The chronicle=news., 1912-11-02
GENERAL
Ben GRIFFITH AND
THOMAS DEv|nE

The Pueblo Chieituin IN owned anu
edited by Mr.. Thomas N. Dcvinc of
Pueblo. who wuS chairman Oi tho
credentials committee at the Chi
caRO Republican Convention. ut
Itacka Attorney General Bcn Griffith
in au editorial entitled Political
Suicide" Mr.. Dcvinc's animus and
bitter opposition against Attorney
General Griffith liz easily understood
when the facts leading up 10 this
editorial. and doubtless others which
will follow are made known. Some
time after the primaries nt which
Mr.. Griffith was the only Progress.
I've Republican nominated on the Re
publican ticket. Mr.. Dcvine's repre-.
sentative visited Mr.. Griffith ut his
office nnd Informed him that he and
his friends had had three chances TO
make the Republican party Progrcss-
I've und respond TO che principles nd
vocai.d by them. and at each time
they had been defeated. viz: First. ut
the meeting OF the state central
|committes In February, 1879. when
by vote of 10 to 10 the state COM
mittee had refused to grant presi-
dental primaries to the Republican
voters Of the state In order that they
might express thsir preference for
Mr.. TAFT or MIR. Roosevelt: secondly.
lat the state convention In March.
1879. when Taft delegates were cho-
sen to the Chicago convention: third
~. at the primaries In September
when every Progressive Republican
except Mr.. Griffith had gone down
to defeat.
Attorney General Griffith was told
TO get IN line and support Mr. TAFT.
Mr.. Parks and the whole Republican
ticket, both In the state aud nation.
u nd II he felt compelled TO withdraw
from the Republican ticket because
OF the defeat Mt the primaries OF the
Progressive Republicans he ought
not under any circumstances. to ac.'
cep, u nomination from the Progress
lives and thus assist them. and he
was warned that II he accepted such
. nomination from the Progressive
party. Mr.. Devinc and his asociatcs
would pursue him for years. II ncces.
sary. and would ultimately get
him." snd drive him into politicsl
oblivion. Under these c!rcumstsn-
ces. Mr.. Griffith decided 10 throw
down the gauntlet to Mr.. Devine and
his friends. and to adhere TO the
principles which he advocated. and
to Colonel Roosevelt whom he had
supported ever since the latter's an
nouncement Of his candidacy. Tic
accordiusiy withdrew from tho Re-
publican ticket and accepted nomi.
nation on the Progressive ticket for
Attorney General.
Mr.. Dcviue's insIstcnce ON ami
hiiatinE Mr.. Griffith politically may
known that Mr. Dcylnc 10 tho at
,orncy In Pueblo county for the Colo
rado Fuel and Iron company. The
Dcnvcr 4 Rio Grandc Railroad COM
pany. Tho Missouri Pacific Railway
company. Tho Colorado 4 Southern
Railway company. The American
Smelling 4 ItcfininE. company. Ger.
tain sugar beet Interests In the Ar.
kansas Valley and The Arkansas
Valley Railway. Light & Power conf
pany. which supplies electricity for
lighting purposes In the following
Countics: II Paso. Fremont. Otcro.
Pueblo and Teller. and also owns and
controls the street car system OF tho
ICity OF Pueblo. In short. MIR. Vc-
vim represents as attorney In PuGb-
10 county. every railroad aud publ
lie utility corporation. except one.
viz: The Santa Fe company. which
IL represented by Mr.. Ballrcich. can
didatc for congress from the second
congregational district on the Rcpub-
lican ticket.