Pueblo's Liberation & Independence Movement (1911)

John T. West, Pueblo City's last Mayor, lived at 1129 Spruce Street

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...Seventh street, will be a paying proposition. The Messrs. Oaks are not in business for their health. They are simply after the money. They are acquainted with conditions all over the country. That they should have chosen Pueblo as the place for an investment of the magnitude of the one they have just made, in addition to all the money they have put to the Congress, is the best testimony that has yet been given to Pueblo's present prosperity and future prospects."

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THEY "FORGOT"

JOHN T. WEST and his brother Democrats have been so busy assuring the people of their sympathy with the commission system of government, it would appear, that they forgot altogether to place the proposition upon the official ballot until reminded of it by a Republican, Mr. C.A. Ballreich, of the committee of forty.

The incident aptly illustrates the deep and undying devotion the Democrats have for commission government. It has been charted that the charter question was left off the official ballot for the purpose, if possible, of defeating the charter by preventing a vote upon it. Mr. West and his fellow Democrats have in the past, it is true, used every possible means to defeat commission government, and probably will do so again, if given the chance.

However, in this instance it was probably only a case of forgetfulness. But, even at that, it shows how little interest the local Democracy has in the new system. Because it seems to be popular, and because there is every indication that it will be carried in the election, the Democrats announce themselves as being in favor of it, - in order to get the votes of its supporters. And then they "forget" that it should go on the ballot.

Doubtless their hope is that the people will "forget" to vote on th question, - so that if they are elected, and the charter defeated, they may have their full two years in office.

But the people are not likely to forget, - either to vote for the commission system, or to vote against the Democratic ticket, with its all too thinly veiled opposition to the commission. For the people are fearful that if the Democratic ticket is elected they may "forget" to do several other things that are necessary to the bringing about of the commission government here in Pueblo.

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YOUNG, ENERGETIC AND ABLE

GEORGE T. LANNON is a young man of energy and ability, and is peculiarly well fitted for the position of alderman from his ward, for which office he has been nominated by the Republicans. He was educated in the public schools of Pueblo and has been a resident of the Third ward for twenty-four years. For the past fifteen years he has been connected with the Pueblo Foundry and Machine company, and is now secretary and purchasing and sales agent for that big concern. Everybody who knows George Lannon speaks in his praise, and as a member of the city council his voice and vote will always be in the interest of the whole people. Residents of the Third ward will consult their own best interests by voting for him next Tuesday.

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A POPULAR CANDIDATE

ONE OF THE best known and most popular business men of the Sixth ward is Joseph Somrak, the Republican candidate for alderman from that ward. The people of the Sixth know Mr. Somrak as an energetic, progressive citizen, who has always worked earnestly for the interests of his ward. He is a man who has the interests of his people at heart, and while he has always worked and boosted for local improvements, he has never failed to work for the interests of the whole city when matters of importance were up for consideration. If the voters of the Sixth ward want to be represented in the council by a man who knows their needs and is not afraid to fight for them, they will vote for Joseph Somrak for alderman next Tuesday.

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VOLUME LXIX NUMBER 162

VOTE FOR THE CHARTER CONVENTION

VOTE FOR THE commission system of government for Pueblo. Not one solitary valid reason has been advanced by any person why this system should not be adopted. It is so unassailable that even the Democrat party, bitterly as it has opposed the plan in the past, has not dared to oppose it in its present platform.

And there are hundreds of reasons why the city of Pueblo should have the system. It will lower taxes, give the tax payers more for their money, make the government more progressive, make possible the election of better men of office by eliminating partisan politics, give the people direct control over the granting of every franchise, the passage of every ordinance, the adoption of every appropriation, and the conduct of every official, through the initiative, referendum and the recall.

Vote for the commission system of government and for a greater, better and more progressive Pueblo.

And don't forget, when you vote for the charter, to vote the Republican city ticket, - which is composed of friends of the charter, men who will do everything in their power to assist in the drawing up of a good, progressive charter, instead of in every way hindering and delaying the work.

A LIMPING EXPLANATION

DEMOCRATIC CITY CLERK FRANK G. DUKE tells us that the...

