USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume III > Part 4
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HISTORY OF COLORADO.
of that beneficent enterprise, he was the first to engage in the con- struction of the series of great waterways which have made the colony lands so fruitful in all kinds of produce. He is renowned as the great canal builder of Northern Colorado, and its largest producer of cereals. He is a man of great force and decision of character, but lacks the power to give eloquent public utterance to his views; he never was and never will be an interesting speech maker, for he has not the slightest qualification that fits men for such displays, but as his success in the fields for which he was eminently fitted, shows, he is a plain, practical, energetic and unusually progressive granger, possessing a wide in- fluence in that domain. He floated westward from beyond the Mis- sissippi with the first waves of the Pike's Peak immigration in 1859, and after engagement in various pursuits, mining, freighting, etc., finally settled down to the vocation in which he had been schooled, taking up a ranch claim on the Cache la Poudre in 1864, at a point twelve miles above the present town of Greeley. In 1870 he joined Union Colony, and thereafter became prominently identified with the measures that insured its success. Having a multitude of friends, and the agricultural interest demanding better representation in State affairs than had here- tofore been accorded it by the politicians, he was brought forward as its candidate for Governor, and was chosen,-not only nominated but triumphantly elected, and in the course of his administration proved himself in many respects one of the strong representative men of the State. Said a local writer of the period, "The politicians do not like him, they find him an inconvenient and intractable figure. He gets in the way when they 'want to do things.' His presence embarrasses the schemers, they are afraid of him, and being afraid, they hate him. But he has the confidence of the people, and his rugged common sense and sturdy honesty have made an impression on the public mind which gives him a very considerable power."
To return to the original subject, the Greenback party came to the front again at an early stage, holding its convention September 17th,
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George W. Woy of Longmont, presiding. The following nominations were made :
For Representative in Congress .- George W. Woy.
For Governor .- Dr. R. G. Buckingham of Arapahoe.
For Lieutenant Governor .- Dr. McK. Whyte of Lake. For Secretary of State .- M. C. Dunn of Pueblo. For Treasurer .- Frank Church of Arapahoe.
For Auditor .- Peter Adamson of Fremont.
For Attorney General .- A. J. Miller of Gunnison.
For Superintendent of Public Instruction .- O. L. Smith of Arapahoe.
For Regents of the University .- Warren Blynn of Larimer, and J. K. Mills of Jefferson.
Again Dr. Buckingham declined the nomination, and John E. Washburne of Larimer was substituted.
For Chairman of the State Central Committee .-- J. R. Buchanan.
The delegates of the Democratic party met in Denver, September 24th, 1884, B. F. Montgomery chairman, when the ticket subjoined was proclaimed:
For Representative in Congress .- Charles S. Thomas of Lake.
For Governor .- Alva Adams of Pueblo.
For Lieutenant Governor .- Andrew D. Wilson of Arapahoe.
For Secretary of State .- Charles O. Unfug of Huerfano.
For Treasurer .- Thomas J. Maloney of Gunnison.
For Auditor .- Ansel B. Watrous of Larimer.
For Attorney General .-
For Superintendent of Public Instruction .- S. B. Carroll of Chaffee.
For Regents of the University .- George W. Rusk, W. W. Cooley and George Tritch.
For Presidential Electors .- Casimiro Barela, James B. Grant and Joseph Doyle.
For Chairman of the State Central Committee .- A. J. Bean of Gunnison.
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At the election following, as on all previous occasions, the Repub- licans were victorious by considerable majorities. Mr. Blaine's plurality was 8,650, and the average Republican majority 5,934. Judge Symes' plurality was 6,726, but that of Mr. Melvin Edwards for Secretary of State exceeded all others, being 9,234.
At the meeting of presidential electors, Mr. F. C. Goudy was chosen messenger to convey the vote of Colorado to Washington.
