United labor bulletin., 1914-11-21
The Optimistic
Philosopher

ut was an occasion as pleasing as it
was inspiring to be one of an audi
ence of over 1900 more or less
common people" who attended the
opening winter series of 20 free Sunday
concerts by the Denver municipal band
in the big Auditorium last Sunday af-
ternoon. Also it is to be hoped the 90
prominent taxpayers" who met and
passed resolutions calling on the city
commissioners to cut this item of ex-
pense from the budget were there, for
if so they may have undergone change
of heart and come TO realization that
the people who labor six days or nights
during each week that property in Dem
yer may be worth paying taxes upon
have some call upon the municipal gov
ernment as well as the sacred plutes
who happen to hold deeds to the land
upon which other people have builded a
splendid city. Every seat in the vast
building held an interested occupant,
who was made better citizen by this
healthy and uplifting mode of enter
tanning the masses. While the o. p.
does not pose as an expert critique OF
the muse nevertheless he asserts that
the initial winter performance of Band
master Frederick Neil Innes and his
band of so union musicians rendered
most satisfying program. And the solo
numbers We're enjoyed equally as well
as if 50 had been paid at the box office
to hear them. The thousands present
felt deeper pride in their city for es-
tablishing these free concerts. As an
evidence that the audience was sin
cerely neutral in its war feelings. equal
applause was given after rendering OF
its Long, Long Way to Tipperary,
us PLAYED by the band, and when Nine.
Rose McGrew Schonberg sang German
number Each received three encores.
Perhaps more inspiring than all was the
scene when the band played Onward
Christian Soldier" and the vast crowd
arose to its feet and sang the words.
Frank De Karski, cornet soloist, also
made great hit. The new arrangement
of placing the band stand in the mid
die of the Auditorium floor added 10
the afternoons pleasure, for the music
carried equally TO every part Of the
big building.
o. }. Owens. pioneer OF Denver's
newsboys. by whom he is an accepted
expert arometer-astrologer, predicts
that Denver will experience some win
ter. He gave this forecast Tuesday when
gazing into the Opaque hence and shiN-
cred as the thermometer registered the
coldest weather OF the season to date.
Owens says he can sniff several bliz-
yards not afar off and expects the
weather man to get busy on the Job
early in December. Perhaps this propb-
ecy generates from a rembrance OF last
December, when it began showing ON
the first day OF the month and did not
leave off until close of the sixth, by
of h.. hast
blanketed Denver and the surrounding
plains. Other goosebone prophets are
prognosticating similar future events.
They claim the fiu on the City park
squirrels is as thick as that on the
back of the family eat; that the beav-
ers are working overtime and grand
dads rheumatic joints arc all telling
of severe winter on the way
To have been the personal friend of
Eugene Field and Bill Nye for many
years. all the while holding as his ideal
the ownership of little farm near
town and retiring there to lead the sim
pie life, and now have the dream come
true, is the fortune of George 4. Law
ton, who for the past AZ years has been
telegraph operator, in Denver. For
number OF years past he has been known
TO tHe operating lofcc III tht Nt5'fih
Union Telegraph office and many news
paper men ns odd Farmer Lawton, by
reason of his bobyy to retire and de
vote the remainder of his life to agri-
cultural and horticultural pursuits. lie
has witnessed the passing of Field, Nyc
and scores OF others who worked i'll
Denver newspaper offices, and now at
the age of I'll is about to realize his
cherished ambition. On January ], 1913.
the telegraph company will permit him
to retire with his ciNiable record and
substantial pension. Lawton will then
take up permanent residence nt the
small country home he has chosen, when
the dream of "a farm for his old age
becomes an established fact. With him
will 90 as his most valued treasure a
library OF 900 volumes presented him
book at a time during the past two
/ score years by Journalists and writers
with whom he has associated. When
Lawton entered the telegraph service
in Denver. one little room was occn-
pied on lower Sixteenth street and only
four operators were employed. Today
I the same company occupies 5000 square
feet of floor space for its operators. 400
T of whom are kept busy.
49,.
Frank l.. Rist, editor of the CiDein-
natl Chronicle and member Of Typo
graphical Union No. 3. has been ap-
pointed by Mayor Spiegel OF that city
as one of three commissioners TO super
4 wise and manage the construction of IL
: large convention hall, for which pur-
pose the people have voted bond is
sue of S250,00 Rist is one OF the pio-
! necr labor editors OF the United States,
( having successfully conducted the
/ Chronicle for over % years lie joined
I the German Topographic of Cincinnati
in 1882 and because he became active in
( the cause of orgaaizcd labor was placed