TOM PATTERSON: COLORADO CRUSADER Thomas Patterson, described by contemporaries as the most prominent figure in Colorado history, achieved a degree of political influence, professional fame, and financial success that makes his relative obscurity a mystery. As the acknowledged leader of the Democratic party from 1876 to 1892, he raised the party's respectability. By engineering a fusion of silver Democrats and populists to challenge Republican dominance, he brought about an effective two-party system. In Patterson's lengthy career he was instrumental in Colorado's quest for statehood, served as territorial delegate to Congress, was the first Democratic U.S. congressman, and later a U.S. Senator. As owner and publisher of the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Times, Patterson supported many unpopular causes, among them organized labor. In defending freedom of the press, he survived serious boycotts by large advertisers and a contempt citation by the Colorado Supreme Court. Infuriated by election swindles, Patterson worked with other progressive reformers to curtail corruption in municipal and state government, including the Democratic machine of mayor Robert Speer. Tom Patterson is a well-rounded biography of a pragmatist who never abandoned his ideals, a man dogged by personal tragedy, and a man instrumental in the development of Colorado and Denver. Sybil is the great-granddaughter of Thomas Patterson. This book was co-written with Robert E. Smith. BUY THE BOOK through Booksense (support an independent bookstore!) or Amazon. PRAISE "A well-rounded biography of Patterson, a prominent and progressive Democrat, advocate for Colorado and defender of unpopular causes such as freedom of the press."    —Book News "A fine job of fitting Patterson into the Progressive era..."    —Montana: the Magazine of Western History "A thoroughly research and readable biograph of a stubborn journalist and politician who lent considerable colora dna ctonrvoersy to the chaotic days when infant Colorado was learning how to confront the responsibilities of statehood."    —David Lavendar, author of The Southwest