The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-09-08
BRIGHT lawyer TALKS !.
... SENSE IN COLORADO
Severely Arraigns Tyrannic
- Power Which is Overriding
Popular Rights. -~.-..
Holds That q Gear Reigns in
Western Mining State.
Call for Good Men.

L. Mc!ic$son, a prominent Democrat
of Colv'Goo Springs. and one Of. the
leading lights Of the Colorado bar.
severely scored the reigning power In
this st".:o at a meeting Q: the state
bar association this week In a speech
entitled: "ColoradGs Gar"
One Of the most striking passages
in this speech describing the cabal
that controls Colorado, was the fol-
| lowing:
sometimes this political machine
| this worse than Russian czar-has
| appeared before the people with a
| double head, one labeled democratic
| and the other republican. In some
| parts Of the state, and particularly
| In Denver, 1t is still dual-headed"
Continuing, the speaker said, in
part:
"A car is one in whom the legis-
| lat1ve, judicial and executive power
| OF the government are united. Close
| ly associated with him are a favored
few, whose interests are so closely
! interviewer with his, whose favor Is
| so essential to a continuation OF his
despot1c power, that they are popular
~ called the power behind the throne.
They dictate the czar's policy and the
government Is run by them and for
their benefit.
! is the government Of this, the Gen.
tenn1al state, in the hands of those
who exercise the despotic powers Of
a czar? It Is. Who are they? It Is
a political machine organized, main
ta1ned and controlled by the great
mining, railroad and utility CORPORA
tons Of Colorado. This machine has
for number of years exercised all
the powers OF car. It has made the
law, interpreted the law and executed
the law which 1t has made and con-
strued. The government Of Colorado
Is run by it for the use and benefit
OF the corporations which organized It.
1nd1ct this despot as being guilty.
OF the following crimes:
1t has controlled legislative actions
so that no laws tnimical to It have
been enacted.
II mas coerced the legislative. tudi-
cial and executive branches of the
government to set aside the will Of
the people as declared at the polls.
has stolen from the people and
appropriated to the use of its hench-
men valuable rights, property and
franchises.
1t has caused to flourish like a suc-
cessful tyrant in Colorado a smelling
trust. which levies robber tribute on
every pound of mineral mined in the
state.
1t reaches into every consumers
pocket by unjust freight rates and
steals that which he has earned.
1t has rendered possible a coal COM
bine, which robs both producer and
consumer.
1t has jealousy guarded and pro-
tected the hand of avar1ce, while It
gathered unjust tribute from ALL ex-
cept its court favorltes who used
water, lights or telephones in on,
cities
1t has debauched our legislature
corrupted our courts and made a
servient tool Of the chief executive OF
this state.
1t has kept standing armies in on,
midst In times Of peace It has taxed
our people to pay and feed this army
1t has exiled our citizens withou
a pretense Of a trial.
1t has deprived our people of thei,
property and liberty without due pro
cess of law.
It has suppressed free speech ant
condemned to punishment those VIII,
] published the truth.
It has converted a republic into ,
= despotism.
The history Of the last four wear
! furnishes abundant proof to conyic
+ this tyrant of each and every coun
i Of this indictment.
With this awful record STAMPED IN
deltbly upon its uepauched face II
confronts the good people Of this stat
and asks that it be permitted to con
ttnue indefinitely its despotic swa,
1t has already secured control of tn
regular republican organization. !
\ controls the democratic organization
will make a mighty effort to dictat
the nomination for state, judicial an
legislative officers Of both the repub
lfcan and democratic parties.
. I cannot conceive how any man VIII
In his breast the faintest spark Of tn
! love Of liberty, could tolerate tn
thought of allowing this despot furthe
I reign In Colorado. The battle befor
us is one which will be waged to tn
l death.
Let us pledge our lives our properr
and our sacred honor to the overtime,
Of Colorado's car. Poor Colorado! I
Missouri, Pennsylvania and New Yor
the monied interests tried secretly t
rob the people, but the guilty thieve
are being hunted down and punished
In Colorado this same band of bri
gands, instead Of operating in secre
openly and brazenly, not only stea
] our property, but trample on our lib
critics and then ask for our commend
nation! And IL we seek to bring the,
to the bar Of justice our-no, their
courts turn them loose and proteo
l them with prohibitive writs!
Let US be patriots and redeem Colo
RADIO from the further rule of the cor
porate car"
III