The Glenwood post., 1911-04-29

case as given in the Denver papers of
Wednesday
| ''You and / know, Mr. Rush. that
purely for political purposes politicians
make an issue of such questions and
by Misrepresentation get up a fever
of excitement through which they rae
into power
Judge Robert f. Lewis, sitting on
the federal bench yesterday afternoon,
entered into a brief discussion of the
question of the purchase of public util-
corporations and of the water fights in
Denver and in Glenwood Springs.
The GIenwood case was on trial in
the federal court and it was after a
day spent in listening to the arguments
of attorneys for the two sides that
Judge Lewis had something to say
about the position of the people IN
such cases as the Denver water fight
Attorney John A. Rush. who played "A
leading part in both cases. was appear
! ing as attorney for the town of Glen
wood Springs and George l.. Nye of
the firm of Thomas, Bryant and Nal.
burn appeared for the Glenwood com
Z, pam, Mr.. Thomas not caring to appear
at this time for a 'public utility cor
poration'
| With the arguments still uncomple.
ed late yesterday afternoon, Judge
Lewis announced a recess until today.
Before leaving the bench, however, he
| told of federal judge who made an
effort to obtain settlement of all
civil cases that came into his court.
"Of course he was acting without
power or authority said Judge Lewis
but as l have listened to the argu-
| ments in this case / have been think
ing what an astonishing thing it is
that the people of this town or of
other towns, free, intelligent American
people, should get into such condi-
ton as is shown by this case. They
say in effect, we won't buy your plant;
we won't have it at any price I'VE arc
going to build another plant; we are
going to virtually destroy your prop
erty. 1t is remarkable that such things
should so arouse the peoples preju-
| dices as to blind them to their own in
terests. This desire to destroy prop
erty is astonishing in an enlightened
community.
tai are lost and the entire community
| is the ultimate loser.
81 will concede that the corporations
are imposing on the people in many in
stances by charging unjust and ex-
orbitant rates But there is always
the opportunity of condemnation. In
this town of Glenwood they, can go
right into their own court and condemn
and purchase this property and the SUI
| preme court of the state, this court, or
any other cout will sustain their action.
But no. They will not buy the
plant, they will destroy it. Their preju
dice is aroused. The case is in many
ways the same as it was in Denver.
You and I know, Mr.. Rush, that poll
ticians purely for political purposes
make an issue of such questions and by
Misrepresentation get up fever of
excitement by which they ride into
power. AL thoughts of right, justice
and common sense are lost in the ex-
citement Of the moment. The politi-
clans make political football out of
the issue as they did in Denver, but it
is the people who must ultimately pay
the bill.
"Of course neither you nor I is di-
rectly interested in this Glenwood
case.
~ don't live there and you appear
only as an attorney who gets fee for
representing the people. But there is
no excuse for such a condition of af-
fairs. We know, Mr.. Rush, Chat IN a
case like this people don't sit down
and in calmness and reason talk the
matter over as you would talk with
your neighbor over the question Of