Gilpin observer., 1904-08-11
EX-COV. c. S. THOMAS REPLIES
TO GOV. PEABODY'S CRITICISM


Thomas resents the criticism contained
in Governor Peabody's recent state
ment regarding the action Of the Colo
rado delegation to the National Demo-
cratic convention at st. Louis, which
resulted in the insertion of a plank in
the Democratic platform specially
aimed at conditions in Colorado as re-
Quested by the delegation.
Following is Mr.. Thomas reply to
the governors structures:
In the carefully-prepared defense
which public sentiment has forced from
the reluctant hand of his excellency ap-
pears the statement that "if the public
press Is to be credited the delegation
from this state to the recent st. Louis
convention pictured before the repre-
sentatives of every state in the Union
the woe and desolation and degrada-
tion, the lawlessness and hopelessness
of their own state"
The delegates to the st. Louis con-
vention conferred upon me the honor
, to represent 1t in the committee on
platform, before which body, sitting in
executive session, the public affairs of
our state were the subject of discus
sion. The obvious implication of his
excellency's complaint is that CAM
paign of hatred" was there conducted
by misrepresenting or falsifying actual
conditions. The justice Of this imputa-
tion may be determined only from the
facts.
Facts Well Founded.
The rights and privileges Of the citi-
zen. together with his duties and obli-
cations under the law, being to Demo-
Gratis at least matters of paramount
concern, our delegation determined, in
view of the recent history of our state.
to secure some emphatic expression
upon the subject in the party declara-
ton of principles, and to that end GER
tain facts for which his excellency's
administration is responsible were pre-
sented to the consideration of the COM
mittee. They were not founded upon
references to any newspapers which
his excellency SO cordially condemns.
but upon executive proclamations, mill
tary orders, statements Of men in
authority, extracts from the columns OF
such periodicals as the Denver Repub-
lican, Army and Navy Journal, Nc
clure's Magazine. the Chicago Tribune,
the Wall Street Journal, the Washing
ton Post, and the like. also had the
temerity to refer to the public utter
ances Of Congressman Hogg and Judge
N. w. Dixon, in connection with those
Of Mr.. Hamlin. General Bell, Major
McClelland. Attorney General Miller
and Bulkeley Wells. l added some
things falling within the scope Of my
own personal knowledge. Surely these
sources of Information and comments.
myself included. were at least CON
servative," Notwithstanding they en-
braced many things. including affairs
In Las Animas county. about which his
excellency's official apology is strange
ly silent.
Criticism as Vigorous.
My criticism of the unwise and inde-
fensjble character of the strike Of 1908,
and my defense of his right and duty
to summon the military forces of the
state when properly called on ito sup
press violence and support the law"
were quite as vigorous as those OF his
excellency. emphasized even more
positively than he the fact that he had
solemnly sworn to take care that the
laws be faithfully executed" The aw-
ful horror Of June 9Th was neither con-
doned nor palliated. asserted that
the community. naturally and neces-
sarily frenzied beyond control by that
terrible tragedy, did what any Anglo
Saxon community would have done and
must be judged accordingly. The at
tention OF the committee was directed
III the main to the following summary:
That the expense involved in the
mobilization OF the militia was ad-
vanced by the Mine Owners Associa-
tion, thereby justifying the criticism
of the Army and Navy Journal that
the arrangement virtually placed the
troops for the time being In the rela-
tion of hired men to the mine owners,
and morally suspended their function
of state military guardians OF the pub
lie peace. 1t is a rank perversion of
the whole theory and purpose of the
national guard and more likely to in
cite disorder than prevent it."
That courts, fully equipped and in
the proper exercise of their constitu-
tional powers, were surrounded and
invaded by troops, and their orders
openly defied in the physical presence
of the Judge on the bench by military
commanders, assuming to speak in the
name Of the governor.
Denied Men Relief.
That after the first withdrawal OF
troops from San Miguel county citi-
zens' committee headed by Captain
Wells of the national guard forcibly
deported some three score citizens from
their homes who applied to his excel
lency for relief without avail; that
they then applied to the courts. which
granted 1t. Whereupon, San Miguel
county was again declared to be In a
state OF insurrection and placed un-
der martial law with Captain Wells in
virtual command; that Captain Wells
thereupon, in the name and by the
authority Of the executive, enforced
Committeeman Wells DEGREES OF exile
in disregard OF the mandate Of the ju-
dietary and continued the work OF de-