The Delta independent. [volume], March 30, 1906, Image 1

About The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??

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The Independent “ALL THE NEWS ALWAYS,” The Independent
THE DELTA INDEPENDENT.
TWENTY-FOURTH YEAR —NO. 8
HOW WONDERFUL
AND STARTLING.
The Red Letter Facts to be Given
the Taxpayers Look a Pale
Green.
Striving for popularity or at loss to
know what to fill its yawning columns
with. The North Fork Times started
out in the issue before the last to tell
the taxpayers of Delta County that a
“terrible” condition existed within the
boundaries and among the “gang” who
controlled its government. The Inde
pendent mentioned this tirade last week
and supposed that aomething juicy and
ripe was to appear, hardly comprehend
ing, however, wherein the "terrible”
conditions were to be proven. Also
was it the intention of the Independent
to drop the matter at that, realising
that little if any good exhorts by notic
ing such senseless "yellowism.”
But the last issue of the paper men
tioned contained an article that is so
weak, actually so absurd and without
cause, that it is the desire of the Inde
pendent to allow Della readers to learn
how badly the Hotchkiss people are af
flicted.
The article starts out with a sneer at
the officials of the county for holding
an investigation over the tenainsof the
bones found at Cedaredge. The thought
is that the money expended will keep
those who were identified with the in
quest from “starving" for some time to
come. The “heavy” expense attached
is also mentioned and after all this a
jab about “no room for reform." Of
course to the people of Delta and Sur
face Creek these remarks seem peculi
oMee'ltla ivd know, feet that many
today still believe the bones found to be
those of the man erho disappeared. But
added to that impression was the belief
that a Delta County man might have
been connected with the disappearance,
and some even went so far as to express
opinions that he had been connected
with.a murder. These are facts, not
hot-air. Yet an inquest was superflu
ous! Of course, in the narrow minds of
some anything is that.
But about the weakest and most idiot
ic attempt to say aomething and spill
over in the attempt is the ranting about
“law disregarded." The Times would
have the taxpayers believe that Hogrefe
A Son are running a sort of three ball
shop—gleaning a most lucrative living
from people who have county warrants
to sell. It is well known that Hogrefe
and Son are among the principal mer
chants of Cedaredge, doing a general
merchandise business. The Times says
that the “Son" ia trading in warrants.
Now in the first place the "Son” has
every right to do so. But the article
says he has not. Against the law. Oh,
yes. Section 1358 of Colorado Statutes
says so. We suppose we are to infer
that the editors of the North Fork
Times would have the people believe
they could read law. Yet the statute
has nothing contained therein which
bars any member of a family to trade in
county warrants even though a father
or a brother is holding an official posi
tion. But the inconsequent statement
that Hr. Getts ought to stop such prac
tice beats the whole fabric into a mop
rag. Stop what? Stop the "Son" from
taking warrants for merchandise. Stop
a man from selling goods to an estab
lished trade. Stop a man for giving
dollar for dollar. That's the argument
that this “independent” paper advan
ces. That is how the county ia being
run like Conejos County where they are
up against a shortage of 182,000.00.
Same thing. Whew! Isn’t it horrible.
Isn’t it aomething to rave over. Ought
not you and I, the taxpayers to get
right up and any NO, we shall not stand
for sueh a digression from the right.
Never mind if there is no digression,
that’s a little matter. Somebody said
there was sad that’s enough to cause
us to go to the court house la a body and
deasnd—wfcatt Well, nobody exactly
knows what, but something. . Anyway
something ought to be done. Hogrefe.
A Son are still doing business in Cedar
' edge and inasmuch as the nearest bank
I is twenty-live miles away and the "Son"
takes the warrants for accounts and
’ goods, something must transpire.
Isn’t it laughable. Isn’t it remarka
ble that a man who is running a news
-1 paper would allow his name to be placed
1 over its editorial column as responsible
I for the publication of such an illogical
I and incongruous statement?
j But the point of all points! It is to
, come. It is to tell the people of Delta
, County how Luther W. Rood came to
. take hold of the Delta Independent and
: what a story of “chiesnery and dealings
I in the rights of the people” it is. Wont
it be wonderful. Wont it just stir the
very belief of the people in the justice
, of man. Wont it be a startler for a
four-column head and wont it give the
, Independent advertising that it could
. not hope to get any other way.
