New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-09
The Coming Tower
THE GRAND TOUR
DENVER, COL.

DENVER, COL.
East and West, as Vivienne says. are sister,
under their skins. Some Of the men in New
York who are doing fine things are called grand.
ISLANDERS and fourfushers by those who do not
believe that such things are done because thew
ought TO be done, who cannot see that they are
done because the knight always must attack the
Dragon. You can hear DR.. Wiley called a
crook and CRATER without stirring out Of
New York canning factory; and you have only
to telephone drug store or two 70 find out. BY
asking the proprietor, that DR.. Goldwater is a
gallery player and in the pay Of the medical
trust. And, unless things have changed since
/ left sea-leve you can ascertain. without ever
getting off Fifth Avenue that Samuel Hopkins
Adams is a liar thief and a penny why
pay more?-Adv't.) sensationalist.
That is why, when ! told a Denver man that
wanted to see Ben Lindsey and he said that
Lindsey was no good and menace and a
worker Of great harm to Colorado and crcu,
player-that is why | thought that perhaps IL
might not be true. Not that believe
that fourfushery and buncombe and fooling the
public are Lost Arts. However. am trying to
write about Lindsey, not about Hearst or Ebert
Hubbard or Bryan.
| was BIASED in Lindseys favor. confess
Let me say for the benefit Of those who may
have forgotten and those who think the world
is bounded on the west by Seventh Avenue and
on the east by Third Avenue, that Ben B. Lind.
sey is Judge of the Juvenile Court Of Denver.
II is a local institution specializing in the cor
rection and protection of the city's children
all minors being children. In 1914 II cost the
CITY about $4,000. That included Lindseys
salary, the salaries Of probation officers, an
assistant Judge, a stenographer-I don't know
what else, but $4,000 paid for everything.
That year it dealt with the immediate troubles
and wants Of more than a thousand parents and
children. How many more came under It's strong
influence It is hard to guess; the number must
be large. In 1914 the district court OF Denver
dealt with fewer than 1000 cases-the figures
come from Denver Post man-mostly prop
erty cases. and cost the state and city about
100000.
Lindsey was elected to his present term by a
majority Of $4,000 the largest any candidate
for local office ever received. He has been
elected or appointed to the Office ten times ~
twelve years. Twice he ran on Independent
tickets-once entirely alone, when he received
a plurality Of 5000 votes.
There is no doubt that Denver wants Lind
sew. SO Lindsey's enemies. who are more pow
erful than numerous, are trying to have The
!. Juvenile Court abolished Being one more
reason why the editor Of this lndesuucto o.
Ignorance cannot understand the great Amer'
can pastime, politics.
Ben Lindsey is shor, and thin. He is grow.
ING heavier. they say ana he now weigh
should guess. about lob tubside. tie D. be.
tween forty and fifty years Of age. Except
for pair Of remarkably clear searching eyes,
the kind known as "sympaJhe,c,' he s a con-;
monplace looking little man with a black nous
tache. And he is commonplace and man Of
the people" precisely as Lincoln was these
things.
ANYBODY can walk right into Lindsey's court
You don't need any press pass or any letter Of
introduction. As | came in the Judge was
hearing complaint against man who had
been hiring young girls TO go on the stage. Inc
girls who went. it was charged. were taken out
to the rough towns in Colorado and exposed 70
dangers they were too young 70 contend
with. The manager who hired them was talk
ing to the Judge.
81 tell the girls | always tell EN-, Judge
that they got to see you first" he was saying
These girls parents tell me- said Lindsey
that you say this court indorses your show
I've never seen your show, for one thingi and
don't indorse it, for another
NO, Judge. never tell EN- no such Ting
Judge. | tell EN- they ought TO 90 to you 70
get PERMISSION to work. They say they Will
but they don't They're liars, most OF en-
They're just crazy to get on the stage
: What kind of show do you give
minstrel show. Judge. Been IN show bush
ness for fifteen years. Always been on the
level and never been in jail in this state
What do girls do in a minstrel show
ITS a female minstrel show
D Leg show?'
emo. sir The girls wears short dresses
that's all. Siugin' an dancin'. We play h'
little towns around here
We'll" said Lindsey, Pm going TO send 8
man around now to look at one Of your re
hearsals; and maybe we can tell more about
then. If you're all right we wont nterieH
with YOU. But it's worth while looking into
it keeps lot of little girls from being fool 8
, and then regretting it the rest 'of their lives