Denver labor bulletin., 1918-10-26
The Optimistic
Philosopher
WHILE THE CHRISTMAS SPIR-

| it was lowering over Denver, in De-
cember, 1910, the then District Judge
Greeley W. Whitford sentenced six
| teen union miners to Jail for violating
| an injunction issued by him a few
days previous. This injunction pro-
hibited the miners employed in the
Northern Colorado coal fields from
| meeting together; from going to the
railroad station in company with each
other; from speaking to strikebreak-
ers; from boarding at the same house;
from congregating on the streets of
Lafayette, Louisville or other coal
camp towns, and from exercising the
rights of free citizens in any partic-
ular. On Christmas eve, 1910, Ed
ward L. Doyle, Ben Hicks, William.
Woodhead, George Penesky, William
Snow, Cecil Reese, Joe Fisk, Dick DON
aid, George Donald, John Donald, Rob-
ert McBernie, Fred Grayson, Frank
Balek, Jess Koenig, Duncan Stubbs
and Monroe Hicks, were locked up in
the Denver county Jail after being SEN
fenced to one year without a trial,
notwithstanding the law explicitly
says that a person accused of crime
shall have the right of trial by a Jury
of his peers in the district where the
crime is alleged to have been COM
mitted. Judge Whitford was a men,
ber of the district court of Denver
and had no legal jurisdiction in Boul-
der or Weld counties. Yet at behest
of the mine owners, he violated the
law, issued an injunction in another
district and then sentenced sixteen
men to Jail for one year without trial
This is the same Greeley B. Whitford
who is again a candidate for district
judge on the Republican ticket in
Denver county. Quoting from The
Labor Bulletin, issue of December 29.
1910, we find this: "The miners have
been on strike since April l, but they
were put to the expense of coming to
Denver and bringing witnesses to tes-
tify in their behalf. A great many of
the miners proved alibis by reputable
wltnesses-someu union men and others
their wives-but this counted for moth
ing with Corporation Judge Whitford.
The coal operators had witnesses and
gunmen to swear the opposite, and the
judge Judged that the union men
were the perjurers and sent the ac-
cused men to Jail for the maximum
time" A few days later Judge Whit
ford issued a similar sweeping injunc-
tion against the Denver Machinists
Union. On Thursday, February 2, the
aroused and indignant people of Colo
rado made the most wonderful DEM
onstration against Judge Greeley w.
Whitford ever witnessed in any COM
munity. 1t was protest against
judge-made law. Twenty thousand
men, women and children silently
marched thru the streets of Denver
and up to the state capitol grounds,
while $4,000 or more stood on the
pavements and gave equally silent ap-
proval of protest against Judge who
had raped the law of the Centennial
state. Delegations of labor came in
from Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Grip
pie Creek, Victor, Boulder and other
cities to participate III the parade.
These men ard their children have not
forgotten Greeley w. Whitford, the
most disreputable image of a man
who has ever disgraced the bench.
After passing thru the state capitol
grounds, the huge parade came down
Fourteenth street to the City Audi
torium, only recently dedicated. When
the head of the parade reached this
point the last division was just get
ting started on Eighteenth street. Not
half the crowd could find accommoda-
tions in the Auditorium to protest
against Whitford. These men and
women have not forgotten. In the
November election, 1912, Judge Gree
ley w. Whitford was overwhelmingly
defeated for reelection. The people
had not forgotten. Greeley was a can
the ticket. This year he is making
third attempt to get back upon the
district court bench. Perhaps he
thinks the younger generation has
forgotten. He will find they have not.
Since Greeley w. Whitford and Judge
Hubert l.. Shattuck, who sought to
enjoin freedom of the press, were re-
pudiated and removed, the district
court of Denver county has been clean,
honorable and respected. Let us keep
it so by again defeating Injunction
Judge Whitford SO crushingly on No
vember that he nor others of his ilk
will ever again dare ask the suffrage
of the men and women of Denver. The
Bulletin has refused to accept political
advertising from Candidates Greeley
W. Whitford, and he gets this o. P.
publicity gratis without even asking.
DIR. w. H. SHARPLEY PROM
ises that perhaps the ban on meet
ings, theaters and church services will
be lifted next Monday. Oh, joy! Few
of US ever realized how much the
smooth sailing of our every day exist
ence depended on the privilege of 60
mig to church whether we went or not,
of the movies to drive away dull care,
union labor meetings to consider and
debate subjects concerning our prog
ress, economically and educationally,
and our social relations. All things
are said to be for the best, and GER
tainly the rigid closing ban of the
health department has taught us
good lesson in the appreciation of the
| manifold blessings that come to US
without even the asking. The o. p,