The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-06
HOW THE REV. HENRY A bUCHTEL, FORMERLY
OFR|CHMOND, WON ORADOGOvERNORSH|P
Took the Nomination that 0tn-
ers Rejected and is Perhaps
the First Methodist Minis
ter to Occupy Such a High
Political Position - Takes
His Office Tomorrow.


there will be indicted into the office
of Governor of Colorado the Rev. DIR.
Henry Augustus Buchtel, D. D., A. NJ.
and Ii. D., and for the first time in
the history of Colorado, and possibly
OF any other State. this high Office will
be occupied by Methodist preacher.
j The story of how DR. BuchfeI accegt-
ed the Republican nomination for Gov
ernor after it had been declined by
each of the other prominent Republi-
can leaders, and then carried the en-
tire corporation-made ticket, state and
county through to victory by pIngali-
! ty of over 10000. and also elected a
Republican majority in the Legislature
which will elect successor to United
/ States Senator Thomas NJ Patterson
is story full of interest, and not with
out its humorous phases Politicians
recognized in the move . bold and des-
perate attempt to place the stamp Of
responsibility upon ticket that had
suffered deep humiliation.
September IA, the Republican State
conve ntion then in session. nominated
for Governor, Philip B. Stewart, of Col
orado Springs, a Harvard classmate
and close personal friend of President
Roosevelt. The nomination was &C
cepted by Mr.. Stewart on the prom
Use given by Boss" William g. Ev-
ans, president of the Tramway Com
pany, and campaign manager for all
the public service corporations. that
William Fl. Gabbert, now Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court, whose term ex-
pires December 81, and who was elect
ed as Populist six years ago, should
be placed on the Republican State
ticket for reelection. The next day,
while Mr.. Stewart was suffering from
sudden attack of appendicitis, and
was confined to his bed ia the hotel,
this pledge was violated and Judge
Gabbert was re-nominated
This violation of a sacred pledge so
fingered Stewart that as soon as he
had recovered sufficiently ID dictate a
letter, he formally resigned from the
ticket. This occurred two days after
the convention had adjourned.
The unexpected action of Stewart
plunged the Republican campaign
management into a chaotic mass. The
convention had, as is customary, TAX
en- the precaution to appoint a vacancy
committee, and the three members of
this committee for four days worked
day and night in an effort to fill the
vacant place on the ticket.
Gabbert Hung on the Nomination.
Realizing that he had made an error,
Boss Evans endeavorea to bring about
the withdrawal from the ticket of
Judge Gabbert. 1t was urged by all
the leading spirits that GabberL would
surely defeat the whole ticket. He
had for months been bitterly assailed
through the press and otherwise, for
his alleged pro-corporation rulings On
the bench, and his nomination seemed
like the waving of a red flag in the
face of an enraged bull. But Judge
Gabbert refused to resign. He declar i
ed that he was on the tick It to stay, |
even if all his associates withdrew.
Then pressure was brought 10 lear
upon Governor Jesse F. Mcdonald. |
who had been elevated from the lieu
enant-goyernorship at the time that |
Governor Peabody resigned after the |
famous Governor Adams custer Iro-
ceedings. But the party leaders lad /
regarded Mcdonald as too weak can
didate to present to the convention,
and he declined to step into the breach
now that the party so urgently If ed
ed Moses.
Then Gen. George W. Cook If
Cooks drum corps fame, and senior
vice commandments of the Grand
Army of the Republic, who had been
nominated for Congressman-at-large
was appealed to. No governorship
for him, however: he wanted to serve
his party at Washington. Besides, it
looked like sure defeat for any man
who had the courage to step into the
vacant place.
Congressman Robert w. Bonygae
md former State Treasurer Whitney
Newton, of Pueblo, were next be-
sought to come to the rescue, but
ootn declined. There was no lack of
small fry politicians who saw in the
situation an opportunity to achieve
some measure of prominence, but not
1 single real party leader would con-
slider the nomination.
Resort, in Desperation to Buchte.
Finally, in desperation, just before
midnight of the fourth day after Mr.
stewart S retirement III. bucHtGl was
,alled up on the telephone and was
hen and there rendered and then and
here without delay. accepted the nom
nation. and out of the entire States
population he was no doubt the least
over the action of the COM
nittee-
And this is how it came about:
Former Governor John Evans. the ,
deceased wealthy father of Boss"
William G. Evans, founded the Univer.
ity of Denver. Methodist institution.
William G. Evans, together with his
mother and other members of the fam
". have been heavy contributors to [
he support of this institution, and dur
ng the dark days of its financial
tress were its mainstay.
Six years ago DR.. Buchtel was call |
d to Denver to become chancellor of
he University of Denver to succeed ,
)r. W. F. Mcdowell, who had been
lected 4 bishop of the church IN ,
lis capacity as chancellor he had