The daily sentinel. [volume] (Grand Junction, Colo.) 1893-current, 1906-01-03
JUDGE STEVENS REASONS
FOR ADAMS NOMINATION.

The announcement made in the
Geographic columns of the Sentinel
yesterday that Judge Stevens. of the
district court. had declared that Alya
Adams must be the nominee of the
Democratic party of Colorado for gov
ernor if the party wins this fall. was
read with much interest by those in
terested in state politics. Judge
Stevens statement in full was as fol
lows:
THE Democratic party must nomi-
nate Alva Adams for governor next
I fall. Force of circumstances makes
such action imperative.
IF the party expects to hold prest-
| ige in the state clear-cut declara-
ton against the domination OF the
Denver public utility corporations
must be made, and once for all we
must cut loose from them
On the question OF municipal
Ownership of the Denver public util-
pie of Colorado. outside of Denver
are interested, because they know
the heads of these corporations have
exerted n vicious influence over all
departments of government. If these
men had not interfered with the
free will of the people. expressed
through the ballot, then we on the
outside would say, Let Denver take
care of her own affairs. We are not
interested in the control or manage
ment of her corporations
But it has become a state ques-
ton. and the people of the entire
state are as vitality concerned as are
the citizens of Denver. We are sin
cerely hoping that the Denver DEM
ocracy viii declare unequivocally
against corporation domination. and
the only way to approach this end,
as we see 1t, is to secure municipal
ownership of public utilities. But
| am forced to the conclusion that
little encouragement of our hope is to
be had from the course of events here
in Denver.
1.-The organization here, headed by
Mayor Speer, makes no secret of its
allegiance with Mr.. Evans of the
Tramway company. Out of such an
alliance no good can come to the
party in the capital city and great
harm will result in the state.
THE time has come for Democrats
of Denver to declare against the lead
ers, who are playing them false. We
can see in a hundred ways since this
union of Speer and Evans was affect
ed that the party is used to further
Evans plans. The organization has
been cajoled again and again to for
sake its principles through the plea
of eXpediency. 1t has been led to
compromise Its honor through hope
of some petty. temporary gain, and
the result has been invariably that
the promised reward was nothing
more material than thin air, while
added odium was placed on the
party.
what is to be done? As / see It.
and know | voice the sentiments of
the Democrats of Colorado, you here
in Denver must begin to fight If the
Democratic convention in the spring
dominates a ticket that is named by
Evans, which seems likely now. then
the real Democrats of the city must
organize an Independent movement
That is their only refuge and il is
the one thing that will bring hope
and announcement to the state De-
mocracy.
I'VE believe it is time for plain
speech and straightforward action.
An organization that Is controlled
by Republican corporation boss no
matter under what name il goes,
cannot be considered representative
of Democratic principles. A real
Democrat cannot consistently enlist
under such leadership.
The course of events shows that the
corporations will ever seek to
strengthen their hold on the sever
al branches of the state government.
Let the Democratic party in the city
and state declare plainly and emphat-
! ically that 1t will curb the power OF
| the corporations; that II will make
/ the creatures of the state subordinate
to their creations and not allow them
i to become the masters. and Decmoc-
racy will be triumphant. Here in
1 Denver the outlook for such prin-
ciples is bright Even though the
/ corporation owned organization
should win a few skirmishes right
Will eventually prevail, and in the
meantime real Democrats will retain
their self-respect."