USA > Colorado > Sketches of Colorado: being an analytical summary and biographical history of the State of Colorado as portrayed in the lives of the pioneers, the founders, the builders, the statesmen, and the prominent and progressive citizens Vol. 1 > Part 9
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CHAPTER X.
The Period from Governor Waite's Administration to that of Governor Shafroth-New Allignment in Political Parties.
AVIS HANSEN WAITE, Governor (1893-95) of Colo- rado was elected on the populist ticket in 1892, as- sisted by a faction of the democratic party. The last general assembly had re- districted the state, so that the legislature now consisted of 100 members, the senate being increased to 35, and the house to 65. Under the census of 1890, the state was entitled to two representatives in con- gress, and the first and second congressional districts were established, the first composed of the following counties: Larimer, Boulder, Weld, Jefferson, Park, Lake, Morgan, Logan, Washington, Sedgwick, Phillips, Yuma, and Arapahoe; second district, the rest of the state. Among the several issues in the cam- paign of 1892, the paramount question was the remonitization of silver, and its free coin- age. Davis H. Waite was nominated for governor by the people's party, or populist so called. The democratic party was di- vided, the more liberal element endorsing Waite's nomination. The other democratic faction, known in local politics as the "white wings," in which President Cleveland's friends were alligned, placed a ticket of their own in the field, with Joseph H. Maupin at the head, for governor. The republicans nominated for governor, Joseph C. Helm, who had long served on the supreme bench of the state. John C. Hipp was the candidate of the pro- hibitionists for that office. In the first con- gressional district, Lafe Pence was the nomi- nee of the silver democrats and the populists, Earl B. Coe of the republicans, and John G. Taylor of the "white wings" (democrat); in the second congressional district, John C. Bell stood for the populists and democrats, against H. H. Eddy, republican. It was one of the bitter campaigns in Colorado, resulting as follows: Waite, 44,242; Helm, 38,806; Maupin, 8,944; and Hipp, 1,764. Waite, with the entire fusion ticket was elected, including Lafe Pence from the first district, and John C. Bell from the second, to the 53rd congress.
Waite did not have a working majority
in the legislature, and here found a serious obstacle to some of his pet measures. The most important legislation enacted, was the submission of a constitutional amendment to the people, which was adopted at the next election, by which the elective franchise was extended to women in Colorado. At a large meeting held in Denver, July 11 and 12, 1893, Gov. Waite delivered his famous "bloody bridles" speech in which he said: "It is infinitely better that blood should flow to our horses' bridles, than that our liberties should be destroyed."
The panic of 1893 now struck Denver, be- ginning with the suspension of three savings banks in the city on July 17th, together with the closing of three private banking insti- tutions. Other and larger banks also suspended. Some bravely met the issue, and pulled through, although runs were started on them, but confidence was restored, and the tempo- rary alarm of their depositors was quieted, The depression in business was increased by the rapid fall in the price of silver and the closing of many of the mines, throwing out of employment thousands of workmen. The non-production of the mines affected affiliated interests, adding still other thousands to the army of the unemployed. Idle men flocked to the cities, and especially to Denver. Thousands of them were hungry and penniless. Relief camps were established under military surveillance, where tents and supplies were furnished, and during the crisis of two or three weeks, probably 10,000 people were in this way, cared for in Denver. Cheap restaurants were also established, not for a pecuniary purpose, but to afford those who had a little money, the opportunity to ob- tain a meal for five cents. One of these five cent meal tickets was good for a cup of coffee, a little bread and potatoes, and a small piece of meat-just enough to keep body and soul together. Churches threw open their doors. and many a homeless wanderer found a place to sleep, on a pew or the floor. Some made it their special mission to seek out those, who, suddenly thrown out of employment, were in sore need and distress, but too proud to make known their wants. These were
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given assistance in a quiet and unpretentious way. At night, the streets were thronged with thousands as if at a carnival,- it was a carnival without laughter or smiles-for it was led by the spectres of want and misery. At such a time, Daniel Arata killed Benjamin C. Lightfoot, his victim being about sixty years of age. The county jail in Denver, in which Arata was held a prisoner, was stormed by a mob. The city being full of idle men, soon thousands gathered about the jail. The mob forced its way to the cell of the unfortunate Arata, who was taken out, shot and hung, and then his body dragged through the streets and suspended from a telegraph pole in the business part of the city. Those were anxious days in Denver, and the Arata affair was one of its terrible in- cidents-for such as that can only happen, dur- ing the most abnormal of social conditions.
