davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-04-23
The Republican Party and the President
Are Herein Told Of Hope We
Have Cherished

hoped that some day, somehow, the
republican party would work out our
full enfranchisement the same as it
gave us liberty. But now republi.
can president says that our hope is
vain.
We recite these facts in order to
set forth clearly the awful awaken
ing which President Taft has given
us, and to give the ground for our
belief that a crisis is at hand in the
relationship of the colored voter and
the republican party. If the presi-
dents meaning has been rightly un-
drstood, and he does not recede from
it, and he is upheld by the party as
whole, then the Negro must change
his methods and first believe in the
principles of the republican party be-
fore declaring his allegiance to It, He
must be willing to take no part in
party councils, he must accept plat
forms which are not at all OF his MAX
ing and still vote the ticket. 1t Is
nonsense to talk of our right to par
ticipate in party primaries SO long as
it is an unwritten law of the Amer
lean people that color shall be bal
to merit. Our very birth is an insur-
mountable bar to our success, until
such time as brains and character,
not color and hair, shall decide a
mans position in this country. 1t was
our hope that the republican party
would contribute to this millennium.
1t is still our hope, for it cannot be
that President Taft meant such a
monstrous injustice. The republican
party will not sit idly by and see our
vote still further alienated through
its Indifference. We dare express the
belief that some amends will be made
to show to the colored voters of Col
orado, for instance, that the national
organization is desirous of represent.
ing all elements of the party; and
that work for the party, not color
shall be the measure of reward.
Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-04-23

At the risk of being misunderstood
The Statesman is herein setting forth
condition which it believe needs
the immediate thoughtful attention OF
the leaders of the republican party
1t is no secret that democracy
through local favors has won a part
of our vote, and has persuaded a part
of it into political independence.
Neither is it a secret that colored
voters have had no effective aid from
the republican national organization
in their fight against disfranchise-
ment. But we are not calling atten-
tion to this, to further demoraliZe
party work among our people, by re-
citing the reasons that have contrib
uted to our lessened loyalty to the
republican party. Certainly it has not
been party measures such as the tar
iff, the trusts, finance or any other
principle which the party is advocat-
ting, that has driven us away, nor
has democracy offered legislation so
much to our advantage that our inter
ests have caused us to change. We
admit it ought not to be that colored
voters take a political position with
out due consideration of the party
platform, but we believe it to be a
fact that the great majority of them
are republicans first, and afterward
find their reasons for it.
When democrats disfranchised us,
when lily white republicans from
southern states read us out of the
party, we still trusted that the lead.
ers knew our unfaltering allegiance
and believed that the party did not
act because it could not. But alas!
for our trust! President Taft has
said that his appointees to Office
would be men who would be accept
able to the communities in which
they live Democrats disfranchised
us and now republican acquiesces
by expressing his willingness to abide
by the results of their act. What else
can he mean by his declaration? Nc
Negro can be elected an Office ho.Ger
in the South and scarcely in tht
North.
Labor unions say we shall no. work
Boards of education say we shall not
teach. Politicians say we shall not
run for elective Office. Judges say we
shall not sit on juries! Christian as
semblies say we shall not worship
God with them. All these years we
have borne these handicaps and
Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-04-23

