The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-01-07

almost certain that the legislature will declare in
favor of Peabody.
The 1ntemountan Catholic wastes sym
pathy the persons convicted for stufing ballot
| boxes albeit only Democrats were caught in the
act red-handed. The crime against the electorate
is against the whole people, unlike that of the
highwayman who infiicts INJURY only upon one or
dozen victims No punishment aside from hanging
Is too severe in order to put end to piracy
which destroys the peace of q state The candi-
date who accepts and holds Office upon the count
of fraudulent votes is a man who would steal pub
lie funds if he had the chance and periure himself
TO have the crime fastened upon another. John
Shafroth refused to sit in congress when ne re-
ceived knowledge that his election secured by
fraudulent votes. Alva Adams declares he will
not consent to be sworn into office if it appears he
is not the choice of the people upon an honest
count. Shafroth and Adams do honor to Colorado
1t is through such Democrats that the party can
be purged of corruption. 1t is through Republi-
with conscience that the state may yet be
saved from anarchy. -
The Pueblo Chieftain, edtorially the ablest
newspaper III the state, appeals to the legislature
to cast aside partisanship and set an example of
exact justice, The Cheftain supported Roosevelt
and Peabody and the Republican party through
out the late campaign. 1t says:
Colorado will not stand or fall for the future
according to whether James Fl. Peabody Ava
Adams is governor. But Colorado will stand or
fall for the future according to whether the prin
clples of honesty and honor observed and en-
forced by the people of this state and by the repre-
sentatives of the people in its general assembly.
The laws of Colorado unquestonaby give to
tho
person received the majority of the votes cast at
the recent election.
But no law does give, and no law can give. to
any person or to any court to any legislative
body right to say that person that did not
celve plurality of the peoples honest votes shall
occupy the position to which he was not honestly
elected.
Much has already been accomplished toward
putting an end to the system by which elections
have been regularly stolen by the Democratic Tam
many machine of Denver, and every honest citizen
OF the state; Democrat as well as Republican, must
approve every step taken in honesty and sincerity
toward the prevention and the punishment of
these and all other election frauds.
But the coming assembly. if it is to do its duty
toward the people, and if it is to accomplish gen
uine and permanent reform in Colorado politics,
must not only punish and nuify all frauds com
mltted by the Democratic party, but it must also
set an example of exact justice and of nonpartisan
honesty that will command the respect and the APP
proval of all honest people.
The legislators should never lose sight of the
fact that powerful financial interests in Denver
have millions to gain by securing their hold upon
the Legislative, executive and judicial branches of
the state government as a preliminary to passing
and enforcing legislation favorable to their inter
ests, and to prevent nulify any legislation that
Is detrimental to them. and the legislators that
desire to serve the people and to win the popular
approval should at all times be suspicious of any
argument that urges them to violate their own
ideas of what is right and honorable OF that offers
excuses for such violations
And the Republican members of the legislature
would do well to bear in mind also that the recent
party victory was won largely upon the personal
popularity of President Roosevelt. At the next
election the Republican party of Colorado will
have to stand before the people on its own merits
and 1t will be judged largely by the record that is
about to be made by the legislature. Nothing but
sincere purpose to serve the interests of the peo
pie and careful observance of the popular will
can advance the real and permanent party inter
ests.