I was by this time thoroughly wrought up over the situation, determined that the country should somehow hear the truth. I besieged the offices of the Denver newspapers; as a result the "Denver Post," on Monday afternoon, published on its front page, with a heading in large red letters, an interview with Governor Ammons, in which that worthy denounced me as an "itinerant investigator," also as a "prevaricator." The Governor's defense on the point at issue was this:
In regard to Sinclair's declaration that the word "mediation" did
not appear in the resolution appointing a committee to investigate the
strike, Ammons explained:
"Probably that particular word does not occur, but a reading of the resolution will show that it gives the legislative committee power 'to assist in settling the strike.' If that isn't mediation I'd like to know the true meaning of the word."
I felt pretty sick when I read that interview; I thought the
Governor must "have" me for sure! With sinking heart I
went and procured a copy of the House Journal, to see if I
could possibly have overlooked such a phrase as "to assist in
settling the strike." I read over line by line the three pages
of the bill, and the one page of amendment; and, behold, there
was no such phrase: "to assist in settling the strike." There
was nothing in any way remotely suggesting it! On the contrary,
there was the explicit statement of the purposes of the
committee "to generally investigate all matters connected with said strike; that remedial legislation may be enacted AT THE NEXT GENERAL ASSEMBLY which will tend to prevent A RECURRENCE OF INSURRECTION AND PUBLIC DISORDER."
The Governor had lied again!
So then I wrote the Governor a letter. I said:
You have relied upon the fact that the man in the street has not
access to the volume of the House Journal, and will accept your statements
upon their face. This, of course, puts me at a cruel disadvantage,
for you are a prominent official and I am only an "itinerant
investigator." But I propose, if possible, to compel you to face this
issue. I will name two friends as a committee to represent me to
settle this question at issue. I request you to name two friends. I
request you to point out to them in the measure in question the word
"mediation" or the phrase "to assist in settling the strike." Your two
friends will then bring it to my two friends, who, seeing the phrase in
print in the House Journal, will be obliged to admit that I am wrong.
You have objected to my presence in the state, upon the ground that
I am meddling in the affairs of the people of Colorado. Very well,
sir, I hereby offer you a simple way to rid the state of my presence.