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DOUBLE THE PAID CIRCULATION OF ANY OTHER DAILY NEWSPAPER IN COLORADO OUTSIDE OF DENVER

VOLUME LXIX NUMBER 164

MAKE PUEBLO A FREE CITY

ASKED as to what the commission system of government has done for Grand Junction, W.P. Ela, one of the leading bankers of the western slope metropolis, replied succinctly: "Under our charter the people can do what they choose. They cannot be bound hand & foot & sold to the grafting of a majority of the aldermen. Isn't that enough?"

Echoing Mr. Ela's words, isn't it, indeed, recommendation enough?

And the people of Pueblo are to say by their votes tomorrow whether they want to do as they choose, whether they want to be as free as the people of Grand Junction are, or whether they want to continue at the mercy of the grafting of a majority of the aldermen. This grafting may never come, - but it has come to most cities, and the menace of it always exists under the present system.

A vote tomorrow for the holding of a charter convention to adopt a commission system of government will be a vote to make Pueblo free, - to place the government of Pueblo in the hands of the people of Pueblo; to make forever impossible the granting of any franchises or contracts by grafting aldermen.

But, let it be remembered, that those who favor the charter ought to vote also for charter candidates. The candidates on the Democratic ticket have always fought the charter; they will fight it again if elected to office.

Vote for the charter and a free Pueblo, and vote also for the Republican candidates, every man of whom is an advocate of the charter, and I will work earnestly and honest to secure its adoption.

THE EXPERIENCE of Houston, Texas, well illustrates the vast differences in business methods between the old system of city government and this new. In the five years since the commission system was adopted in Houston improvements to the amount of $1,865,757.17 have been carried out, without the issuance of a single, extraordinary expenses to the amount of $313,828.70 have been made, and it addition to all this ....

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TO THE INDEPENDENT VOTER

IT IS the independent vote, in these days, that decides elections. More and more the people are demanding that both parties nominate good men. And when either party fails to nominate good men the independent voters swing into line against that party and its candidates.

Here in Pueblo in the present election there is no question where the independent vote will go. It will be solidly for Dr. A.T. King. Dr. King has been tried before, and found good. He is a man who rises above petty politics; his appointees will be, not ward healers, but capable men.

And, opposed to Dr. King, is John T. West, the plaything of politics, notoriously intimate with the worst elements of the local Democratic machine, and who, if elected, will use his office to strengthen in Pueblo the Speer machine with which he is affiliated.

And the duty of the independent voter to vote for the Republican aldermanic ticket is every whit as strong as the duty to vote for Dr. King for mayor. For without the council Dr. King can do but little; with Dr. King and a full Republican ticket, economy and progress will be guaranteed.

Independent voters will prove recreant to their duty if they fail to elect Dr. King and the entire Republican ticket.

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What Commission Government Has Done in Other Cities....

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REPUBLICAN CITY TICKET March 30, 1911, Thursday

FOR MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD IN PUEBLO, APRIL 4, 1911.

For Mayor - Dr. A.T. KING
For City Attorney - R.A. CROSSMAN
For Clerk - E.S. WHITLOCK
For Auditor - M.W. GLENN
For Treasurer - WILLIS H. CUSH
For Engineer - D.P. GAYMON
Water Commissioners, District No. 2 - GEORGE LITZ, JOHN BYRNES, JOSEPH STANKO

ALDERMEN

First Ward - T.E. GILL 
Second Ward - M.P. KEATING
Third Ward - GEORGE T. LANNON
Fourth Ward - JOHN B. VEITH
Fifth Ward - VICTOR I. PREVOST
Sixth Ward - JOSEPH SAMRAK
Seventh Ward - LOGAN RAGLE
Eighth Ward - HARRY ANGLE

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FOR MAYOR (Vote for one)

ALEXANDER T. KING - Republican
Residence 229 Quincy Street
Place of Business, 16 Pope Block

JOHN T. WEST - Democratic
Residence, 1129 Spruce Street
Place of Business, 242 West 1st St.

ALEXANDER WOODS - Citizen's Liberal Progressive
Residence, 11 1/2, Block L.
Place of Business, 11 1/2, Block L.

For CITY CLERK...

FOR ALDERMAN...

"Shall the City of Pueblo, Pueblo County, Colorado, have a Charter Convention". For or Against. Mark [X] in this Column.

"I, Frank G. Duke, City Clerk of the City of Pueblo, Colorado, in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the above...