During his administration, Gov. Waite was involved in what has been commonly designated as "two wars:" one, the "City Hall War," and the other the "Cripple Creek War." The governor, who had hitherto ex- perienced some trouble with the Denver Fire and Police board, in March, 1894, removed two of its members, Jackson Orr and D. J. Martin, who refused to yield their offices to Dennis Mullins and S. D. Barnes, who had been appointed their successors. Orr and Martin carried the question into the courts, but Gov. Waite claimed that it was a matter for the governor, and called out the militia to enforce his order. The state troops were marched to the vicinity of the city hall, which was guarded by the police and many of the armed friends of the deposed commis- sioners. The military planted a canon in the street fronting the hall, but the order that was expected did not come, and the city hall was not fired upon. In the midst of the great excitement that prevailed, the attorneys on both sides were in consultation, and promi- nent citizens were using all means possible to avert trouble and bloodshed. The su- preme court consented to take original juris- diction, and the war ended. The court later rendered an opinion, sustaining the right of Waite to remove the commissioners, and Orr and Martin readily yielded to the order of the court.
The Cripple Creek war in 1894, was there- sult of a strike by the miners, who demanded $3 a day in wages for eight hours work. The dispute between the miners and the mine owners, also involved the employment of non union men. The strikers armed them- selves, and the mine owners appealed to the sheriff. Several hundred deputies were sent from Denver to assist the mine owners in the protection of their property. Attempts at
arbitration and peaceable settlement, proved abortive. The striking miners resisted the attempt to serve warrants on men who were supposed to have been implicated in blowing up the Victor shaft, one of the unfortunate affairs connected with the strike. The strik- ers fortified themselves on Bull Hill, where a fight ensued between them and the deputies, but without serious results. Brig. Gen. Brooks and Adjutant Gen. Tarsney were in- structed by the governor to call out sufficient troops to maintain order. Prior to this time, there had been a skirmish at Wilbur, and dur- ing the entire strike there was friction be- tween the deputies and the strikers, and also between the latter and the non-union men, in which several lost their lives, and a number wounded. Finally an agreement was reached in which the mine owners were to re- tain the peaceable possession of their prop- erty, the deputies were to be withdrawn, the troops to remain temporarily, and those charged with murder and the destruction of property, to be given into the custody of the sheriff of El Paso county. Adjutant General Tarsney who was employed to defend the men who had been arrested, was kidnapped at Colorado Springs and given rough exper- ience with tar and feathers, but finally all the matters involved, were quieted.
Gov. Waite also further involved the po- litical situation by an extra session which he called, that was convened on January 10, 1894. The governor enumerated thirty-two subjects in his call. He urged that all dollars equal in weight and fineness to the standard dollar of the U. S. should be made a legal tender for the payment of all debts, public and private, in Colorado. In the opinion of the governor, if the Mexican dollar became a legal tender, the miners could dispose of their silver bullion in Mexico, and after its coinage there, it could be returned as a legal tender, and thus bring relief from the de- pression caused by the fall in the price of sil- ver. The legislature refused to pass any such bill, as it would conflict with the provisions of thefederal constitution. The state senatefol- lowed a dilatory and obstructive policy, and but few laws were enacted. Gov. Waite was the first to occupy the handsome new capitol building, taking possession in October, 1894.
In the campaign that followed in the fall of 1894, the cry went up "redeem the state." It became an issue, and the republicans were so insistent on this phase of the political ques- tion, that their opponents termed them "re- demptionists." The republicans carried the state, electing Albert W. MeIntire governor, he receiving 93,502 votes, as against 74,894 cast for Waite, populist; 8,337 for Charles S. Thomas democrat; and, 4,250 for George Rich-
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ardson, prohibitionist. In the first congression- al district, John F. Shafroth, republican was elected, receiving 47,710, as against 34,223 for Lafe Pence, populist; 2,465 for Robert H. Rhodes, prohibitionist, and 1,847 for John T. Bottom, democrat; and in the second dis- trict, John C. Bell with a vote of 47,703, was a winner against former U. S. Senator, Thomas M. Bowen, republican, who polled 42,369 votes; W. A. Rice, prohibitionist, 2,032; and G. O. Pearce, independent labor, 157. The large increase in the number of votes was the result of the enfranchisement of the women, three of whom were elected to the legislature as follows: Mrs. Clara Cressingham, Mrs. Frances S. Klock, and Mrs. Carrie C. Holly. On the state republican ticket, Mrs. A. J. Peavy was elected superintendent of public instruction. The republicans also obtained control of the legislature, which met in Jan- uary, 1895. Edward O. Wolcott was re- elected to the U. S. Senate by a vote of 57. The populists complimented Lafe Pence with their votes for U. S. Senator, and the demo- crats supported Charles S. Thomas.
