La Junta tribune., 1916-04-01
CAPITOL c0RRlssP0xDExCE.

Inose whose reading d confined
to the Denver dailies must have come
to the conclusion that the Republi-
cans OF this city have been thrown
into panic by the attempt Of Mr..
,speer to again become mayor. This
rs very far from being the case. Tho
Republicans would much have. pre-
lerred not to have had city CAM
paign this spring. believing that the
state and national issues would fur
nish all the political excitement nee
essary for one year. But ~ for fear
Ing Mr. Speer--there ia nothing to
1t.
Mr.. Speer has been holding office
almost continuously ever since he
came to Colorado thirty years ago.
and yet he was never honestly elect.
ed to an office in his life. Most OF
the positions he has filled have been
appointtve. Both times he ran for
mayor he had absolute control Of the
election commission and Of the fire
and police board He had the sup
port Of all the utility corporations
and of the saloon and gambling ele-
ment- In his first campaign the
same ballot box stuffing was indulg-
ed in that led to the resignation by
MIR. Shafroth to his seat In congress.
and to the assumption BY MIR. Speer
OF all the campaign expenses OF his
opponent. Mr.. Springer. II he would
refrain from making 4 contest. In
his second campaign. with the same
influence behind him. on the face Of
the returns he received . plurality
Of some 1000 votes over Mr. Phelps.
but no well Informed man doubts
that there were At least 5000 fraud
ulent votes cast for him.
This year the fire and police de-
partment are controlled by Republi-
cans and there will be no repeating
or ballot box stuffing. The election
commission IL Republican aud there
will be no juggling of returns BY
election officials. A. least two Of
the big utility corporations are out
o! politics and the others. realizing
that they are being kept tab upon
and that the public will not stand for
any thing raw from them.
Under these circumstances. the
Republicans welcome the opportuni-
~ TO retire Mr.. Spcer permanently
from public life. In this praise
worthy effort they viii be helped BY
Mr.. Patterson and his followers who
rejoice At the opportunity TO get ev-
en- for the knifing their ticket re-
ceived In the fall Of 1914.
No man ssands higher In the con.
uunisy has las. ". ". Booth. Who's
- snspublIsass. have sslseted. 4
hsad their ticket. He hes beea statl
sssatof. . member Of the board ol
publle works. and mayor Of The
ilighlaads before that suburb waa
consolidated with Denver. lie II the
western manager Of the Equitable
Insurance Company and member Of
The executive committe Of the Anti.
saloon League. lie Is also promi.
neat In Christian Science circles. hav.
Ing been at one time the Reader In
their most prominent church. And
by the way. Mr.. Spccr In very friend
y 10 this church. having presided n
q recent big meeting ut the Auditor
lum when one Of their leading ora.
tors from the east was the speaker.
The campaign will be- short. but no
doubt will Interfere considerably
With the thought that should bc Civ.
60 70 the selection Of the right kind
uf delegates TO the Chicago c0nvcn'
tion. The probability In stili strons
that they will 20 uninstructed. hui
it looks now M though their vote
would DC east for either Root oI
Roosevelt.
IL u generally believed that ths
sppolntment Of Brandcis 10 the su'
preme bench makes II necessary thai
Justice Hughes shouid retain his seal
- that court. The country cannot
Afford 10 take the chances Of anoth
- appointment like that Of Mr.
Dsaadsis. snd there In no other mem
~ of the court who would have thu
eooil1snce Of the people to 10 grea'
10 Degree In reslsting the sociaiisti'
oo1 esSatle tsadsncies Of 1lrsndsis.
q. =. C0vn Nosvles Esamlaaeloo.