praisers announced that they had
fixed value on the plant of the Den
yer Union Water Company of 14.400,-
900 that any complaint was made.
Then it was urged that the taxpayers
had been inadequately represented
This was considerable OF a reflection
upon Gov. Thomas and Mr.. Fellows
but there seems to have been no help
for it. Somebody had to be the scape-
goat
The provisions of the present fran
chise grew out OF the II months con-
sultation between the water company
and the representatives OF the taxpay-
ers Of Denver. The very schedule
adopted by the appraisers-and drawn
up by the experts chosen by the city
OF Denver, was adopted and made a
part OF the franchise. Persons who
were opposed to the water company
and wanted the franchise turned down
had to turn down Gov Thomas and
Mr.. Fellows with It, They were there,
paid by the city, when the schedule
was adopted, so they were held to
have consented to It, II 1t was good
then 1t must be equally good now.
II II was not good then why did not
Gov. Thomas and Mr.. Fellows speak
up7
The question for taxpayers to con
slider is this: If sl00, 900 is not enough
to pay for consultation on what
should be proper schedule OF water
rates for Denver and what should 20
in the franchise how much should be
spent? Also II Gov. c. s. Thomas and
| Mr.. A. l. Fellows are not competent
to represent them, when paid princely
fees. who is?
There is not an important provision
in the proposed franchise that was
not discussed at the various meetings
of this board OF appraisers at which
Gov. Thomas and Mr.. Fellows attend
ed II they had views opposed to the
proposed franchise why did they not
give them? They were paid to do
that very thing.
The water company certainly con-
suited the people of Denver in refer
ence to the proposed franchise. The
people, as represented by Gov. Thomas
and Mr.. Fellows. and the two ap.
praisers. Messrs. Holman and
Stearns. did thei work thoroughly
as they could. The most important
part OF the proposed franchise. the
rate schedule. was taken bodily into
the franchise from the hands OF these
gentlemen.
! If this was not consulting the peo-
Pile of Denver, then nothing short OF
framing the franchise at mass
meeting held at the principal four
corners of the city would go beyond
It, Gov Thomas and Mr.. Fellows
may not have done their work as well
as they should They are both out
now fighting the franchise tooth and
nail and must certainly have done
something at the various hearings OF
the board of appraisers to represent
the people and earn their pay.
Two such energetic gentlemen as
these. backed by experts such as Mr.
Holman and Stearns are. must have
represented the people of Denver
fairly well.
II they didn't 1t certainly is not a
fault for which the water company
1 should be blamed The water CON-
pany did not select either of them.
Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-04-23

pany on the ground that the franchise
was drawn up without the taxpayers
of Denver being consulted.
This claim is utterly untrue. The
proposed franchise was drawn up
after an extended consultation with
representatives OF Denver taxpayers
which lasted over several months and
went into the water question thor
oughly.
Readers of this will remember that
in December, 1907, the city of Denver
selected two experts on water plants,
namely, NJ. l.. Holman and F. B,
Stearns, to confer with two other en-
gineers chosen by the water company.
The two representatives of the city
and the two selected by the water
company picked the fifth man of the
board OF appraisers. The city then
secured the services of former Gov.
neers of which A. l.. Fellows is a
member. The experts selected by the
city were paid, by the taxpayers o,
Denver, $4,000 each and expenses.
Gov. Thomas was paid about $4,000
and the firm with which Mr.. Fellows
worked almost as much. All told
100000 was expended by the taxpay-
ers and the work of consultation oc-
cupied more than IA months.
The books of the water company
were thrown open and these men
went the accounts thoroughly from
the time the first company was formed
in Denver almost 40 years ago, up to
the date the investigation was fin
ished. The committee OF experts WIS.,
tied the property OF the Denver water
company, measured its mains. looked
over its six pumping plants, saw the
filtration plants and explored the pri.
critics OF the water rights held by the
present company. Mr.. Thomas and
Mr.. Fellows attended the meetings OF
the board of appraisers and were
heard upon all the matters that came
before 1t which they saw fit to dis
cuss. II was most thorough and
complete hearing and investigation of
the water question.
These men arranged schedule Of
rates. They examined the Denver sit.
uation and the work OF compiling a
schedule was handed over to one Of
the engineers employed by the city,
VI. l.. Holman. He prepared the sched.
ule and submitted /. for examination
to his colleagues and Gov. Thomas
adopted as equitable under present
conditions in Denver and the water
company at once adopted II. 1t went
into effect May /, 1909, about II
months ago and is still in force. The
fact that these rates have been in eff
feet less than year is responsible for
the fact that no additional reduction
is made in the request for the new
franchise.
The IA months during which this
board was employed by the city OF
Denver was passed in considering the
water question in all its phases. Gov.
Thomas and Mr. Fellows attended the
hearings both in this city and New
York and were supposed to represent
/ the taxpayers. The arguments before
the board of appraisers concerning
the value of the plant and the sched-
ule to be adopted and other matters
in controversy, were in extensive de-
tail. 1t was believed at that time that
the city was well represented No.
body asked to have additional repre-.
sentation added to that made by Gov
Thomas and Mr.. Fellows or to have
other experts on law and engineering
employed.
Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-04-23
JERRY MILLS,

