The Greeley tribune., 1906-11-01
BEN LINDSEY
LITTLE JUDGE SPOKE HERE
LAST NIGHT
An Appreciation Of Work Done
by Honest Man for Purer
Politics in State of
Colorado


independent candidate for governor
OF Colorado. spoke in the Greeley
opera house last evening but as the
Tribune was already printed two
hours before his arrival no part Of
his speech could be reported.
AS an educational medium it is
heartily regretted that the little
judge has not one newspaper cham
piou among the Denver dailies. But
their silence is really the best en-
dorsement of Judge Lindsey that
they could give. and the plainest
acknowledgment that they are all in
the same rotten combination with
the grafting politicians and the cor
rupt corporations of Denver.
While Judge Lindsey was interest
ing the entire thinking world with
his training of the street gamins and
alleged incorrigible older boys the
Denver papers devoted columns and
pages to singing his praise. Then
suddenly the little jngde also took
hand in the political game and
started to clean up little Of the
grating that he saw going on all
about him. Again some Of the
papers shouted for him, because it
was hitting some little rival clique,
part and parcel only of the greater
combine of the whole. AS the judge
delved deeper his investigations and
exposures gradually included the en-
tire city and county of Denver gov
ernment and also ran far into the
state government.
For all of this the grafters only
laughed. They were in no imme-
date danger of losing their graft,
and it amused them to see the hard
efforts of tie boy" judge. When
ever he hit upon anything tangible
that might in law respecting COM
munity have resulted in dishonor,
tine or imprisonment of the culprits,
they lazily dealt out an Injunction,
a restrainer, or some other legal
document always kept ON file in some
higher tribunal to cover just such
cases, and the grafters laughed some
more.
Finally the shifting Of the men on
the political checkerboard began to
take definite form for action in this
falls campaign, and the corrupt
ring of Denver was startled by the
clamor over the state for Lindsey for
governor. Then, for the first time,
there was actual worry in their
crowd and the whole clique banded
together for mutual protection
against this first real danger that
had threatened them for years.
What mattered it 50 much If one
Or the other wing of the machine,
known as republicans and democrats,
should win? 1t would simply mean
that the loser would have to take
the short end Of the purse, which In
itself was no small amount. II
Lindsey was elected there would be
no grating by him and no division
with the political vultures. So
every avenue by which he might
reach the attention of the people was
closed to him, except that of speak
ing to the people from the platform.
This Judge Lindsey has been doing,
and to good effect.
He has no hope Of being elected
and even If he could at this time it
would probably not be for the best.
He is thoroughly honest, but we
doubt If he has had experience
enough as yet to successfully cope
with the whole gang OF grafters that
would be arrayed against him as
governor. 'rhe best we can hope is
that he will stay with the fight
against corruption until he broadens
enough to be able successfully to
meet the opposition and to awaken
the conscience in the people that
now seems so dormant.
When that Is done in two years,
four years or six years from now we
may elect Lindsey governor and
actually commence the cleansing of
the body polite in this state. Un-
til then every true man and woman
in Colorado should do missionary
work toward that end.