The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-10-22
LABOR Of COLORADO
HOT AFTER PEABODY
Populist Nominee Withdraws
to United Opposition
Against the Gear.
In a Stirring Letter Candidate
Tells What Citizens
Duty Is.

Denver, Colo, Oct. 2o-The defeat
of Governor Peabody is assured. Ev-
cry attempt to induce the Populists to
put up a third ticket, In order that
votes could be taken from the DEM
ocratic nominee, thus insuring the elec-
tion Of Peabody, has failed
A few Populists We're induced to
meet state convention to nominate
state ticket. This convention nomi-
mated Judge Overs, one of Colorado's s
most respected citizens. This rather
cast gloom upon the hopes of organ
lied labor. But just at the right time
it was announced that Judge Overs
had declined the nomination. He did
SO in the following able and patriotic
letter:
Judge Overs Monday sent his letter
to Chairman Gray, of the Populist
party, declining to run on the Peo-
pies party ticket. for governor. The
letter reads:
Denver. Colo, Oct. 3, 1904.
"A. B. Gray, Chairman Peoples Par
ty. Denver, Colo:
Dear Sir-I am in receipt of YOUR
letter informing me that today is the
last day for filing my acceptance of
the nomination for the office of gov
ernor of Colorado, rendered me by the
Peoples party in convention at Colo
RADIO Springs.
Since the convention I have earn
estly considered the question of this
acceptance, in order to decide where
In view of the disturbed conditions in
the state. my duty lies.
You know that the Democratic and
Republican national platforms are
30 alike and interchangea BILE and it is
doubtful It the average man can de-
eide without labels, which is which.
Contrast these platforms with the
clear-cut, earnest and sincere state
ment Of principles In the national
platform of the Peoples party, and
the unblemished character of it's bril-
liant nominee for president, Thomas
Watson, and there can be no no ques-
tion of the duty of a Populist as to
the national ticket.
THE situation in Colorado is, un-
fortunately, more complicated. We are
face to face with: another phase of the
world old strugg1e.for personal liberty.
4. In the past the smountains have been
qnaeof
I: eIsct ton sRhsther5 we
shall maintain that tradition, by de-
feating the party and the lawless state
administration which has given us two
years OF. riot, loot and license, tramp
led upon every guarantee of personal
liberty embodied In our constitutions
and laws, and fruitlessly expended a
million dollars Of the peoples money
without convicting a single criminal,
or whether as citizens we shall meekly
pass under the yoke and re-elect a
| swashbucking and puppet governor,
who will continue to use the power of
the state to sustain the classes against
the masses, in order to estab blish the
rule OF the privileged few in the inter-
est of greed incarnate, and who, while
arrogantly declaring that the courts
cut no ice,' with criminal insolence
proves 1t, by quoting dicta of the
Supreme Court of Colorado, based upon
the Supreme Court Of Idaho.
THE apathy of the voters of the
state for the last few years shows
them to be equally disgusted with the
tyrannical abuse Of power by the Re-
publican machine, and the hypocrisy
and ballot box stuffing of the Demo-
cratic.
II believe that the state Democratic
machine is as absolutely under the
control of the corporations as the Re-
publican and that no aggressive ac-
tion or recommendation for relief from
existing conditions can be expected
from the Democratic nominee for gov
ernor Should he be elected, a policy
Of. mastery inactivity will, however,
give us an administration as smilingly
placid as a summer sea-
1--WE have thus the positive of two
evils, one of which is positive and ag-
gressive, the other passive and neg
ative. I am and shall continue to be
a Populist, but under existing condi-
! tions in Colorado, can not take the
risk of contributing in any way to the
election of Peabody. Should the vote
1 might receive prove sufficient to
have defeated him if given to Adams
I should feel had committed a crime
by remaining in the field.
ticket, except I shall vote for Adams
for governor; not because + have faith
in his intentions, for have not; but
because I believe the moral effect OF
Peabodys defeat will be of untold
benefit to the state and to the country
at large.
For the reasons given I must de-
cline to accept the nomination.
II hope those reasons may appeal
to Populists generally and particularly
to those who, in the past, have hon
ored. me with their votes,. and that
they may also see fit> to choose the
lesser evil and vote for Adams for the
sole. purpose of defeating Peabody,
and the silfishness: and vainglorious-
ness of the tyrannical few, who control
his acts, and by SO. doing show
predatory wealth that there are limits
to its .exploitations, and that the dec
laration of independence and the con-
;;:stitution still exist, and mean what
| they say. :-:.. =. = -.
/ 1totr roo1,