Greatly known to the profession, is
row stage manager for the Cole &
Johnson Red Moon Co. AS man
ager Mr.. Mills is one of the best.
Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-04-23
A Word About Methods
The Editor will undertake each week to state
in simple language the facts about some
point involved in the water question:

The following article appearing in contemporary sets forth the
method of fixing franchise rates so apty that we quote
Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-04-23
SIMPSON & FISHER

Are making good with their clever
bit Of comedy, "Nuff Sed," all
through the southern states.
Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-04-23

First.class Dressmaklng and Ladies'
Tailoring by Beatrice Lewis Of 1919.
W. 9th avenue. Take Lawrence car
west.
Franklin's paper the statesman., 1910-04-23

HELP Us BE PROMPT.
Many occurring the districts postoto
squIrng mailing sasys
Saturday, notify dsIk sny
notification Monday
Ing the subscriber.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-09-02

| go back and make some Inquiries.
I've been criminally thoughtless. Your
travelling companion"
She interrupted me. and something
Of her splendid poise was gone.
Please don't so back she said. Z
am afraid il would be Of no use. And
I don't want to be left alone"
Heaven knows l did not want her to
be alone. ! a more than content to
walk along beside her aimlessly, for
any length Of time. Gradually, as she
lost the eIaltation OF the moment. l
was gaining my normal condition Of
mind. l was beginning TO realize that
I had lacked the morning grace Of a
shave, that l looked like some lost
hope Of yesterday, and hat my left
shoe pinChed o~utrageously. A man
does Tot rise triumphant above sueh
handiCaps. The girl, for all her diSor-
dered hair and the CrumPlsd LRa4 Of
her waist, in spite Of her eissiag hat
and the small gold bag that hung for
lornly from a broken chain, looked ex-
ceedingly lovely.
Then | won't leave you alone |
said manfully, and we stumbled on to-
gether. Thus far we had seen no.
body from the wreck. but we'll UP the
lane we came across the tall dark
woman who had occupied lower II.
Size was half crouching beside the
road. her black hair about her shout
ders, and an ugly bruise over her eye.
She did not seem to know us, and re-
fused to accompany US. We left her
there at last, babbling incoherently
and rolling in her hands a dozen peb-
bles she had gathered in the road.
The girl shuddered as we went on.
Once she turned and glanced at my
bandage. Does it hurt very much?"
she asked.
It's growing rather numb. But it
might be worse" l answered menda-
ciously. If anything in this world
could be worse, I had never expert
enced it.
And so we trudged on ~bareheaded
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-09-02

bauhles, we were primitive mar and
pat world for the
hour was the deserted farmhouse, the
~. ".catlold hat led 10 the
road, the woodland lot, the pasture.
We brsakfaSted together across the
lonely table. Our cheerfulness, at
6rat sheer reaction. became less forced
as we ate great slices of bread from
the granny oven back Of the house,
and drank hot fluid that smelled like
coffee and tasted like nothing that
have ever swallowed. We found cream
in stone jars, sunk deep in the chill
water Of the springhouse. And there
we're eggs, great yellow-brown ones
a basket of them.
80, like two children awakened from
81 r'ghtmare. we chatted Over our food;
W., hunted mutual friends, we laughed
.ny,ther at my feeble witticisms, but
Hu put the horror behind us resOlute-
". After all, it was the hat with
the green ribbons that brought back
the strangeness of the situation.
All along I had had the impression
that Alison West was deliberately put
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-09-02