The substance of the claim will be
• that the county printing for the year
i 1906 was promised to the present owner
: of the Independent if he would agree to
. make arrangements to purchase said
i paper. Now just how much of an agree
ment was reached and just bow possible
such an agreement could be perfected
can readily be seen by a squint at the
“bids” which each paper put in to the
, county clerk. The Independent bid
: showed a figure that equaled the bid
placed by the other Delta paper but was
15 per cent higher than the bid placed
by the Paonia Booster. Working onthe
same theory that the commissioners
, have done for the past two or three
’ years, it was deemed advisable to bold
the printing at the county seat unless it
. should happen that a hid from any other
. diatrist waooamimtl mMy lour that
‘ the astrs aapoaaa and trouble Involved
I would be offset. The difference of 15 per
. cent was not considered great enough
accordingly. Court house officials, dem
, ocrats and republicans alike, are all un
der this impression. They want a paper
situate in the tame town to have the
work inasmuch as publications, proofs,
; ect. can be more easily and carefully
, looked after. And this is the true tale
1 of how the Delta Independent got the
county printing and also “how the
. rights of the people” were disregarded.
I Then why, in all reason, should not the
Independent have been awarded the
1 contract. We happen to know that the
, affair which makes the Times people
fancy was a “fixed deal” is a conversa
tion this editor had with E. U. Getts,
i chairman of the Board of County Com
i misaloners. It was to the effect that
the articles which had appeared at di
l vers times in the North Fork Times
i while edited by the present editor of the
Independent, were not to be considered
i as a criterion toward future reasonings
, in the Independent, And such an un
derstanding was made and given be
i cause the editor was fully aware that
UNJUST CRITICISMS HAD BEEN
MADE. We do not happen to be so
, constituted that no sense of justice will
, enter into our acts. If we make a mis
take and we are shown that wo have
made one, we retract. We know that
■ the feeling is somewhat prevalent that
an editor should retract nothing. But
there is no law that compels him to
obey such a mandate. He is not a man
, if he refuses to do so. He is simply a
leech on a public.
We know this. That ever since the
“smash” of the combine which was to
print notices for the county, happened,
' that the Delta Independent has been
under a ban that makes it appear as a
sinecure to other papers in the county.
> Truth known the editor of this very pa
per is about as hard a worker and rust
ler for news and puts up more home
> produced copy than any other paper in
. the county. It’s nearest rival in that
I line is the Paonia Newspaper, a Demo
cratic paper and a sheet by the way
that admits Delta County conditions are
I not "terrible” and laughs at the frantic
> efforts of the Republican papers to
I threw down their own people without
THE OEFICIIL Piflnt OF DELTA COUNTY
DELTA, COLOBAIfO, FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1906
PLAIN TALK FROM MR. BRADLEY.
Editor Independent:^
Certain rumors are goiqk around town to the effect that I h ave
deserted the Tax Payers Ftijky that did me the honor of placing
me on their ticket for the wiping election.
I desire to correct this flsea in as strong a manner as possible.
The reason for my wit&ra-.val from the ticket is apparent to
all fair minded people, and ■sincerely hope that Mr. Mcßride will
receive every vote that I wojald have had, and that the change will
not cause the Tax Payers mcket a single scratch. The office of
Clerk is purely a BUSINESwone, and should not be considered for
a moment from any politicawr party standpoint.
My views on the questtts before the people are now—as they
have always been —based os a common sense [business principle,
and not on a sentimental or mnatical one.
I am in entire sympatlmwith the platform of the Tax Payers
Party, and shall assist in enfre election.
4 N. J. BRADLEY.
REGARDING TOWN ATTORNEY.
Many important legal jßiestions regarding the Town water
rights remain unsettled, agißf additional rights are to be acquired
many more legal complicatlßi may arise that may require the best
legal talent the Town can jA, and a clear-headed Town Attorney
may be able to save the teh many thousands of dollars by his
sagacity and sound advice. |
No one in Western Cotaßdo has had more experience in water
rights and water litigation Bn Judge Milton R. Welch. You are
voting for your own intera|BHrhen you vote for him for Town At
torney, and you can rest ajiflped that the ordinances of the town
will be enforced without toajpr favor and with sound discretion if
he is elected. His record alpine years on the Bench speaks for
Our contemporary is wlHbd about the constitution which pro
vides that no person shall liH any office or employment of trust or
benefit without giving theifHfcrsonal attention to the duties of the
office. 1
We apprehend that. on the Taxpayers Ticket
will be just as able to give personal attention to the offices as those
on the Business Mens’ Ticket. It has not been stated that any of
them are going to resign their positions or give up their private
business to look after the offices exclusively.
The Laborer states that the candidates on the Business Mens’
Ticket pay four or five times the amount of taxes than those on the
Taxpayers Ticket.