The assassination in March, 1895, of four Italians in Huerfano county, was the first serious matter that involved complications in Gov. McIntire's administration. The affair was the outgrowth of the murder of A. J. Hixon, an American by some Italians. Of the four who were killed, one was a naturalized citizen, and congress by an appropriation, indemnified the families of the other three. A miner's strike at Leadville; in June, 1896, was accompanied by serious disturbances. It was caused by a demand of the miners for an universal wage scale of $3 a day for all miners, trammers, top men, and laborers engaged in that industry in Leadville. All receiving less than $3 a day were called out. The Coronado and Emmet Mines, which were being guarded, were attacked by a mob that used dyna- mite bombs. A fight ensued, and several lives were lost. Governor MeIntire granted the request made for troops, who remained in Leadville for nine months, but the number was gradually reduced, a few of the national guard still remaining at the expiration of his term as chief executive. Later the strike was called off.
The state and national campaign was hotly contested in Colorado in 1896. Senator Teller and others of the republican leaders in this state, refused to endorse the action of the national republican convention in St. Louis, and the silver republicans formed a party organization in Colorado. The democrats and silver republicans nomi- nated a fusion ticket, which was elected with Alva Adams for governor. The national free silver party and one wing of the
populists, placed Morton S. Bailey at the head of their ticket for governor, and the straight or administration (national) republicans made Judge George W. Allen, their nominee, and the middle-of-the-road populists, Davis H. Waite. There were three other tickets that received a scattering vote. Alva Adams was elected governor, receiving 86,881, as against 71,808 for Bailey, 23,845 for Allen, and 3,421 for Waite. There were six presidential tick- ets, the Bryan electors receiving 158,880; the Mckinley, 26,279; the others, scattering. The legislature which met in January, was composed of 34 populists, 25 democrats, 16 republicans, 10 free silver republicans, 12 national free silver party, and socialist, inde- pendent, and single taxer, 1 each. At this election, John F. Shafroth, silver republican, carried the first congressional district, with a vote of 67,821, defeating Thomas E. Mc- Clelland, republican, who received 9,625, and W. F. Steele,prohibitionist, 1,006. In the second district, John C. Bell, fusionist, was elected to congress, receiving 84,018 as against 14,385 for J. R. Hoffmire, republican.
On January 19, 1897, Henry M. Teller, representing the silver interests, was returned to the U. S. Senate by a vote of 92, to 6 being cast for George W. Allen, republican. At this session of the legislature, capital punish- ment was abolished, and a life sentence in the penitentiary was substituted for murder in the first degree.
Colorado responded patriotically to the call for troops in the Spanish-American war, in April, 1898, and Gov. Adams could easily have furnished many more than the quota allotted to this state. The First Colorado Volunteer Infantry was officered as follows: Colonel, Irving Hale; Lieutenant Colonel, Henry B. McCoy; Majors, Casius M. Moses, Charles H. Anderson. The regiment made a gallant record in the Philippines, where, on the promotion of Col. Hale to brigadier general, Lt. Col. McCoy succeeded him in the command of the 1st Colorado. The state also furnished two troops of cavalry, one battery of light artillery, and one company of engineers. Colorado was also worthily repre- sented at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition held at Omaha, in 1898.
The state campaign of 1898, opened with stormy scenes at Colorado Springs at fusion conventions of democrats, populists, and free silver republicans. One faction of the lat- ter was opposed to fusion, and in the dispute as to who were entitled to the possession of the opera house, a riot occurred. A number of shots were fired, one man killed and one wounded. The campaign was a spirited one, in which Charles S. Thomas, democrat and fusion, was elected governor, receiving 93,772,
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as against 51,051 for Henry R. Wolcott, re- publican, and other tickets, a scattering vote. In the first district, John F. Shafroth, silver republican, was elected with a vote of 43,111 as against 18,850, for Charles Hartzell, republican. John C. Bell, in the second con- gressional district, defeated B. C. Wheeler, republican, by a vote of 52,728 to 27,335.