The Fifth General Assembly convened January 7th, 1885, when the choice of United States Senator again became the absorbing topic of political discussion, and, as usual, each of the principal contestants figured for every attainable advantage in the organization of the lower House. Mr. Chaffee opened headquarters in the Windsor Hotel, and began his canvass in behalf of H. M. Teller, on whose election all his plans had been based. But Mr. Teller was rather averse to accepting any further political honors, from the fact that he was a poor man ; that the law business of the firm of which he was the head, had suffered for the want of his personal attention, and it was the urgent desire of his brother and Mr. Orahood that he should abandon public life and give them the aid they needed in their very large and growing practice. But the desire of the leading politicians to defeat Ex-Senator Hill's efforts for re-election to the Senate, toward which all his energies were bent, and it being discovered after a count that Teller was the only man who could accomplish this result, he was induced to stand. But it had been previously arranged that ex-Governor Routt should make the attempt. When the caucus met and voted, however, it was found that he could not be chosen, although he received nearly enough to nom- inate. Therefore, as the main purpose was to overthrow ex-Senator Hill's chances, Mr. Teller was brought forward.
The Senate organized by the election of James Moynahan of Park County as presiding officer. For speaker, the House elected T. B. Stuart of Arapahoe. Governor Grant delivered his final message to the Assembly, but no effective work was attempted until after the installation of his successor.
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
Governor-elect Eaton was inaugurated January 13th. His address was a brief and well considered document devoted largely, as expected. to matters relating to agriculture, irrigation, public land questions and kindred subjects, which he conceived to lie at the base of our stability and wealth. He was assured in advance of the hearty good will of the people, who believed he would be honest and sincere, if not brilliant and showy. These preliminaries concluded, and the new administration launched, the fight for the Senatorship began with renewed vigor. The struggle for supremacy on this occasion was the mightiest in our his- tory. Tabor came in as a third party between Hill and Teller, but causing no material diversion, as it was seen at the outset that this was to be a battle of giants, and the members had no stomach for side issues. Tabor's hopes were based upon a not very astute political cal- culation that neither Hill nor Teller could be elected, and that the choice would fall to him as a compromise.
The Republican caucus was held on the 17th, when some very heated discussions ensued, during which the adherents of Mr. Hill, fail- ing to secure his nomination or any concession to their demands, with- drew, refusing to be governed by the action of the majority which had voted for Mr. Teller. Personal and partisan feeling ran high, fierce disputes arose, and in such a state of disorder no agreement could be reached.
The Democrats on the contrary, had a serene and peaceful session, because, being in a hopeless minority, they had no differences to arrange only complimentary votes to bestow. They fixed upon Mr. Dennis Sullivan as their candidate with absolute unanimity, and re- mained faithful unto the end.
On the 20th the question came before the Assembly for action, each house voting separately. In the Senate Mr. Teller received 13, Hill 5, Sullivan 8. In the lower branch, Teller received 22, Hill 12, Tabor I, Sullivan 14. The houses met in joint convention at noon the following day, but before a ballot could be taken, a letter from Senator Hill was
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read, withdrawing his name from the list of candidates. The final vote stood : Teller 50, Sullivan 20, Moses Hallett 3, N. P. Hill I.
Thus ended this exciting and acrimonious contest, after which the legislators settled down to the work of framing and passing bills. One of the more prominent measures introduced was a bill for the regulation of railways, which as passed, provided for the appointment of one com- missioner. All the better provisions had been eliminated during its course, leaving it at the last weak and ill-fitted to serve any good purpose whatever. Governor Eaton sent to the Senate the name of Roger W. Woodbury, President of the Chamber of Commerce, for the office of commissioner, but owing to the objections raised that he was a stock- holder in the Denver & New Orleans Railway, then engaged in a war with all other roads in the State, it was withdrawn, and that of W. B. Felker substituted, who was immediately confirmed. The attempt to enforce this law proved only a burden of expense without accomplishing anything of value to the people.
We now pass to the consideration of political events in 1886. The Republicans convened in Denver September 28th, H. M. Teller tem- porary chairman, H. A. W. Tabor succeeding him as permanent chairman.
