Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-04-06
A f,.d Case Of xox PopuIl.

~ Uoo SoSS u vOA TuPpus
We do no, live in India or China or even
Russia but the next time we start in to
get of any Of our accustomed Lombast
about the superior popular intelligence Of
the American people we ought TO reflect
a little on the voting done on the water
supply question last Monday. The 'faeil-
ity with whieh'a few bell-whethefs can
influence the multitude shows that we
arc not so far removed from that condi-
ton Of things where single dsmagogue
can preeipitats a riot or even q general
revolution.
Much Is heard about the Initiative and
Referendum as the sure and only means
Of getting at the collective wisdom Of the
community. It would look as II the es-
ssn,iai thing was to overcome the men-
tai inertia Of the multitude and so en-
able Il to show tha, Il has any wisdom.
No system Of Initiative and referendum
so far advanced could give to COM
Inuni,y a fuller understanding or ffeer
choice upon any public question than the
city administration gave the property
owners Of Rocky Ford on the question OF
water supply. The pains taken to get
data as 10 the sources OF water supply
and the different costs Of Installing them
could hardly have been greater. The
announcement was duly made by publ
cation tina, this data would be given in
public meeting and full and free dis
cusslun invited. That meeting was held,
with the result that possibly 30 actual
property owners attended. and only ~.
when asked TO do so. expressed by balio;
their view Of tho several propositions
there stated in as full detail as possible.
The various propositions there set forth.
and the figures Of frs, cost and future
maintenance and probable revenue. were
then printed In full In tho town papers;
and after this followed on epi,omized re-
sumo OF the several propositions and costs.
simpliiled for tho easy apprehension Of
those who had not tho ,irne or not tho In
elina.ion to study details. Result. total
vote a, tho polls on Monday Of 246. or
this 2s6 proportion had TO bo hauled TO
tho polls In carriages engaged for the
work by those who had prospective
financial interos; or personal aainus in
destroying pubic confidence in tho pres
ent city administrator. There were
others, who. declining a FREQ carriage
drive. ye, failed TO inform themselves
from any Of tho data offered them upon
tho exact status OF tho various PROPOSE
tons. and instead accepted tho in,espre-
ta,ion pu, upon tho situation by single
individual. There wero still others. who,
eyor on tho lookout 10 DO on tho sido OF
tho majority. simply enauircd which way
Il was going. and being Of course told.
went that way.
Tho above Is fair summing up Of
so-ealled popular vote" as recorded in
tho election Of last Monday. It probably
did come somewhat nearer to being
free. intelligent and unbiased expression
Of public opinion than tho proposed
Duoma Of Russia That Il was In keep
ing with the percentage Of litsraey abroad
In our land and with the possible think
ing capacity Of the taxpaying residents Of
the town does not seem probable.
A point just now worth while for the
"popuiaee" 10 keep prominently in view is
that tho management Of eity's busi-
ness Is not job that the best men in .
community are falling over one another
to do. n we happen TO have one or
more men who really do snthuss on the
subjset Of promoting the material and
moral growth Of the community we shall
do well not to Be hypsreritical. It will bs
better. while keeping an active weather.
eye opsn on council proceedings. to at
the same time generously encourage
every wsll-msaning effort they put forth.
While the question Of unlimited whisksy"
may have its Importance in = few eyes.
wo ought not to lot its discussion blind us
to the importance Of at least a limited"
supply Of good water.
q. HIT.