The Washington times., 1904-06-09
ColoTado's Duty.

When the lookout on board a YES
sci yells Man overheard" it isn't
good form to start a discussion as to
how the man got there The impor-
tant thing is to get him out, pump
him full of ginger tea, and set him
down beside the galley stove to dry
Afterward it may be worth while to
take him quietly by himself in a cor
ner and tell him what a fool he has
been, though, even at that, he VIII
probably be more thoroughly con-
versant with that phase of the case
than the lecturer who occupies the
position of an impartial observer.
Just now Colorado is in the man
overheard" class. She is up against
il, and elaborate essays as - how it
happened are of as much interest to
her as are the latest Partisan fash
ions to the child whose mother will
not allow it to go to the Sunday
school picnic. Like the child, Colo
RADIO has lost her picnic. When she
finds it she may be in a frame of
mind to accept good advice from all
disinterested friends. At present she
needs something more substantial.
The lives of the fifteen killed by
the dynamite outrage at Independence
are big price to pay for expert in
formation, but the sacrifice will not
have been entirely in vain if it re-
suits in a quick awakening in Colo
RADIO, and elsewhere, to a complete
realization of the conditions that the
miners strike has brought into be-
ing in the State.
Americans are VIGOROUSLY easygo-
ing. Most of them would rather call
a spade a shovel than offend the hard
ware dealer. although they are pay
ing him a good price to deliver the
goods. Consequently there has been
an easygoing disposition to hedge by
terming the Colorado affair a strike
rather than to designate it by its true
name, civil war-Ou a comparatively
small scale, perhaps, but civil war
none the less.
There is only one thing to do with
civil war; that is. to stop it; and there
are three ways to accomplish the es-
sential end. A big fellow outside the
ring may step in with a protest of
Naughty, naughty" and knock the
heads of the contestants together
until fha-- oUroo e, 10 ~~ooa a.. Il
the fighters may finally put the other
out of business. Both may come to
I the spontaneous and simultaneous
conclusion that they are acting fool
ishly and agree to settle their differ
! ences by the superior method of ar
/ bitration. The last method is the
only one worthy of sane men, but
unfortunately men engaged in civil
. war are never sane.
There are probably enough citizens
/ III Colorado who believe in the su-
! premacy of law and order to make a
quick end to the present disturbed
! conditions, if they were brought tc
{ see that their duty lay in concerted
I action. But at present their very be
lief in law and order keeps them in
/ the leash. For the mine owners tC
blame the union and for the union tc
. blame Governor Peabody is like try
ing to defeat a common enemy by
shooting paper bullets at the stars
/ Doubtless everybody concerned is fal
more to blame than he has any bust
ness to be.
No man yet ever accomplished
anything by blaming the other fell
low, and the salvation Of dis
Tupted and disgraced Colorado mus
come through deeds. The pioneers
who settled the State labeled theil
prairie schooners Pixies Peak o.
Bust" That was the extent of thei
/ conversation. The rest of their ener
gy was devoted to travelling.
Their descendants should emuIat,
a worthy example by getting tOgethe
on the basis of the supremacy of tn,
law regardless of whom the law hits
They should assert the control Of tn,
good, bringing order out of chaos
peace out of war, social rule and reg
ulation out Of anarchy. When tina
is accomplished there will remain
whole eternity in which to hunt 70
the fellow who first smoked in tn,
powder magazine.