The state herald., 1907-12-20
LOCAL OPTION
IN COLORADO
GOVERNOR BUCHTEL ISSUES AN
EXPOSITION OF THE WORK.
ING OF THE NEW LAW.
COMMEhDS 1T HIGHLY
PURPOSE OF THE LAW is TO GRE
ATE ANTI-SALooN TERRI
TORY BY PEOPLES VOTE.

Denver-Governor Buchtel has had
n number Of copies of his exposition
on the Colorado local option law
printed and copies can be had on APP
plication at the State house. His
statement is In part as follows:
"The Colorado local option law is
one OF the best local option laws ever
passed by any Northern state. Gov
ernor Folk of Missouri called spe-
cial session of the Missouri l>egisla-
ture in the hope OF securing for Mis-
souri, an amendment TO their local op-
tion law which would make possible a
vote by ward subdivisions. The Mis-
souri, Legislature refused to pass that
wholesome amendment. What Gov
ernor Folk could not secure for Mis-
scurl we did secure for Colorado. In
fact, we secured all that and much
more for Colorado In our local option
law. Sensible and progressive people
are constantly rejoicing because the
Sixteenth General assembly passed
so many notable reform measures. The
most conspicuous OF all these progress
sIye measures was the local option
law.
"The purpose Of the Colorado local
ortion law is to create anti-saloou ter
rtory by vote of the people: that is,
territory within which the keeping and
sale OF intoxicating liquors is prohib-
tied. Tho vote TO create anti-saloon
territory may be taken so as 10 in
clude all the territory within the .;m-
It's of any city, town. ward, ward sub
division, district OF precinct
"The vote may be taken only at n
general election for choosing county.
city or town officers tncyor at a spe-
clal election. and only on written re-
quest Of forty per cent Of the qualified
electors within the territory which is
described In the petition for "A vote.
by qualified electors Is meant those
who are qualified to register 10 vote.
II Is not necCs ssnry, for the purpose Of
signing n petition, that tho said quail
lliod electors should be actually reg
lstcred at the time Of nlgnlng. a pc
titlon for n vote on this question must
be properly Gled at least thirty days
before a general election. and must
clearly define the district which II 10
desired to Great antlsalGun territory.
NO signature TO q petition shall bo
valid or counted unloFs tho date Of
signing IL within ninety days proceed
Ing the date Of Ming. and every sig-
nature must be dated; and IN cities
Of over 10000 population II Is re-
quired that the street and residence
number shall be given with every sig
nature.
Adequate precautions are recited
In tho law 10 prevent fraud In signing
petitions. The laws penalties for per
Jury end forgery are always severe.
The clerk Is required 10 give adequate
notice TO the electors that n vote is
10 be- taken ON the question oI Great
ing a certain district anilsnloon terri
tory. But the failure uf the clerk To
keep the law In giving notice shall
not affect the validity or binding fore.
of vote by the people. The will OF
the people Is supreme. whether tho
clerk II faithful or faithlosA
"rhc clCrk must print ON all ballots
after the list Of candidates this cues.
tlon: Shall this toity.
town. ward. precinct. as the ease may
bol become antirnloon toirlioryg The
voter then indicates his wish by plnc.
Ing mark tNl opposite the word
YES. or opposite the word NO
Watchers who represent both sides
are To be admitted Ia witness both tho
balotlng and the counting Of the votes.
Tho record 0f the vote ~ to be- made
by the clerk In woll bound book.
and this record n TO be accepted as
evidence In nll courts The result OF
the vote n to 70 into effect thirty days
after tho day Of the election,
IAN territory which IN made nnti.
fSloon territory shall continue forever
10 be- antl.Haloon Territory unlosN n
reyortion 20 saloon territory shalt be
made by vote NJ tho majority Of the
electors. The method Of reversing the
vote n precisely like the moth"d of
taking the vote.
III tho electors In amy district Fhnll
vote 60 reverse former ballot 10
create antiauloon territory tro max.
inF said district a. b. again saloon
territory then this said district does
not become territory without law. Hut
hli former resolutions, regulation and
ordinances providing for the rcntrir,
the liauor trniiic In said territory be-
come al once IN force aH the law a
vote on this question In any form
shall be- n bar 10 any further yUir until
after the lapse ~ twenty three months.
That means that n vote IN any city.
town. ward. ward subdivision. dia
trict of precinct IN alwnTH vote
which aaiiloa the question for u period
Of two ytarh
mo launr can be- sold In any guam.
iily Whatsoever nor rnn hng license
IA sell llHuar be- given Within the lin.
iiH NJ anfihainHn TERRITORY Rhinu and
devices ~ ptnip mo law shall bs
counted ~ violations ~ tho iaw. anf
The due Punishment must follow. iiow.
over. man may nee llqunr IN his own
home ami serve n fp hiH guests IN
hla hsmu. even tbnurh he lives In
anti saloon Territory