The Glenwood post., 1906-08-25
Smarting Under pattersoa'S Address and Abuse
Of the Times and News Denver'S Mayor
Tells Colorado Democrats Why They
Should Repudidte Tricky Tom
MERRY WAR ON IN THE DEMOCRATIC RANKS

Mayor Robert w. Speer of Denver
has issued the following very plain
and pointed statement in reply to the
address which Senator Patterson has
sent to the democrats throughout the
state:
Lies repeated daily by the press
naturally influence people who are
not on the glound to know the facts.
Personally, I have made 1t ruiz 10
pay no attention whatever to the raw
ings of hostile newspapers, but to
move straight along and do what
believed to be right. am proud Of
the good will, confidence and support
of our city administration by a large
majority of our citizens. No doubt
l have made mistakes as mayor of
Denver. but my desire has been to
faithfully serve the best interest Of
our people, to protect the poor. and
to deal fairly with vested rights.
Our city administration came into
power over the protest and in spite of
the opposition of Senator Patterson.
who knows neither truth nor decency
in fighting political enemy. No
man has, or can hold, an Office in this
city or state, and refuse to follow his
dictation, without being abused and
misrepresented in his two organs, the
News and Times. We are proud of
what we have accomplished for the
city's good. but more proud that we
are free from Patterson's influence.
and independent enough to act as our
best judgment dictates.
Patterson charges US with every
political crime in the calendar. And
says:
''You are not democrats. Yet
there never has been a time when
both as individuals and as an organic
alton, we have not loyalty supported
the democratic ticket; on several oc-
casions we supported a fusion on the
advice Of the man who now makes
this charge. He claims that we are
mere corporation tools, but when it
best suits his purpose. he says we are
all-powerful. and if we had but raised
our little finger two years ago. the
entire democratic ticket could have
been saved. Both statements can not
be true. In that campaign we raised
over SIS, 600 to help elect the ticket
not one dollar of which came from
the corporations or from Patterson.
One Of the best fights ever made in
Denver was made during that cam
paign. and we carried the city. In
about ten precincts out of 200 there
was some crooked work done by cleo
tion officials, against the instructions
of the organization. These were
seized upon as an excuse by the re
publicans for throwing out enough
votes to change the legislature and to
permit the steal of the governorship.
Every effort possible was made to
protect our rights and save our party.
No county organization in the state
suffered more from the arbitrary and
unlawful acts of the republicans and
the Supreme Court than Denver.
Our members of the legislature and
other officers were thrown out. and is
it reasonable to suppose that we would
sit quietly by and permit 1t to be
done II we could have prevented itY
We attended conferences and favored
vigorous action. as advocated by Gov
ernor Thomas and others. We volun-
teered to furnish more than our
quota Of men. Not being an at.
torney. I did not lake part In the
discussion of the law points, but
while Mr.. Patterson was furnishing
the wind, we were raising the money
to pay attorney fees. fines and to help
the families Of those In Jail who need
ed assistance. Mr. Patterson would
make you believe. that because GER
tain corporations favored my election
as mayor, in order that they might
help to defeat man whom they did
uot want, thst they would do any
thing politically I asked.
Our Organization has always been
true to the democratic ticket, and
loyalty should count Cor something.
But Nj. Patterson ssys that We ara
not democrats-this man has bolted