Denver labor bulletin., 1916-05-13
Commission Government Buried by
Avalanche Of Votes, While Booth
and Macy Amendments Re-
ceive Slight Consideration
at Tuesdays Election

Booth Amendment
FOR ..--.....--.---....- o'oos
Against .--...---...--....- 1884
Majority apniust ...--...... 3s.6s5
Commission government was repealed
and modcrnized form OF mayor and al
dcrmanie board adopted by the voters Of
Denver at the special charter election
last Tuesday. The figures printed above
give the result at a glance, which was
80 Overwhelmingly in favor Of the SPeer
non partisan charter amendmtut as to
leave no room for doubt as TO the atti-
tude Of the people in favor of a change
\ that gives responsible administrative
head to the city government.
City Builders in Control.
Ro'crt w spc.r will become mayor
under the new charter and resume the
work of building the city where he left
vlff four years ago. Commission govern
ment during three years has greatly in
creased the taxes and given the people
nothing for their money in the way OF
public improvements.
Speer'. election is especially gratify-
ing TO the organized laboring men and
women Of Denver. his charter amend
mcnt having been endorsed by the
Trades and labor Assembly and many
q uhe local unions. 1t is safe TO say
that fihly 50 per cent Of the union labor
vote went to SPccr.
Poor Showing of Booth Ticket.
There is considerable surprise at the
poor showing made by the Booth Repub-
iican amendment. IL receiving even fewer
votes than the Macey Charter League
proposition. Two OF the present city
commissioners, Alexander Nisbet, COM
missioner Of safety, and L. c. Greenlec,
commissioner of property, were on the
Booth ticket and proved heavy load TO
carry. Governor Carlson made n speech
at the Auditorium in support of the
Booth Republican amendment, and il re.
ccivcd only 1868 out of n total of 81 400
votes cast.
Speer's victory was one of the most
notable in the history OF Denver elec.
tions lie carried thirteen of the six
teen district, and l67 of the 1893 voting
precincts in the city. The day was
bright and warm, that unusually
heavy vote for a city election was
polled. Only about $4,000 changed
hands in bets at the pool rooms, most of
IL being waged on majoritics. as COM
. parativcly little anti-Spcer money was
In evidence. Bets of 3 TO l were posted
on Specr up to closing of the polls
IucsuaN tlRnt-
Will Assume Office Next Week.
Robert w. Specr will take office some
time next week, probably Thursday, or
just as soon as the election returns arc
certified by the city council 10 the Sec
rctary of state.
Mr.. Spccr. accompanied by his wife,
tett Wednesday in an automobile to
spend the remainder of the week at
mountain retreat. where he will con
slider his appointments. Under the new
charter he is given full control of mu-
nicipal affairs and selects the heads of
all departments, and will also appoint n
temporary board of nine aldermen to
serve until the next city election in
May, 1917. These aldermen receive 81 200
per year each, with 5000 additional for
the president. Five of these aldermen
are TO be designated by civic bodies of
Denver, one by the Denver Trades and
Labor Assembly.
Industrial Bureau Feature.
Mr. Specr is to name four department
managers. who will constitute his cab.
met, Ms follows:
Manager of parks and improvements,
salary $1,000.
Manager of revenue, salary 81 900.
Manager of health and charity, sal.
ary $1,000.
Manager of safety and excise, salary
81 900.
yin addition Mr.. Spcer will name five
members of the industrial bureau pro-
vided in his charter amendment. These
men will serve without pay, but they
probably will appoint an industrial or
economic expert to put into effect un-
der heir direction and that of Mr..
Specr the plans the mnyor-elcct has for
Improving the manufacturing industries
Of he city,
ybnder this industrial bureau will also
come the program for bcttering condi-
tions Of wage -carners and providing en-
Continued on Page Four.)