While this is incorrect and an unfair statement, we have failed
to find any law that makes it a crime for being poor. A voter was
heard to remark "that if a certain clique should gain control of the
town for a few years, they might be paying about all of the taxes. ’ ’
The Paonia Booster says ‘we are quite sure Hotchkiss will go
dry’’ and that the saloon men of Hotchkiss are to come to Delta.
It is always a remarkable fact that some one who is so meagerly
posted on conditions falls over himself to exhibit his ignorance. A
look at the "dry” ticket in Hotchkiss makes anyone laugh. It is
truly a dry affair.
"It is said that the State Liquor Dealers Association put up
S6OO to help carry Delta wet" says the Laborer. Whoever “said”
that is a liar and knows it The use of such tactics is enough to
turn every yote in Delta "wet.” The liquor association did not
put up one single copper.
MAYOR GALE did all in his power to give Delta people Dough
spoon water this winter. And the council delayed him. But the
people of Delta will as surely vindicate him at the polls Tuesday,
as does the sun rise.
So any other construction that the
Times people may wish to put upon the
"deal” of Rood and the Independent it
nothing short of libel and cannot be true
nor proved. If the editor has done
wrong, has dealt unfairly "in the riqhta
of the people” and deserves a censure
for giving Delta and the county a clean,
fair and reputable newspaper, he will be
glad to be informed to that extent by a
body of TAX PAYERS. He doesn’t
give a snap of his Angers for the opin
ions of sore heads or different employ
ees of county papers that have made it
a policy with themselves to attack any
thing and everything in sight and in the
doing have trim to turn attention away ,
from themselves by making "expos
ures” that count for nothing and cause 1
the authors to appear more like com
panions of Balaam than men.
The Assessor Revests.
I most earnestly request that ea&
and every taxpayer In Delta County will
spare a few momenta time when visited
by myself or deputise and assist us In
listing your property. A fair and equit
able valuation can be gained in that
way alone and the little time requited
to do thia may save a large amount of
dissatisfaction later In the year. I
should be phased to have all papers hi
the county eopy this,
& L Cockmwam,
County Assessor.
CARRIE NATION STYLE.
Canon City Infested With That Ele
ment. Break Into a Club.
Joe Walton's joint was raided in
Canon City this morning and his goods
confiscated. Walton runs a saloon con
trary to the wishes of the city council.
Numerous arrests have recently been
made in connection with the violation
of the city ordinance and in most in
stances the accused have found a loop
hole through which they could get out.
At an early hour this morning the
mayor and city council in a body headed
by the city marshal proceeded to Wal
ton’s club rooms and it is alleged that
they smashed in the doors and confisca
ted aU of the goods and paraphernalia
and took them to the city hall, it having
bean previously arranged to have wag
ons in waiting. The public anxiously
awaits the final outcome.—Weekly Trib-
MAYOR GALE EXONERATED.
Ten Days More of Good Weather Would Have Giv
en Delta Doughspoon Water all the Past Season
Who is to Blame. Not Mayor Gale.
Much has been said. Little has been
proved. But Mayor Gale, if he had
been taken at his word by the town
council of Delta, would have had moun
tain water for all residents during all
the past six months. Here is the tale.
It is true, everyword of it. It is some
thing for the voters of Delta to know
and to remember.
During the first part of the month of
September, 1905, Mayor Gale and John
Curtis, composing the “water works
committee” of the Town of Delta, de
termined that some provision must be
made to avail the water system more
water. A trip was made to the head
of the supply and the ground carefully
gone over. It appeared that a connec
tion with a natural lake, by means of
piping, would insure a sufficient supply.
Mr. Curtis, a surveyor of knowir ability
and a man in whom every confidence is
placed by both the people of Delta and
Delta County, made a careful estimate
of the feasibility of the plan and pro
nounced it 0. K.
So on the night of September 14th. in
council session of the Board of Trustees
of the Town of Delta, Mr. Gale and
Mr. Curtis reported their findings and
advised without delay that work be
commenced to this end. Now mark
you! The report of the committee was
adopted. But on motion of W. E.
Obert, who by the way is sitting on the
council as a “dry”.§ap«lMfctgM
ond of A. E. Penley, it was decided to
HOLD OFF the work until the whole
council could view the plan and pass
on it in person. The motion carried.
Then on September 21st, a week lat
er, the water committee again reported,
and said that the whole council had seen
the plan of the engineer and the other
member of the committee and after dis
cussion by the council, in which they
endeavored to make the records appear
that the previous report of the commit
tee was NOT adopted, the new report
We Dreamed
while walking up the street last Fri
day, our reporter butted into a bunch
of leading politicians, of Delta, and
heard the following conversation, which,
however, is not reported exactly as it
possibly was, but is near enough to show
the good people of Delta, that the Tax
payers ticket is looked upon with some
disfavor by the above bunch of brainy
politicians, of Delta.