This was termed Edward O. Wolcott's convention, for the reason that it was composed largely of delegates who had been chosen in the interest of his budding aspirations to a seat in the United States Senate, to be consummated at a future date, when Senator Bowen's term should expire. Mr. Wolcott was the master spirit of this body, having directed the election of its members and its final organization. That he was ably seconded by many strong men of the party who fully comprehended the main purpose in view, was manifest in the success achieved. It was called to order by Wilbur C. Lothrop, chairman of the Central Committee, one of the shrewdest of our political managers. The following ticket was evolved :
For Representative in Congress .- George G. Symes, renominated. For Governor .- William H. Meyer of Costilla.
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For Lieutenant Governor .-- Norman H. Meldrum of Larimer.
For Secretary of State .-- James Rice of Pueblo.
For Treasurer .- Peter W. Breene of Lake.
For Auditor .- D. P. Kingsley of Montrose. For Attorney General .- Alvin Marsh of Gilpin.
For Superintendent of Public Instruction .- Leonidas S. Cornell of Boulder.
For Regents of the University .- Wolfe Londoner, Daniel E. New- comb and E. J. Temple.
For Chairman of the State Central Committee .- H. A. W. Tabor. During the proceedings, Senator Teller offered the following :
Resolved, That, submitting humbly to the All Wise and inscrutable Providence who has removed from our midst, since the last State Convention, the late Honorable Jerome B. Chaffee, we notwithstanding, sincerely deplore his death, and here attest our appre- ciation of his character .*
" Although he was continuously engaged in mining for a quarter of a century, he was always active in advocating the interests of the State and country. By patient, strenuous and persistent effort, he, more than any man now living, contributed to the admission of our State into the National Union. In analyzing his character it can be said with entire truthfulness, that he was a just man, a correct thinker and an energetic actor. He was never ostentatious nor boastful; was a leader of men, and one of the foremost of his party in the State and nation ; unaffect- edly simple in manner, without conceit in himself or deceit toward others ; a true and lasting friend, and not an implacable enemy ; modest in all his pretensions, but firm of purpose and formidable as an antagonist ; of a kind and forgiving nature; in religion always tolerant, in political faith an ardent Republican. In his demise the party of the State and nation has lost a wise and able counsellor, and a steadfast supporter; yet his personal and political friends, those who knew him best and loved him most, as well as his rivals, all of whom he equaled and most of whom he excelled, as they recall to mind his kindly greetings and cordial friend-
*Ex-Senator Chaffee died March 9th, 1886.
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ship, are apt to forget their admiration of his sterling qualities of mind and character in their personal affection for the virtues of the man."
Having read the foregoing, pending action upon it, Mr. Teller gave a rapid resume of Mr. Chaffee's life. " It was my fortune," he said, "to be associated with him in political and social relations for more than twenty-five years. I was a member of the first convention in the Ter- ritory that nominated him for the legislature. An active, conscientious, persistent worker in legislative measures, with a degree of common sense rarely allotted to men, he assisted in forming the State and in directing its destiny. Mr. Chaffee's father and my own had been bosom friends in the State of New York, seventy years ago; his relations intermarried with mine, therefore some of his relatives are also mine. I first met him in Lake Gulch, Gilpin County, where he was engaged in mining and milling in the early days. At a subsequent period, as both were deeply immersed in politics, events transpired which served to separate us for a time, but there never was an hour during all the time that this rivalry existed, in which our personal relations were not cordial. The party endowed him with honors which I may say were far more beneficial to the State than to himself. He did more than any other man living to secure our admission as a State. Had it not been accomplished in 1876, it probably would not have been to this day. He was chosen first sen- ator. The universal sentiment of the Republican party in Colorado was that Mr. Chaffee should be its first senator, for by his herculean en- deavors in that behalf he had fully earned the distinction, therefore he was elected without controversy or division. For two years and three months I sat with him in the national councils without dissension or disagreement. The opportunity thus afforded him by his State, enabled him to reach out more extendedly in political affairs, and I speak ad- visedly when I say that I do not believe that when Jerome B. Chaffee was in the full strength of his vigor in 1884, there was a man in civil life, not a candidate for office, anywhere in the United States who was more potential in national politics than himself, and it is the judgment of many intelligent men of the party all over the country, that but for his unfor-
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tunate illness which took him out of the national campaign for six weeks, Mr. Blaine would have been elected President of the United States.
