The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-12-11
PROGRESSIVE Politics
IN We OLDEN DAYS

IN Y& U6UeN DAYS
Los Angeles, Calf, Nov. 80, 1919
Mir. Editor:
The Cleveland-B Blaine campaign OF
1884. was one of great excitement in
Gunnison county. The Smith coal
mine. two miles north of Crested
Butte, sometimes known as Anthra-
cite. in those days had between two
Anthracite breaker. kept by Bob Gid
dings, not. however, ON the company
and three hundred votes for the pre-
cinct. There was one saloon at the
ground. which was not permitted. but
just over the line on public land was
the saloon Two days before election
it was reported in Gunnison that the
Republicans had been to Anthracite
and fixed Giddings. so that there
would not be Democrat in the whole
precinct. The Democratic leaders
were equal to the occasion. Captain
Kingsbury. who was one of the old
fashioned Democrats that for the
good Of the party and never wanted
Office. had just returned from Pitkin
on a mission for the party. and was
seated In Gus Biebel's saloon before
hot stove drinking hot toddy. try
ing to thaw out inside and outside,
Captain Bean and d. C. Scribner
walked in and told him the doleful
news from Anthracite The saloon was
located at that time two doors north
Of the First National Bank. and
think Jake Millers meat market vas
the store between the bank and sa-
loon. Captain Kingsbury looked sad
and serious. He finally raised up and
said If they would furnish a good
team and driver and put the necessary
eommissary in the buggy. that he
would go up and see what could be
done. Agreed. and in quick time ne
was of. with the battle stiA raging
and Sherman 40 miles away" Late
in the afternoon he pulled up at Bob
Gidding's place. Giddings managed
to have quite few around anticipet-
ing some Of the faithful might drop
In. After greeting Giddings the Cap
tain invited all to line up. and after
tho crowd was served. he engaged in
earnest conversation with Gddings.
who said 1t was true that the Rspubli-
cans had made him promise to uss
his influence and vote their ticket.
and that they had lsft . bundle Of
tickets which was on tbs sheK b.
hind the bar, pointing TO them In plain
sight. In those days It was before
the Australian ballot, and ws ussd
q ship Of ticket about IL inches
wide and long enough for the names
Of all Of the candidates. The Cap
tain ordered anothsr drink for tns
crowd and while Ciddlngs was busy
the Captain exchanged the Repahai-
can tickets for packaGs Of Dsmo-
cratic tickets leaving one Republican
ticket and after bidding goodbye
drove toward home.
Election day the Repsblican leaders
in Gunnison were willing TO bat on
the Anthracite vote. what big ma
jortty thsy would roll up. Captain
Bean would not bot. but sent Marion
Walker around with money to cover
all bets. Excitement run high. The
next day after Tho election when the
ballot boxes and returns began to
come in, everybody wanted TO hear
from Anthacite. Finally whsn 1t
did show up tbs vote stood: Demo-
Gratis. 21o votss. Republicans l vote.
Bob Giddings was true to his word
and voted tho Republican ticket
Crested Butte was . frontier busl-
nsss place in 1879. Camp had been
established then just on frcn the
Ute Indian reservation, ~ the 10th
parallel Mns WAS hAff mile west Of
Aths ts,wn. Ths prospsetors whore
Irwin now stands were trespasssfs on
tha reservation but had bnift stock
-
which wsrS phess for psopas % eat
and ssssp hut no tens had brodGht in
my stDclrs % tesas 20 amoank 70 any
tAine. ons u IL hotels Wae called
TssH AnRlegl
I want 70 hessno . msulAer Of a
this blsnk. taken from ths 0anniscs
Nv maune n ................