Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-10-29
KING FARO'S
LONG RULE

| manu- hiEs fdrO LOOK up MS resi-
dence at Animas City late in the 70's
but moved to Durango In the fall OF
so. where for twenty-five years he
withstood the battlements of his op-
ponents successfully, repelling all in.
vasions and routing the enemy till one
| luckless day when his people became
divided, when the plain people who
had paid tribute so long saw an OPP
portunity to dethrone the king by in.
voking the ordinary laws OF Fa:o's do
main. Faro again resisted to the last
| ditch, but the plain people had found
| leader whom they believed able to
| lead them to victory. and 1t was so :;
| Faro was defeated for the first time,
His people grew weary with waiting
| and drifted with the winds to other
| lands.
Though dismayed, Faro was not to
give up as long as he could find an
ambitious politician In whom he could
| kindle the fire of hope for some meas
ure OF success which would restore
the king TO power and tho shaping Of
the political destiny af other men, so
he gathered about him such men as
had suffered defeat or Indifferent sue
cess and proceeded to rebuild upon
the ashes. The kings efforts were
much disturbed and frequently frus-
trated and he was aueh annoyed
thereat, but .eith the courage of a
king and hope born of desire for
gold and power Faro recrnited his
broken army ald entered another po-
litioai contest TO regain his prestige;
the plain people gathered In such
numbers that the kings army was
soon ferlorn of hope and dwindled
away, leaving him almost alone to
contend for his faFmeE place.
To those who had been good, sub
servient and submissive, Fare had
been kindly king. but woe for his
opponents, fur they must toll and pay
tribute. Faro had enjoyed the power
of giving to his more faithful adher-
ents the highest office In the gift of
his domain, and of retiring to the
private ranks some of the most bril-
liant and forceful men,
Faro's power was absolute for
twenty-five years, No candidate for
office from constable to United States
senatof) could reasonably hope for
preferment In the kings district until
he had learned and promised to grant
the kings wishes.
The public servant who had the
temerl,y TO offend one of the kings
chosen must readily amend and prom
ise to be more discreet theyeafter, or
be shorn of his affseai distinction, for
Faro Vas d stern ruler whose com
mands must be obeyed.
Many man who had Gans before
the people for afiee. saying he was
Tree and untrammeled to perform his
duty on the behalf of the people If
elected TO office, had been biought up
"on the Garnet" ,o see how he stood
with Faro, and was made to under
stand that he would not serve the peo-
pie until he had made terms with the
king,
And that spot In the Rocky noun
tains designed by Nature for smelt-
ing the ores OF the richest mining
area IN the world became noted for
its politics and the power Of Faro be-
came known to UAited States sen
ators and congressman and governors
Somebody stood at Durango with the
balance of power TO deliver the vote,
and Faro and his people must be seen.
So well were his lieutenants trained
and so effectively were his eutposts
established that the siightest happen
ing in the camp of the enemy was
| made known to Faro instantly. The
king had his workers In every pre-
ciDct in which II was necessary to
control primary elections that a CON
vention could be wedged or locked un-
| til his demands were met, and the
king ruled unfalteriRgly for twenty
| five years,
L fa aaat,, at,I Ii Ill.
other captains of industry were busy
with their affairs and they did not
know so much of the king as the peo-
| Pile who lived closer to him. they
| counted only on coming to town occa-
sionally and paying tribute. Not in
| frequently they tarried too long and
found themselves financially embar-
rassed, perhaps In jail while the hay
raking or potato hoeing waited. The
wage-worker toiled through the month,
making resolution to pay Faro only
the minimum tithing, till payday
came, but when he met his friends
and acquaintances and the apostles OF
the king he forgot his resolves and
| joined the orgie from which none
awake without regret, but the ordin.
airy mortal could avail nothing by his
most solemn protest. The clerks and
other employees among the townspeo
Pile went along with the crowd, taking
in Faro's haunts and attractions.
All soon learned that protest only
bred trouble and sorrow; particularly
did the employe of business house
learn that his masters trade was en-
dangered II he antagonized Faro.
And Durango became notorious
Travelling men who combine as an
effective medium of advertising over
a wide scope, continued to go and
come and to talk about Durango
Tourists learned much of the towr
before reaching 1t, for Durango. was
a topic OF conversation generally or
every train. 1t was wide-open town
known all over the Rocky mountains
and the West as the widest open
Those inclined to sport talked OF theii
winnings and losings, and the patron.
OF the red lights" told OF their ex
periences. Others listened amoni
these were homeseekers and intend
ing investors. looking for place II
the West where they could make {
home surrounded with influence ant
environment that would lead thei