"As a citizen he was patriotic, progressive, enterprising and honest. As a politician he was wise, vigorous, far seeing and a master of combi- nations. I trust that the State he has done so much to honor will take some appropriate measures to perpetuate the name and fame of this man, who with his own hands laid its foundation."
The resolution was adopted by a rising vote. Although delivered with characteristic dignity and calmness, without a quiver of the voice and without pathos, it is undoubtedly true that Senator Teller felt much more than was expressed in his resolution and the after panegyric. He was very largely indebted to Mr. Chaffee's efforts for his third election, and in great degree for the first. Whilst he alluded briefly to the early sev- erance of their relations in Territorial times, it is a matter of history that they came into open conflict that raged with extreme rancor during the State campaign of 1865, in which during the absence of Teller, Chaffee combined with Governor Evans, and both were elected to the Senate. Teller and Evans had been the candidates in 1864, and it was the new movement and the change of combination that brought about the rivalry of which he speaks. It was fierce and stormy for some years, causing many divisions, but passed with the ever moving current of events, and finally there came a day freighted with momentous issues when they were drawn together in perfect concord and the most attached friendship, that continued until death broke the links. It was most unfortunate that they and Senator Hill should have so radically disa- greed upon personal and political grounds, as to make reconciliation impossible, for it fomented disorders in the ranks of their party which may not be healed during the lifetime of the surviving principals. In Mr. Chaffee's death Teller lost the friend and ally who was foremost in advancing his political fortunes, and while he has hewn his way to a lofty station in the Senate, taking rank among the most eminent men of his time, his party at home has fared badly through the lack of a safe
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counsellor and guide. Mr. Teller, though skilled in the science of gov- ernment, is not a skillful politician.
But let us return to the Convention. The ticket nominated, especially its head, was coldly received, indicating unmistakably, premo- nition of disaster. It was met with harsh criticism on all sides, and pre- dictions of defeat. Mr. Meyer, although an estimable citizen, intelligent, experienced in matters pertaining to legislation through his frequent election to the legislature, and his term as Lieutenant-Governor, a thorough-going man of business, earnest, vigorous in action, of blameless private life, the first citizen of the southwestern counties, a keen poli- tician, still lacked the indefinable elements of presence, so to speak, which go far toward making up the popular ideal of an executive head of government. And it is indisputable that the ideal has as large a part as the real in filling our conceptions of fitness for high places. We can tolerate the ordinary and commonplace in the subordinate offices, but not often in the headship. Meyer was as well educated, as moral, respect- able and dignified in bearing as many who had filled that office, but in some inexplicable way was wanting in the small shades of ideality that are too often mistakenly regarded as essential attributes of worth. He was not a statesman in the general sense, yet he was a noted politician who had rendered distinguished service to many of his compeers, yet he was rejected, chiefly for the reasons given.
The Democrats held their convention in the Chamber of Commerce at Denver, October 5th, and chose Thomas M. Patterson for presiding officer. He arranged their programme, considered every question and governed with consummate ability. This ticket was nominated :
For Representative in Congress .- Rev. Myron W. Reed of Arapahoe.
For Governor .- Alva Adams of Pueblo, renominated.
For Lieutenant-Governor .- H. B. Gillespie of Pitkin.
For Secretary of State .- Jerry Mahoney of Lake.
For Treasurer .- James A. Benedict of Weld.
For Auditor .- Casimiro Barela of Las Animas. 4 IIT.
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For Attorney General .-- E. J. Stirman of Ouray.
For Superintendent of Public Instruction, no nomination.
For Regents of the University .- Fred. Lockwood, -Bertschey of Saguache.
For Chairman of the State Central Committee .- James F. Mathews of Arapahoe.
While Mr. Reed hoped and expected to defeat Mr. Symes for Congress, it is quite certain that Alva Adams had little expectation of being elected. He had been defeated in 1884, and it does not often occur in politics that the same candidate is successful in a second venture against equal odds. But he was exceedingly popular with his party and with all others who knew him. There was hope, however, in the pros- pect that the disaffection toward the opposing candidate would result, as in the case of Campbell, in throwing a large Republican vote to him.