OF the photograph on John Gilmore's
bedside table. The girl Mcknight ex-
pected to see in Richmond the next
day, Sunday! She was on her way
back to meet him! Well, what differ,
ence did it make, anyhow? We had
been thrown together by the mercst
chance. In an hour or two at the
most we would be back in civilization
and she would recall me, If she re
mcmbercd ME at all. as an unshaven
creature in a red cravat and tan shoes,
with a sOilpd Pullman sheet tied
around my neck. drew a deep
breath
Just a ~twinge," I said, when she
glanced up quickly. It's very good
OF you to let me know, Miss West. |
have been hearing delightful things
about YOU for three months"
From Richey Mcknight" She was
frankly curious,
"Y,s From Richey Mcknight" |
asser,.d Was it any wonder Nc
KniGhr was crazy about her? I dug
my heels into the dust.
II have been visiting near Crosson,
in the mountains" Miss West vas say
Ing "Tho person you mentioned, Mrs
Curtis, was my hostess. We've
were on our way to Washington to-
grther." She spoke slowly, as if she
wished to give the minimum Of eIpla-
nation Across her face had come
again the battling expression OF per,
pleIity and trouble had seen before,
You were on your way home, I sup
pose? RiChey-spoke about seeing
you" ! ioundered, finding it necessary
to say something. She looked at me
with level, direct eyes.
NO" she returned quietly. II did
not intend to go home. well, 1t
doesn't matter; l am going home
now"
A woman in a calico dress, with
two children, each an exact duplicate
of the other. had come quickly down
the road. She took in the situation at
a glance, and was eXplosively hospit-
able.
You poor things" she said. II
you'll take the first road to the left
over there, and turn in at the second
pigsty, you will find breakfast on the
table and a coffee pot on the stove.
And there's plenty of soap and water,
too. Don't say one word. There isn't
a soul there to G you"
We accepted the invitation and she
hurried on toward the excitement and
the railroad. l got up carefully and
helped Miss West to her feet.
At the second pigsty to the left" !
repeated, Eve will find the breakfast
I promised you seven eternities ago.
Forward to the pigsty!"
We said very little for the remand
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-09-02

Vegetable Compound has done for me
during this trying period. Complete
restoration to health means 80 much
to me that for the sake of other suffer-
ing women / ann willing to make my
trouble public SO you may publish
this letter. "-MRs. CHAs. BARCLAY,
R.F. D., Graniteville, Vt.
No other medicine for woman's Ills
has received such widespread and un-
qualified endorsement. Nc other med
icine we know of has such a record
Of cures Of female Ills as has Lydia e.
Pinkham's Vegetable Compound.
For more than 80 years 1t has been
curing female complaints such as
inflammation, liberation, local weak
nesses, fbroid tumors, Irregularities,
periodic pains, backache, indigestion
and nervous prostration, and it Is
unequalled for carrying women safely
through the period of change of life.
1t costs but little to try Lydia y.
Pinkham's Vegetable Compound, and,
as Mrs. Barclaysays,i 1t is "worth noun
tains Of gold 1" to suffering women.
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-09-02

ting out of her mind something that
Obtruded now and then. 1t brought
with it a return of the puzzled express
sion that | had surprised early in the
day. before the wreck. | caught it
once, when, breakfast over, she was
tightening the sling that held the
broken arm. | had prolonged the
morning meal as much as | could, but
when the wooden clock with the pink
roses on the dial pointed to half after
ten, and the mother with the duplicate
youngsters had not Coroe back, MISS
West made the move | had dreaded.
IF we are to get into Baltimore at
all we must start" she said, rising.
You ought to see a doctor as soon as
possible
Hush" l said warningly. Don't
mention the arm, please; il is asleep
now. You may rouse it"
IF | only had a hat" she reflected.
ct wouldn't need to be much of one,
but" She gave a little cry and
| darted to the corner. Look" she
said triumphantly, "the very thing.
With the green streamers tied up in
a bow, ike this-do you suppose the
child would mind? l can pat So or
so here-that would buy a dozen OF
them"
1t was a queer affair Of straw, that
hat, with a round crown and a rim
that Topped dismally. With a single
movement she had turned it up at n
side and fitted it to her head. Gro
tesque by itself. when she wore 1t 1t
was a thing of Joy.
Evidently the lack of head covering
| Ind troubled her, for she was elated
| at her find. She left me, scrawling q
note of thanks and pinning it with a
bill to the table-cloth, and ran up
stairs to the mirror and the promised
soap and water.
/ did not see her when she came
down. / had discovered a bench with
a tin basin outside the kitchen door,
and was washing, in a helpless, one
sided way. / felt rather than saw that
she was standing in the doorway, and
l made a final plunge into the basin.
"How is 1t possible for a man with
only a right hand to wash his left
carr" / asked from the roller towel. |
was distinctly uncomfortable: Men are
more rigidly creatures of conven-
tion than women, whether they admit
1t or not. There is so much soap on
me still that if / laugh | will blow
bubbles. Washing with rain water
and homemade soap is like motoring
on a slippery road. / only struck the
high places"
Then, having achieved a brilliant
polish with the towel, / looked at the
girl.
She was leaning against the frame
OF the door, her face perfectly color
less, her breath coming in slow, diff
hcult respirations. The erratic hat
was pinned to place, but it had slid
rakishly to one side. When | rea,
lied that she was staring, not at me,
but past me to the road along which
we had come, | turned and followed
her gaze. There was nc one in sight;
the lane stretched dust white In the
sumo moving figure on it. no sign
OF life.
tTO BE CONTINUED)
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-09-02

