Denver labor bulletin., 1916-04-01
POLITICAL POT
STEWING FOR
CITY ELECTION
Speer for Mayor Against
the Field
Republicans Make Up Ticket and
Are Seeking Signers for Peti-
ton; Charter League Seems
Lost in the Shuttle

There will be three charter amend
ments to be voted upon at the special
city election Tuesday, May 9, all pro-
viding for abolishment of the present
commission form of municipal govern
ment, adopted three years ago, and
bringing back to Denver a modified may
or and aldermanic board plan.
Former Mayor Robert W. Speer's char
ter amendment, which would automat-
ically elect him mayor for a term of
three years and oust the five city COM
missioners now holding office, was filed
with the city clerk last Saturday. It
contained the signatures OF 2S.992 cit
izens. nearly five times the number re-
quired by law. and was q high record
for charter amendment petitions in Den
yer. These signatures were secured in
five days. only a portion of the city
being canvassed by solicitors. This en-
phatic Indication OF the trend OF popular
favor for Speer as mayor threw his op-
ponents into a spasm and made Bob
Speer the only live issue in the cam
paiEn Little is now heard of the Den
yer Charter League amendment, filed
two weeks ago by the so-ealled patriotic
societies. which contained a few names
over 5000.
Trying to Save the Party.
Folloing the filing of the Speer petit
tion, the city Republicans, under orders
of Governor aCrlson, got busy in an at
tempt to save the party organization. A
week was spent getting the consent of
people to go on their ticket. and after
being revised because of withdrawals half
a dozen times, it was given to the prin-
ter Thursday as follows: Mayor, VIII
liam W. Booth; sheriff, Alexander MIS-
bet; treasurer and assessor. Lewis C.
GTeenlee; county clerk, recorder and city
clerk, W. F. Evans; councilmen: Dis
trict /. Abraham D. Radinsky; district
2, F. w. Deidsheimer; district 8, Reu-
ben W. Hershey; district 4, Joseph W.
Plummer; district 5, George D. Kimball;
district 6, W. Fl. II. Cranmer: district :,
Albert c. Monson; district s, John T.
Fitzell; district Q, John T. Bottom.
How Factions Line Up.
About the only difference between the
non n-partisan amendment headed by
Speer and that of Booth and the Re
publicans, is that the latter names
full roster of candidates in the petition,
while that of Speer provides for the ap-
pointment of temporary officers other
than mayor, until the regular city cleo
tion in May. 1917.
The old Citizens party which brought
former Mayor Arnold into office and
then voted him out thru the commission
form. has been revived and announces
opposition to all charter amendments.
Speer Popular Favorite.
Sentiment among laboring men and
women and OF business men strongly ia
vors the Speer amendment, and predic-
tions are being freely made that he will
be elected by vote of two to one.
Vicious opposition to his candidacy and
amendments by the Denver Post and
Governor Carlson is adding TO the num-
Der OF Speer's supporters every day.
All persons who did not vote at the
May Is. 1915, election or have changed
their place of residense. will have to reg
lister at the regular polling places. These
will be open on April Is and 20.