The question uppermost during the ad- ministration of Gov. Thomas, was that of the state revenues, and in his inaugural address he emphasized this important feature. Al- though the state had been increasing in wealth and population, the assessed valuation had shown a decrease. While the efforts of Gov. Thomas were not fully realized, the agi- tation bore good fruit in laws afterwards pass- ed at other sessions, which increased the reve- nues and placed the state in a better con- dition to support the educational and other institutions.
In 1899, Vietor, Colorado, was swept by a fire, that inflicted a loss of about $2,000,000.
In 1900, James B. Orman was elected governor, the vote for that office being as follows: Orman, fusion democrat, populist, and free silver republican, 118,641; Frank C. Goudy, republican, 94,047; J. R. Wylie, prohibitionist, 3,695; S. B. Hutchinson, social democrat, 843; and D. C. Copley, social labor, 987. The Bryan presidential electors carried the state by a large majority. With the exception of some labor troubles at Tellu- uride in 1901, Governor Orman's term was a quiet administration. In the election of 1900, both the Colorado congressmen were re-elected, the vote being as follows: first district, John F. Shafroth, silver repub- lican, 54,591, and Robert W. Bonynge, re- publican, 41,518; second district, John C. Bell, 65,421; Herschel M. Hogg, republican, 51,293. There was only a sprinkling of re- publicans in the legislature which was con- vened in January, 1901, and Thomas M. Pat- terson was elected to the U. S. Senate to suc- ceed Edward O. Wolcott. A normal school was established at Gunnison, and an addi- tional appropriation was made for the World's Fair at St. Louis, at which Colorado made a most worthy exhibit.
In 1902, the republicans swept the state with good pluralities, electing James H. Peabody, governor, at which the following vote was cast: Peabody, republican, 87,648; Stimson, democrat, 80,727; Provost, social- ist, 7,177; Owers, populist, 6,403; Reinhardt, prohibitionist, 3,910; and Knight, social labor, 919. The census of 1900, gave Colo- rado an additional congressman, and in the election of 1902, three were chosen, the vote being as follows: congressman at large: Franklin E. Brooks, republican, 85,207; Alva
Adams. democrat, 84,368; Mrs. Ida G. Haz- lett, socialist, 7,431; R. H. Northcott, popu- list, 2,838; Milo Stark, prohibitionist, 3,845; Robert E. Fitzpatrick, social labor, 1,349; first district, John F. Shafroth, silver repub- lican, 41,440, and Robert W. Bonynge, re- publican, 38,648; second district, Herschel M. Hogg, republican, 47,546; John C. Bell, democrat, 45,234; W. F. Farrar, socialist, 4,826; and J. B. Lister, prohibitionist, 2,014. The result gave Colorado two republican con- gressmen, Franklin E. Brooks and Herschel M. Hogg, and one silver republican, John F. Shafroth. The latter's seat was successfully contested by Robert W. Bonynge, because of election frauds in Denver, and Mr. Bonynge was sworn in as a member of congress, Feb. 16, 1904, for the unexpired term.
The contest for U. S. Senator, at the ses- sion of the legislature in 1903, was one of the most spirited in the history of the state. After a protracted struggle, Henry M. Teller was re-elected.
A strike by the mill and smeltermen in February, 1903, at Colorado City precipi- tated a series of labor troubles, which led up to the great strike of the miners in the Cripple Creek district, that continued until December, 1904, when quiet and peace were restored. Four reduction plants, the Colorado, Stand- ard, Portland, and Telluride, established at Colorado City, were involved at the ineip- iency of the contest, but as the Colorado had shut down about February 1, for the want of ore, it did not figure prominently, as one of the issues. The Standard was the focus around which the troubles centered, and was the first source of the contention, but later the others were drawn into the struggle. Wages and recognition of the union were the points involved, and in this contest the strik- ers were supported in their demands, by the Western Federation of Miners. The Standard refusing to comply with the demands made, the men struck. About two weeks later, the same issue was presented to the Portland and Telluride, with a similar result, and the men were called out. In the meantime, guards had been stationed to protect the property, and troubles arising, Gov. Peabody dispatched troops to Colorado City to assist the sheriff, after an appeal had been made to him for that purpose. The Portland and Telluride mills finally came to an agreement with their employees in March, and the strike was called off as to those plants, but was continued at the Standard. The Western Federation of Miners on March 16, made a demand on the mine owners of the Cripple Creek dis- triet, to refrain from shipping ores to the plants (Standard) of the Colorado Reduction and Refining Company at Colorado City.