under the summer sun, growing
parched and dusty and weary, logged
~ leaving behind us the pillar OF
smoke. / thought l knew of a trolley
line somewhere in the direction we
were going, or perhaps we could find
a horse and trap to take US into Bal
timore. The girl smiled when | sug-
gested 1t.
I'VE will create a sensation, won't
WEI" she asked. isn't it queer-or
perhaps it's my state of mind-but /
keep wishing for a pair of gloves,
when / haven't even a hiatt"
When we reached the main road we
sat down for a moment, and her hair,
which had been coming loose for some
time, fell over her shoulders in little
waves that were most alluring. 1t
seemed a pity to twist 1t up again.
but when ! suggested this, cautiously,
she said 1t was troublesome and got
in her eyes when II was loose. So she
gathered it up, while | held 2 row of
little shell combs and pins, and when
it was done 1t was vastly becoming,
too. Funny about hair: A man never
knows he has 1t until he begins to
lose 1t, but it's different with a girl.
Something OF the unconventional stu
alton began to dawn on her as she put
In the last hair hin and patted some
stray locks to place.
Il have not told you my name"
she said abruptly. Il forgot that be-
cause KNOW who you are. yoa -now
noshing about me. l am Alison West.
and my home is In Richmond"
SO that was III ibis was the girl
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-09-02
CHAPTER TX.
Ths Halcyon Breakfast.

We were still dazed. ] think, for we
wandered like two troubled children,
our one idea at first to get as far
away as we could from the horror be-
hind US. We were both bare headed,
grimy, 'pallid through the grit. Now
and then we met little groups OF coun-
try folk hurrying to the track; they
stared at us curiously, and some
wished to question us. But we hur-
ried past them; we had put the wreck
behind us. That way lay madness.
Only onc the girl turned and look
ed behind her. The wreck was hid
den. but the smoke cloud hung heavy
and dense. Tor the first time re
msmbcrf,d that my compargon had not
been alone on the train.
1T is quiet here" | suggested. III
you win sit down on the bank / will
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-09-02
Cold and Aioof.

Lord Cu-zon. during the visit that
ended in bis marriage to Miss Letter
proved very interesting in his cold.
proud way"
The speaker. a Chicagoan. smiled
and resumed:
Cold and prond as young George
Curzon was, he regarded the houae OF
lords as colder and prouder. He told
me once that when he asked his IA
Their II his first speech in the house
OF lords had been difficult the old gen
tleman replied:
"rDifnculti 1t was like addressing
sheeted tombstones by torchlighti'"
The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-09-02

er of that walk. / had almost reached
the limit of endurance; with every
step the broken ends OF the bone
grated together. We found the farm
house without difficulty, and | remenl-
Der wondering If ! could hold out to
the end of the old stone walk that led
between hedges TO the door.
Allah be praised" / said with all
the voice I could muster. Behold the
coffee pot!" And then / put down the
cup and folded up like a jack-knife on
the porch floor.
When | came around something hot
was trickling down my neck. and a
despairing voice was saying, "Oh, ]
don't seem to be able to pour 1t into
your mouth. Please open your eyes. Z
but / don't want 1t In my eyes" ]
replied dreamily Il haven't any idea
what came over me. It was the shoes
Il think; the left one Is a red-hot tor
ture." ] was sitting by that time and
looking across into her face.
Never before or since hazel faint
ed. but ! would do it joyfully, a dozen
times a day, il could waken again
to the blissful touch of soft fingers on
my face. the hot ecstasy OF coffee
spilled by those fingers down my neck
There was a thrill In every tone OF
her voice that morning. Before long
my loyalty TO Mcknight would ster
between me and the girl lie loved:
life would develop new complexities
In these curly hours after the wreck,
fun of pain as they were. there was
nothing Of the suspicion and distrusi
that came later. shorn OF our gauds and