The state herald., 1907-02-01
S0HR UNWRlITES HISTORY OF fHB MCDONALD
ADMINISTRATION.


her officials at the state house. The
most important of the changes is in
the position of governor, and in that
change man was retired to private
life who has, within the past two years
erected for himself monument of per-
sonal esteem and confidence from one
end of the state to the other.
No man ever accepted a public trust
under greater disadvantage than did
Governor Mcdonald two years ago. At
that time the capital and labor classes
of the state were rent in twain as re-
suit of the two years conflict and SO
terrible had this conflict been that peo-
pie outside of Colorado characterized
the representatives of both labor and
capital and the state officials as wen,
as being anarchists, lawbreaking and
un-American citizens.
Out of this turmoil Lieutenant Gov.
Mcdonald became governor. When he
| accepted the position statements were
freely made that accepting the position
as he did his administration would be
failure, but how different has been the
result.
The phenomenal change of public
sentiment can best be told in the act
ions of the daily press. Two days aft
er he was inaugurated Denver paper
cartooned him as worm squirming a
bout on an empty seat. Two days be-
fore he retired from office the same pa
per cartooned him as Colorado's great
est executive.
And why this change of sentiment?
Why was it that man could in fow
short months bring the people Of the
entire state from a condition of opposi-
tion to him to worship at his feet? 1t
was because he was governor and be-
cause he was honest and did his duty
quietly and without any blare Of trum-
pets. Those who knew him best as
chief executive loved him most.
There was one thing Gov. Mcdonald
despised and that was publicity to his
official acts. Many an incident occurred
which, had it been known at the time,
would have made him great, but he did
not tell it and If it became known he
would not let the press boys publish it.
The following are few Of the incl
dents that occurred during his admins
tration which show the metal of the
man, but which as yet have never been
made public:
About month after Gov. Mcdonald
was inaugurated strike was imminent
in section Of the state that was not
affected by the turmoil of the previous
two years. In fact it was agreed that
stfke was to be called on GER
tain day. Both miners and mine own
ers were anxious for the conflict. One
day committe Of mine owners visited
Gov. Mcdonald and asked him what he
would do in regard to maintaining law
and order and II he would allow them
to deport the miners.
Gentlemen" said he, ~ strike
is called and local officials can't control
it, | will. but II will be law and order
on both sides. IN hang the first man
that blows up mine and III hang the
first man that undertakes to depot pri-
vate citizen. When go there will be
law and order on both sides and not on
one side alone"
The mine owners went away crest
fallen and the next day a committee Of
miners visited him and asked him what
he would do and they got the same re-
ply. Two days after that the miners
and mine owners got together, settled
their differences and the strike was not
ordered.
Neither cared to 10 up against the
law strictly enforced.
Two months after that another strike
was imminent and other committees,
who visited the governor. got the same
reply and went back and settled their
troubles.
Al one time during his administration
u coal company made application for
certain coal lands In the state. The
governor looked the application over
and didn't think Il read just right. lie
Is practial surveyor and one Friday
night he slipped out Of town. put on
some old clothes. went down TO the
place and surveyed I, and found tina,
there wns just twice ms much land In
the application M the chart showed.
lie came back. sent for the president
Of the company and told him that he
had better withdraw the application.
that Il would cause him trouble. The
president took tho hint and withdrew
the application and the school fund was
enriched several hundred thousand dol.
lars by reason Of the governor going
down and spending couple Of days
surveying for the state.