The Greeley tribune., 1906-07-12

er it, his certificate of election Is an
unlimited license to graft, pure and
simple. He is responsible only to
his God, his conscience and the pub
lie. Too often he forgets his God,
leaves his conscience at home, and
1.-The public be id n'Bribe givers
and bribe- takers leave no record.
The money isn't paid in bank checks,
nor is the public called in as wit
ness.
His fellow legislators and the pub
lie may be morally certain that he
Is crooked, but there is no proof.
There never Is. In the history OF
all Colorado's disgraceful legisla-
lures for thirty years, there is no
record, we believe. of single mem
ber being convicted of selling out oI
taking bribe money. The charge
has been made, many, many times,
in more than one instance the ac-
cused has smilingly met his accusers
with well, what are you going to
do about it?''
Sure enough. What are you going
to do about it? Keep on sending
weak sisters" to represent your
county? Keep on bearing your bur-
den of unjust taxation while the rail-
roads and telegraph and telehone
and other big corporations 60 almost
scot free? Keep OH adding to the
disgrace of the state? That's just
what you'll do If you keep on voting
for men just because they are on
your ticket.
If you want to do your part to
remedy this evil. insist on one quail
ification above every other for the
man you send to the state legisla-
ture He must be absolutely, un-
auestionably square and honest. Not
just tolerably honest,-not just hon
est ought to keep out of jail, but
honest all the way through. There
must be no doubt about 1t. The
man who has been suspected Of sharp
practices ought never to be sent to
the legislature, nor ought the weak
kneed one. His politics don't count
in this case. There are men to
fill the bill in both parties. good
men, honest men. competent men:
men who can afford to 60 and be
honest and square with the people
who send them. II you want to
have representatives who shall be
really and truly representatives Of
this great county of Weld this
winter, see that only the man of
undoubted, ,unquestioned honesty gets
on your legislative ticket this fall.
No matter how partisan you feel on
other matters, be independent in
this. II the convention that nom
mates your ticket puts up legisla-
tive candidate that don't FIJI the
bill, scratch him. Vote for the
other fellow.
4 You will hear lots about voting
the straight ticket this fall, because
there is a United States senator to
be elected, II you are republican
you'll naturally want to see re-
publican sent to Washington. Like
wise If you are a democrat you'll
want democrat for the senate.
Well and good, but just the same,
watch out who you send to Denver
to elect that senator. Unfortunate
ly we edon't elect a United States SEN
atorby direct vote, as we do county
sheriff, for instance, but we elect
state senators and state represena.
tives, and they in turn elect the
United States senator. 1t IS a poor
way. 1t opens the door for graft
and corruption and bribery in the
state legislature, and votes OF rep
resentatives and senators are fire.
quently bough t by the pocket-ful
often at prices that will enable the
rotten bribe-taker to come home
with money enough to start a small
bank. So In every county in Colo
RADIO this fall there will be lots of
crooked men who will want to be
elected to the legislature. Some of
them are sure to be nominated. 1t
Is all the more important, therefore,
that we of Weld county see that
only men of undoubted, ,unquestioned
honesty and ability get on both
tickets. If by accident or design
either convention nominates man
for the legislature who cannot fiji
the bill, knife him. Vote for the
other fellow. Better a United
States senator not of your party
than representative who will sell
out. Never was there more reason
why you should be willing to vote
independent, II need be, than this
fall, when there is more reason than
L Ae,l L.