Semi-weekly herald., 1912-11-04
SENATOR +. NJ. PATTERSON
ON CHARLES s. THOM As

On April 26, 1899, in his newspaper,
Mr. Patterson, among other pleasing
things, wrote the following about Mr..
Charles s. Thomas:
If ever a great city was betrayed;
if ever its interests and desires were
sacrificed to an individual ambition:
if ever duplcity and treachery were
| invoked to effect these results, DEN
yer is the victim. and Governor Thorn
as is guilty Of them.
His last deed--that places his mo-
tives and purposes beyond dispute
is the veto of the act providing for
a charter convention.
The home rule measure that was be-
fore the Legislature, but just adjourn
ed, saved annually to Denver taxpay-
ers more than 100000. This righteous
measure of entrenchment in taxation
was sacrificed upon the altar Of the
governors ambition. He demanded
that Denver's taxpayers should COLI
tinue to stagger under the burden Of
an unnecessary annual 100000 salary
roll, in order that he might appoint
and control boards to become the
| foundation of a personal political ma
chine, which, by pandering to Den
ver's criminal element and coercing
them to support his aims, and by us
| ing the fire and police department to
perform disgraceful political jobs
might crafty that ambition.
| Hereinbefore reference has been made
to the relations between Governor
| Thomas and the water company. II
is susceptible of proof that Governor
| Thomas has surrendered himself as its
tool to enable it to continue its ex-
tortions upon the Denver public and
impede Denver in becoming the owner
of its own water system.
Events have happened since the ad-
journment of the legislature which
materially strengthen the conviction
Of close alliance between Governor
Thomas and the Water company
More will happen in the future. What
the consideration is to be does not re-
quire that a person be very astute to
guess. 1t is all at the expense OF
the people, however.
(Then again, Mr. Thomas old timc
law partner, devoted friend and po-
itical pal, in an interview published
in the News on April 27, 1899, had
this to say in relation to Mr.. Thomas
wobbling characteristics)
OF course, Mr.. Thomas could not
close his interview without heroic
protestations of devotion to the Dem.
ocratic party. He says: "My duty
and my conscience both forbid that
| should secure them (old-time friend
ly relations with mel either by con
senting to run the executive office, a;
proxy for some one else, or to sur
render the party to which | belong
bound hand and foot, to policies ant
principles outlined for it by those who
left it in its hour of peril and mis-
| fortune"
Mr.. Thomas must refer to the tint
in Chicago in 1899 when he, as mem
ber of the Democratic national com
mittee, met with the delegates to thu
national convention, after Mr.. Cleve
land had been nominated, and helped
to prepare the address to Colorado
Democrats, signed by five Of the 81,
delegates, repudiating the work of th'
convention and calling upon Demo
Gratis to vote for the nominees o
another party. (Mr. Patterson) wei
recall how apparently earnest he wa
in urging all the delegates to sigl
the address-he did not sign it him
self only because he was not dele
gate.
Wnen ne returned 70 DehNer nom
were more pronounced thar he in de
n0uncing Mr.. Cleveland and urging hi
reputation. This continued until
representative from the chairman o
the Democratic national committe
visited Denver and interviewed MI
Thomas. What the arguments wer
he used, never knew; but | do kno,
that from that time ever since Nj
Thomas has claimed he was directe
to do so by the national Democrati
chairman--not that Weaver might b
elected, but that the vote of Colorad
} might be taken from Harrison an
, thereby insure Cleveland's election.
4 On April 81. Mr.. Patterson sal
this about Mr.. Thomas:
Since the governor has been inau