Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-11-05
OODC|NC
THE ISSUE

The local campaign has progresse,
so far that majority of the peopl
have made their deductions. The,
haye. looked for the issues and foun,
that they involve only matters of hon
est, capable and economical govern
ment
They have found the Democratic
party on the one side ignoring ant
dodging the demand to enforce the
laws, pleading only that the issue II
between the smelter and the people
Nowhere has the Democratic party
said that its candidate for sheriff will
enforce the laws against gambling
and against the saloons keeping oper
after midnight and on Sunday. They
feebly pipe that their candidates oath
of office is sufficient. Recall one
Democratic sheriff who ever tried tc
enforce these laws. You cannot. The
Democratic ticket is Juggler Coston's
ticket. There is not candidate on
the ticket that did not have to be ac
ceptable to Assessor Coston before l.e
could secure nomination. Why?
Juggler Coston has more at stake
than any other one on the ticket. II
means to him, besides his salary and
extra rake-off. free rent. free light
free heat and free janitor service, a
saving of $500 year besides no tax
Tor his abstract business. 1t means
the assessing of his own property and
continued power which the important
office lends in politics.
There are some good men on the
Democratic ticket, simply represent
ing the local Democratic party. Their
platform pledges nothing for the en-
forcement of the laws. Democratic
success would mean more for Juggler
Coston than any other candidate pre-
sented to the people.
On the other hand you have the Re
publican ticket standing upon plat
form pledged to the enforcement of
the laws and for an honest and eco.
Momical government. The Republican
candidate for sheriff tells you on his
card and wherever he meets you that
the Republican platform means among
other things, the suppression of gam
bling and the enforcement of the laws
for the midnight and Sunday closing
of saloons.
T. e. Peterson, the Republican can
didate for assessor, tells you that If
elected he will be governed by values
instead of prejudice or political graft
in fixing valuations upon property.
All who have had dealings with him
sor who are familiar. with his reputa-
tion for Independent honesty. know
that he means what he says.
For commissioner the Democrats
have Conrad Reister who had to agree
to subserviency to the Democratic
gang before he could receive the nom
ination for commissioner. 1t Is known
that Mr.. Reister is incapable of TAX
ing care of fourth-class postoffice or
holding a place on school board as
small as No. 6 in the western part of
the county. He is charged by his
neighbors with giving in only one
fourth OF his number of cattle to the
assessor. What would Mr.. Reister do
as commissioner, sitting in board OF
equalization, when he refuses to give
in fair list of his own property?
In w. NJ. Peterson the Republican
ticket has a candidate for commits
sioner whom the Democrats have said
Is not a taxpayer. After figuring for
some time to secure such ranch as
he desired he paid Hans Aspaas s4
600 for 100 acres and he will soon be
a very substantial taxpayer. giving in
true valuation to the assessor. 1t l.
.Aknown to his neighbOrs that Hans
Aspaas has been trying to sell his
place for several months, that he
might handle other lands he owns
In Mr.. Peterson the Republicans Offer
a man of education and practical bust
ness experience for commissioner
an honest man who W.. faithfully per
form the duties of the office and con
serve the interests Of the people.
w. w. Parshall has proven as dep
uty the most thoroughly competent
man who has ever been in the office
His books speak for themselves
Every account and fund is ready fol
inspection, and the work is complete
in every detail as people who have hat
business with the office during the
past year or more can attest.
The name of Joe Airy, Republican
candidate for clerk Is a synonym o
capabllity, reliability and honest faith
full service. He has always been loya
to party, friend and the public.
In this brief summary we find tht
practical difference between the Dem
ocratic and Republican tickets.
VIII you vote for the perpetuatioI
of law and order which has been es
tablished by Republican officials o.
VIII you vote to re-enthrone the law
less element which reigned in L;
Plata county for twenty-five years
1t Is not an idle assertion that th'
wide-open town and its advocates hav'
ruled In La Plata county for twenty
five years; 1t is a most regrettabl
fact, and 1t Ia fact that the first eli
fort to enforce the laws was made b,
w. J. Thompson as sheriff of tn
county. That George Thompson, VIII
has taken the place Of his dea
brother, In trying to enforce the laws
shas performed his duty as fully a
any man could do no one will ques
toD. There need be no better proc
OF this than the fight which the gan
bling element Is waging against him.
The situation challenges the cit
zenshlp of La Plata county. Wha
Will you do?