The daily sentinel., 1909-01-28

Mayor Wentworth states that he
has not acted hastily in the matter
He has listened to the various COM
plants and petitions and he has not
at any time openly expressed an
opinion in the matter. He allowed
the fight that residents in the south
ern part of the city and a number of
reform leaders waged in the council
to go ahead without any interference
on his part He had tried to remain
impartial in the matter in order that
he might get clear grasp of the sit
nation
The fight that the people above
mentioned made terminated Tuesday
night, when the council went on rec
ord as believing that it is up to the
courts and proper officials to take
action in the matter 1t was not in
the province of the council to make
"A ruling such as was desired by the
petitioners.
Mayor Wentworth, as the execu
tive head of the city, saw that the
order to close "24O" was placed into
effect by the city attorney and police
authorities of the city, and the place
is closed and closed tightly.
AS the city council suggested last
Tuesday night. the proper way to get
at the houses was to file complaints
against the women. This action
Mayor Wentworth advised those most
interested in the fight to take. Com
plants were prepared today: but,
prior to their filing, Mayor Went
worth decided to exercise his author
ity, ordered the houses closed at once
and the women warned that If they
attempted to keep the houses open
after this afternoon they will be ar
rested and brought into court with
out ceremony.
Mayor Wentworth believes that ii
is useless for the city to go to the
expense of prosecuting complaints
against these houses; that it is for
the best interests of the city and of
the property owners in the southern
section of the city to have these
houses closed, and therefore he has
taken this stand and made this order
after fully and carefully considering
the situation from every point of
view. He has refrained from eX-
pressing his intentions along this
line until this time, and he has not
been Influenced by any threats or any
verbal attacks or denunciations. His
course and action have been entirely
consistent and deliberate.
City Attorney Rozzelle stated to
The Sentinel this afternoon that he
had received the orders of the mayor
and would at once and in a most en-
phatic manner carry them out. He
ordered the houses closed this after
noon. and informed the women in
charge that no delay whatever will
be tolerated; and Mr.. Rozzelle will
see that the women obey the orders
or he will bring them into court and
prosecute them.
With these two houses closed and
with "24O." the resort on Colorado
avenue, closed some weeks ago. Grand
junction no longer has an open house
of i'll fame within her confines.
The action of Mayor Wentworth -
not made in a spasmodic or hasty
manner. and made after he has care
fully Investigated the situation and
been guided solely by the facts and
circumstances and not by sensational
denunciations. etc.-will be generally
endorsed throughout the city. Those
who know the mayor of Grand juno
tion know that he has acted as he
thought best. and that efforts to force
him or bulldoze him into any line of
action never has and never Will work.