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No action being taken by the mine owners, a strike was ordered March 17, on those mines that shipped ores to the mill at Colorado City.
Gov. Peabody appointed a special ad- visory board to investigate the matters at issue, and after a number of consultations, an agreement was made between the Standard and mill men, that seemed satisfactory, but peace was only temporarily restored. The strikers soon claimed that discrimination was used against them in re-employment at the Standard. The dispute seems to have arisen as to the interpretation the opposingelements gave to the construction of the agreement. The mill insisted on the word "employment" as the essence of the understanding, when men could be added to the force, but the union declared that "reinstatement" of workmen in their old places was the correct interpre- tation. This led to further complications, and on July 3, a second strike was declared against the Colorado Reduction and Refining Company at Colorado City. On August 8, a second strike was ordered in the mines, all being called out this time, except some in minor properties whose ores were reduced in that district. This was a much broader strike than the first, which only involved those mines that were shipping to the plants in- volved in the strike at Colorado City. This second strike order affected about 3,500 miners employed in about fifty mines.
During the greater part of the first month, rather a peaceful attitude was maintained, but as the strike continued, the merchants refused credit to the strikers, and matters be- gan to assume an irritated condition. The mine owners complained of the unfairness of involving the entire district in the contro- versy, and especially as the men had no grievance against them in that section. When the mine owners began to attempt, in a gradual way, to resume work, trouble ensued, and conditions assumed a threatening atti- tude. On request being made to Gov. Pea- body for troops, he sent a committee to in- vestigate the condition of affairs in the af- fected district, and on their recommendation, several hundred of the national guard were hastened to Cripple Creek, on Sep. 4, 1903. It was a long drawn out struggle, in which many lives were lost, deeds of violence com- mitted, and many outrages perpetrated, each side blaming the other for these atrocities. On Sep. 10, the military, which was under the command of Brig. Gen. John Chase and Adjt. Gen. Sherman Bell, began to make ar- rests. The attempt to wreck a train, although futile, and the explosion in the Vindicator shaft in which two lives were lost, increased the tension and embittered the struggle. The
horror of the strike and war, culminated on June 6, 1904, when the Independence depot was blown up, and thirteen out of twenty-seven miners were killed, and others seriously in- jured. It was about 2 o'clock in the morning, and the night shifts were changing. A crowd of miners from the Findley, which was now working, had hastened to the depot to catch the 2: 15 train, and while waiting, the ex- plosion occurred. A wire was found, which is supposed to have been the one used by the perpetrators of this deed. This tragedy aroused the whole district, precipitating riots at Victor. Crowds collected and destroyed property of the Western Federation of Min- ers. Martial law was now enforced with vigor. Some county and city officials, sup- posed to be in sympathy with the strikers, were compelled to resign. More arrests were made, and the "bull pen" was crowded. A system of deportation under military au- thority was enforced. Those who were con- sidered to be the leaders and especially sup- posed to be the more prominent in stirring up strife, were sent to the borders of the state and given orders not to return. The mine owners organized and gradually resumed work on their properties, but it was several months before peace was fully restored. The strikers were blamed for these outrages, and they on the other hand charged, that these atrocities were committed by their enemies for the purpose of injuring their cause and that of organized labor.
In the campaign of 1904, the Cripple Creek strike and war was the key note. It was one of the bitterest and most heated political contests in the history of Colorado. The republicans re-nominated James H. Peabody for governor. He was opposed by Alva Adams, and the latter, on the face of the returns was elected by several thousand votes, but otherwise, the republicans carried the state. The three republican congressmen were also re-elected by the following vote: congressman at large, Franklin E. Brooks, republican, 121,236, and John F. Shafroth, democrat, 112,383; first district, Robert W. Bonynge, republican, 55,940, and Clay B. Whitford, democrat, 50,022; second dis- trict, Herschel M. ,Hogg, republican, 68,101, and J. C. Maupin, democrat, 58,554.
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