In his speech of acceptance he said, that when chosen two years before, the nomination was reluctantly taken. His reluctance was even greater now than it had been on that occasion. He was poor, and strongly disinclined to make a business of politics and self-seeking. To take up the canvass and carry it on, every personal feeling and interest must be sacrificed ; all his desires were in opposition, and it was solely because of the unanimously expressed desire and vote of the convention that he accepted the grave responsibility. He had neither the time nor the means to stump the State in his own behalf, therefore should not attempt it. If he was to be elected, the party and not its nominee for Governor must take care of the details. He warned them, moreover, that he would not accept the office if it could only be secured by fraud, and corruption of the elective franchise. It must be a fair and honorable canvass, an honest ballot and an honest count. "I believe," said he, "that truth, honesty and integrity in politics are just as essential as they are in the government of our individual lives, and these principles must be observed, or I cannot approve."
Now all this may have been, and undoubtedly was regarded by the multitude as mere political declamation ; that this campaign, like all
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others, would be conducted with especial reference to the maxim that "the end justifies the means." But it so happened that in this particular canvass, Adams was elected, and there is nothing to show that any but fair and legitimate measures were used to secure that result.
There was great and exuberant rejoicing in the Southern division of the State, manifested most emphatically, however, in Pueblo, the home of the governor elect, where all men without distinction of party or creed were his friends. Much powder was burned and uproar created when the intelligence flashed to them over the electric wires. A great procession of people marched to his residence, to the exhilarating strains of martial music, took him captive and carried him off to the De Remer Opera House, where a joyful reception was held, and congratulations exchanged. It was a memorable day for Pueblo, an historic day for Alva Adams.
As the career of this man has been somewhat exceptional, let us review it. He was born May 14th, 1850, consequently at this writing is but 40 years of age; his birthplace an humble farmhouse in Iowa County, Wisconsin. His father a Kentuckian, and his mother a native of New York, were pioneers in the lead mining districts of the North- west. The rudiments of his education were obtained in the most ordi- nary of country district schools, where he learned to read, write and cipher, nothing more. His brother being an invalid, for his benefit the family decided in 1871 to seek the famous climate of Colorado; there- fore, with a horse team and a "grasshopper wagon," they crossed the plains in the spring of the year mentioned, stopping in the then recently established town of Greeley. They soon after moved on to Denver, when young Alva needing employment for the earnings it would bring, took the first that offered, that of hauling ties from the mountains south of the city-the first that were used in the construction of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. In July of the same year he went to Colorado Springs in the employ of Mr. C. W. Sanborn, proprietor of a small retail supply of lumber and hardware. Colorado Springs was then but the germ of a small colony with material distances between
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its fixed inhabitants. On the 7th of August Mr. Adams had completed a small frame house and store of two rooms, that served for the display of Mr. Sanborn's stock of hardware, for a lumber office and living apartment. This rude little building was located on South Cascade Avenue, nearly opposite the present Antler's Hotel.
In October Mr. Adams purchased the entire business for $4, 100, giving his note at two per cent. per month for that amount. This was his first business venture, the beginning of his independent career in Colorado, an humble one, to be sure, but productive of consequences. The lumber was sold at a good profit, and, in the following year and ever afterward his sole attention was given to the hardware interest. In 1872 Joseph ,C. Wilson was admitted to partnership, conducting the store in Colorado Springs, while Adams went to Pueblo and there established a branch house. Later the partnership was dissolved, Wilson taking the business at Colorado Springs.
In 1873 Mr. Adams became one of the trustees of South Pueblo. In the meantime he had established branch hardware stores in the San Juan country. In 1876 he was elected to the first State legislature, where he made an excellent record. In 1884, as already related, he was nominated for the office of Governor, and again in 1886, when he was elected by about 2,400 majority. He arrived in Colorado at the age of twenty-one. Fifteen years later the emigrant and tie hauler sat at the head of the State directing its destiny. The ceremony of his inauguration took place with unprecedented display January 11th fol- lowing, a large delegation from Pueblo being present. The inaug- uration ball given in the Opera House that evening was the most elab- orate and largely attended ever witnessed in the capital city.
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