The Colorado statesman., 1906-11-17


Chancellor Henry A. Buchtel, newly
elected governor Of Colorado:
II will be governor of the state OF
Colorado"
The Rev. Henry A. Buchtel placed a
great deal of emphasis upon the pro-
noun as he made that statement yes
terday afternoon. I had cornered him
in Chairman John F. Vivian's room in
Republican headquarters, and had COM
menced to ply him with questions con-
cerning the policy he would pursue as
governor. All trace of the strain AMI
bitterness of the campaign had van
ished from his face-victory is splen-
did tonic-but there still rankled in
his mind a measure Of resentment
against those who had charged that,
as governor, he would be someone's
"man." Hence the emphasis on the
word T."
After studying him at close range I
can readily understand why the chan
cellor proved an exceptionally strong
candidate.
There are few public men in the
state who are better mixers" than the
head of the Denver University. He
appreciates a good story. He has a
pleasant laugh and a warm, strong
andshake-invaluable possessions for
the man who would go out among the
people in search of votes. Then he
has fdeas-perhaps not the ideas you
and l would champion, but, neverthe-
less, sane, plausible ideas-and he pre-
sents them clearly and convincingly.
His viewpoint is that of a follower OF
Hamilton as opposed to that of the
follower of Jefferson. He represents
one side of a conflict which is as old
as this nation, but he represents it
honestly and ably. In a campaign
made on important economic issues l
would not support Chancellor Buchtel,
but in campaign in which the person
alities of candidates were alone in
volved 1 would probably be found in
his camp.
His visit to Republican headquar-
ters yesterday afternoon was unex-
| pected. A group Of politicians and
newspaper men were gathered around
Dick Broad, the oracle from Jefferson
county, scanning the returns from the
various counties, when the door
| opened and the chancellor hustled in.
81 could not resist the temptation
| to drop in and say word of thanks
and congratulation to the men who are
responsible for our splendid victory,
said he. And he extended both hands
to the eager politicians who crowded
| around him.
Having been convinced that his plu-
rality was growing instead of shrink
ing he turned to the newspaper men.
"I will be at your mercy in meas
/, ure for the next two years." he said,
with laugh.
what will do as governor? I will
give the people of the state the very
best that is in me. have been a res.
ident OF Colorado for many years Here
/ expect to live out my life and here
my body will be inferred. I want to
continue to command the respect and
the confidence of the people.
81 will not change when 1 take pos
session of the governors office. / will
be the same man engaged on a differ
| ent task.
"And I will be the governor. I was
| very much annoyed during the cam
paign by reports that would be some
ones man. AS a result of these stories
men approached me and asked me il
their rights would be protected during
my administration and I said to them
why, bless your hearts, of course they
will be safe. No man will be deprived
| of his constitutional rights while | am
governor
81 will be in the state house for only
two years and l will enforce the laws
and do my duty as am given the light
| to see it"
''Do you mean that you will not be a
| candidate for reelection" | asked.
yes. l will serve one term and
then return to the university. That is
my life work, you know, and I have
been drawn away from it only because
was needed to lead this fight Poli-
tics is not my vocation and / think
when | have given two years of my life
| to the state l will have done my duty
as citizen, at least insofar as office
| holding is concerned.
| "Then | have no ambition to build
up machine Men who go into office
expecting reelection are very apt to
| be influenced from the line of duty
by purely political considerations
| 81 promised the people of Colorado
that would do certain things if they
| gave me an opportunity. That was a
sacred pledge and I will endeavor to
redeem it. OF course the power to de-
| termine the course of the state govern
ment is not entirely in my hands, but
l will have a large share of the re-
| sponsibility and the power and will
| do my part in good faith
"The Republican party in its state
| platform made certain definite pledges
concerning reform legislation, chancel-
| lor," said 1. "a state railroad COM
mission law was among the measures
pI omised. The people of the state, es-
pecially the business men, are anxious
TO know your position on that ques-
| ton"
81 think we promised eighteen con
| structive measures" said the gov
| ernor-elect. THAT was a very ambi-
tious program, and it is more than
probable that we should not have un-