Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1906 — ANOTHER LETTER FROM W.H. COOVER. [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER LETTER FROM W.H. COOVER.

Boulder, Colorado, February 20th, 1906. Editor Republican: A little more than a year ago I wrote you briefly bf political conditions then existing in this State and mentioned some predictions relative to the final outcome, which lam gratified to say been verified. The chief one of those predictions was that the Republicans had been successful in the Statq election but had been temporarily robbed of their victory because of the egregious election frauds committed by the Demoera tic organization in Denver, but would ultimately succeed in proving said frauds and ousting the beneficiaries thereof. This was done after a most stubbornly fought contest by the State Legislative, and while Gov. ‘Peabody was declared elected he, in the interest of j

peace and good government resigned the governorship, and Gov. McDonald was installed as Governor, having been elected Lieut Gover nor on the same ticket with Peabody thus verifying the position taken by the Republicans. As yen remember the fight waged by the - Democrats and others against Go v. i Peabody was the most personal and offensively bitter race ever known in the State’s history, and all because of his attitude as Governor during the strike disturbances of the Western Federation of Miners. He took the position that -the Federation as an organization had committed acts of lawlessness, violence and criminality through certain of its agents, that demanded ■ prompt and deteimined- -action < n t lie part bffhuState.

Subsequent events have fully just ified = dealing with the unlawful organization. The horrible and cowardly assassination of Gov. Stenenburg, of Idaho recently, has again Alireeted public attention to this murderous organization, and as a result of an alleged confession by the chief actor in this last brutal murder, Chas. H. Moyer president, and Wm. D. Haywood secretaiy and treasurer of the Western Federation of Miners were arrested in Denver on the 17th inst., and taken to Idaho for complicity in the assa sination of the former Governor of

that State. Of course it remains to be proven in court whether these controlling spirits in the Federation are guilty or not, but very many of the best citizens of Coloraclo and Idaho believe they are. The confession also disclosed a diabolical scheme whereby Ex Gov. Peabody and other state officers who were active in suppressing the strike, were to be cowardly assassinated. Nothing is more to be desired than the truth about these murderous plots and the organization that is now generally held in the public mind to have been guilty of their perpetration. Nd question has . ever so divided the people of Colorado, as that of the rmht and wrong of the Cripple Creek [strike, and the means the State was compelled

to employ to put down an insurrection of law breakers who hesitated at nothing that would help them to ; set aside all law and all authority. There was never in the history of any State such another bitter contest waged against its authority, I and yet strange as it may appear, i So industrious had sympathizers of

j this lawless element been in representing to the public that they f were patriots engaged in a holy .fightfor the right of downtrodden i workingmen, that a large share of j the people who love .only right and justice, joined with them in their abuse and defiance of the State, made for political purposes, this false sympathy came dangerously near to completing its disruption of law and order by fastening this a wless organization upon the State Gavernmeiit, a calamity that wouldhave been irreparable.. It was in- ■ deed a narrow escape, and but' for the wisdom and co a rage d isplayc d by Gow/ J. nrPealfody andlifs ebworkers, whnld ce.itainly have sue-

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W. H. COOVER.