Tufts, of that organIza-
ton tell story of horrible state of affairs which
they say repeatedly brought to your attention
that you do nothing. know your force made
quate and you handicapped in ways, but that
is for garing violations of the law. 1t is
to talk about these things not being known
your board. It only subjects and those respon-
sible for you to contempt and ridicue.
Flesh and blood, body and SOUL and the future of
little children sacred that it is sac
riege and a henious crime to permit any con-
sideration earth than that which tends
them, interfere with the rigid enforcement every
law which conduces to their moral welfare and their
future happiness.
"If you do not do your duty appeal to en-
with the enforcement Of the law to just their
solemn duties to the people
"You have a fearful responsibility, and how you
sleep nights and continue to ignore is simply evi
dence that do not appreciate It, for all
Of the highest standing and respect in this community
wish you would 60 about this town few weeks and