The conversation was something as
follows:
“Say M-l-r-d, you have that ordinance
all prepared, requiring all the people of
Delta, to attach their premises to the
sewer system, haven’t you?”
“Sure, Mr. S-t-k-h-m, I had that pre
pared some timeago, as you requested.
“Well, that’s alright M-l-r-d. you
know we have lots of plumbing materi
als and a good plumber in our employ,
and we want, of course, to get all the
emoluments out of the Mayor’s office
that we can, and then besides, some of
these dear people wont probably have
money enough to pay for the work that
we will do for them, so our institution
will get to loan a little more 2 per cent
money.”
“About that sidewalk ordinance
M-l-r-d,” said a short, rather dark com
plexioned member of the party, “that
is all Axed, isn’t it? We want good
sidewalks. As you know, we are pledged
to put in good walks in the town, and
you know we have lots of good lumber
that we want to tell to the Delta people
for good sidewalks, whether we have
good water and plenty of it. or not"
“Sure, Mr. H-r-s-r, that was all pre
pared a week ago.”
“Now say, M-l-r-d, where do 1 come
in at?” said a tall, Bght-complexiooed.
hi pwfcrit Imklig- iTr**-**^ 1
PRICE FIVE CENTS
was passed upon and work ordered com
menced. It was the following Monday
before anything could be done and the
motion to allow the whole council to
see the plan LOST JUST ABOUT TEN
DAYS OF GOOD WEATHER.
The consequence is well known. Snow
and ice came before the work was done,
the bed of the lake froze, the water
stopped running into it from the springs
on that account and Delta has had mud
dy water for the greater time since.
Voters of Delta, this is fact. The
clerk's records show this to be true.
There is no getting around it, back of
it or disputing it. It is told you to show
that the tales of “procrastination,” of
negligence, of inability, that have been
circulated about Mayor Gale, are lies.
Simply artifices to make you believe
that Mr. Gale did not do and could not
do what he ought to have done concern
ing your water supply. Do you believe
in that kind of vote-getting? Do you
want to cast your vote to a party that
has stooped to throw a wrong light
where it did not belong? Are you going
to prove your regard for dean, out and
out methods by voting for a man and a
party that, even the records show,
would have given you what all wanted
if hie and the decision of the engineer
had been taken for what it is really
worth? We think you will.
We think that your visit to tbs pofla
do for Delta what .he knew was right
and best.
Mr. Curtis positively stated to the
Independent that if there had been just
ten more days of warm weather the
plan would have been completed and
water in sufficient quantity would have
been at the disposal of the system the
entire winter. New who knows any
better than Mr. Curtis? Do you or do
I? It is pretty good chance that Mr.
Curtis knows what he is talking about.
“Oh! go back and ait down! or go
fishing! We don’t know whether we
can use you on the Board very well, or
not. You have nothing to sell to the
town, and I don't know as we can get
anything out of your election.”
“Well now, say fellows, I am a good
deal in the same boat I have nothing
to sell to the town; but I would like to
be one of the Board, if you will let me.
I think it would be a cracker-jack good
advertisement for me, and while, of
course, I am noc very strong, possibly
on the no-saloon proposition, I will do a
good deal as I think is right, but I don’t
like this thing of being switched from
the head of the ticket as I made quite
a good many statements of what I was
going to do when I was Mayor, and its
kind of hurt me with a good many of
the fellows. Some of my friends have
told me I was the weakest one on the
ticket, and so long as I have paid my
campaign fund, I think you ought to
make a little special effort to help me
out."
“O, well Col. you are alright when it
comes to dress parade, and if we have
any receptions or celebrations here, you
can be one of the principal speakers,
and then we think possibly that you can
get, by being foxy, quite a number of
the wet votes.”
Then one of the principal members of
the bunch, turning to the newspaper
man in the crowd said “keep up your
lick, you will fool them alright, and
with all the new ordinances in regard
to sewer connections, sidewalks, bond
issues, etc., you will get all that print
ing to do. Then you know when wo
get our scheme through, of buying the
extra alkali water we are after for our
water works, you can print the bonds
for us, and probably come in for n little
on the side. We are fai with yen eld
fellow, you are doing great work Hr
the ticket, and you know the old mute
about 'Honor among politicians lf)P
You will be well taken care of.*'
Our reporter at this point waadtossn*
ered taking notes, and tbs rnmesisattop
SuSsSSSS