The Greeley tribune., 1911-10-05
INNBR COLORADO EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION
WAS 1T POLITICS?

w
published stories concerning the ad.
ministration of the county affairs
there were those who hastened to
scoff at the articles as inspired ut
terances designed to discredit the
republican administration. The
Tribune being democratic, those ac-
tive in republican circles hastened
to explain that the Tribune was
merely working off bile at the ex-
pense OF the righteous and almost
angelic persons named.
And there were those silly enough
to believe these hastily gathered
self appointed teachers OF men.
Even when public meetings of tax
payers hinted strongly that they
would like to have some sort Of an
explanation or an accounting from
the county officials, these volunteers
for the cause blatantly proclaimed
that all was well, that it was merely
the Tribune playing "dirty politics..
In confirmation OF their claims they
pointed with pride to an article
they themselves had brought forth
in the columns OF the republican
organ Of Greeley which stated frank
ly and freely, by what authority
none knows, that all was well with
the county. and that the former
commissioner had returned $596
because he had made a trifiing mis-
take in his accounts. The article
assured all readers that no grand
jury was needed, that the county af-
fairs were admirably administered
and that the hue and cry raised by
the people was but the agitation of
few disgruntled persons. And in
addition. the Tribune was invited to
stand up and produce its evidence
that anything was wrong.
The returning Of fourteen indict-
ments against a former county COM
missioner by the grand jury last
Saturday evening" would indicate
that it was not necessary for the
Tribune to ''stand up, as some one
else has evidently ''StOOd up" to
some effect. And there is every
prospect that more standing up will
he done before the grand jury COM
pletes its task.
And when these indictments were
returned there was none among the
republican county officials who hast
-ened to notify the Tribune, the one
paper that had been giving the de-
tails leading up to the probe. But
there was haste in notifying the re-
publican organ that had 80 ingen-
nOusly informed its readers that all
was well-that there really was no
need of an expensive grand jury.
And the republican organ. forgetful
of its assurance few months ago
and its challenge to the Tribune to
''stand up, was forced to retract
its word that there was nothing
wrong with the administration OF
the county affairs.
While the Tribune was accused of
playing dirty politics. earnest citi.
Zens were striving for some method
of learning where the money of the
taxpayers was going. The Tribune
told of these efforts. while the Of
fetal organ of the party in power
was enveloped in murky silence.
And throughout the months leading
up to the calling of the grand jury
the Tribune has ever pleaded for a
square deal for all and against fav.
Oritism for any.
The Tribune exDects to maintain
this policy. If striving for greater
Greeley and battling to keep the
county's record clean is dirty poll
tics, the Tribune is in the game
strong.A throttled press is the great
cts menace to any city in the United
States today. When secret combi-
nations OF men bent on evil can die
tate to the newspapers, had times
have fallen on the people. That
light is the best policeman is a DEM
onstrated proDositiOn. That admin
istration or that combination unable
to hear the light comprise the ones
that make business for grand juries.
II printing unbiased facts that may
offend some members of the political
party in power is TO he construed as
u crime or dirty politics on the part
of a newspaper. then does the Trib-
une plead guilty. And in this plea
1t Is willing to submit the case to
the Judgment Of the people Of Weld
county.