Denver labor bulletin., 1916-03-25
Robert W.Speer Files Pc
tition for Mayor
Entry Of Former City Executive In
to Campaign Has Aroused Civic
Interest and Promises Evolu-
tionary Charter Changes

Tuesday, May 9, has been fixed as the
date by the City Council when all the
amendments to the municipal charter are
to be voted upon. Therefore, the cam
paign will be short but exhilirating
Placing OF petitions on the street Monday
by a committee OF citizens representing
former Mayor Robert W. Speer and
naming him as mayor for three years,
was the biggest political event in Denver
for many years. 1t stirred the dormant
element of passive citizens from their
lethargy and nonplussed the politicians.
Immediately Bob Speer became the chief
issue and little else has been debated
where groups OF men and women congre-
gate. Speer petitions were popular from
the start and the number of those who
volunteered to circulate them greatly ex-
ceeded the supply. -Four hundred petit
tions, having space for 10000 signatures
were being circulated this week. Friends
Of the former mayor are predicting that
when the petitions are filed with the
elections commission they will contain
over 10000 signatures secured in less
than a weeks canvass.
No Second Election.
Should the Speer amendment be
adopted by the voters on May Q, there
will be no second election. 1t provides
for a mayor and a board OF nine alder
men. and will automatically remove from
office at once the present five commits
sioners and change the form OF city gov
ernment from the commission plan
adopted in May. 1913, back to the mayor
and aldermanic form
Mr.. Speer issued a statement thru the
daily papers to the citizens of Denver
IN, rxhs Oh h.
upon municipal affairs and his reasons
for offering himself and charter amend
ments for their approval. His plan pro-
vides for city government with one
head instead of five. There will be four
departments, each with a manager ap-
pointed by the mayor, who will constf-
tute the mayors cabinet Auditor Mar
key will be retained in his present posi-
tion with duties unchanged.
The charter provides that the mayor
shall hold office until 1919. a term of
three years. after which he will be elected
for four-year terms. Councilmen will be
elected every two years and the auditor
every four years, serving two years un-
der one mayor and two under his sue
cessor.
The salary of the mayor is fixed at
$1,000 and of each of his four cabine.
members at $1,000. Eight of the coun-
eilmen will receive 81 200 yearly, while
the president of the board will receive
81 500
Provides Industrial Bureau
novel feature of the Speer amend
ment that met with instant approval
and is being much discussed, provides for
the creation of an Industrial Bureau to
consist OF the mayor and four citizens
who serve without pay. This bureau
will work for the industrial development
of Denver, ivestigate the conditions OF
business or manufacturing firms and
give aid in securing loans when needed,
furnishing employment for Denver cit
izens and otherwise improving local con-
ditions. 1t is intended to have the per-
sonnel of this board such as to command
the confidence OF all business and indus
trial enterprises, and may be able to
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