The Glenwood post., 1907-05-25
GOVERNOR BUCHTtL
MAKES STATEMENT
Defines Position and Powers as TO
Saloons and Gambling

Denver, May 90. - Because of po-
sition recently taken by several of the
ministerial and Christian associations
in the state of Colorado to the effect
that Governor Buchtel stop prize
I fighting in the state of Colorado and
gambling in the city of Denver and
because of the fight which certain
Democratic papers have made against
the governor for not stopping these
evils, Governor Buchtel today issued
statement explaining his position on
these two evils:
MAY 90, 1907.
ITO the public:
81 have received several letters re.
questing me to stop the prize fight
which is advertised to occur at the
Coliseum on the 21st. | regret ex-
ceedingly that 1 have no power to pre-
vent prize fights. There are several
specific and definite curses to our civ
ilization. One is the open saloon. If
it were in my power | would close
every saloon. Another definite curse
to our civilization is the prize fight.
Its influence is distinctly brutalizing
1t is a disgrace to our civilization.
Still another curse to our civilization
is the yellow newspaper. l think the
yellow newspaper with its malicious
Misrepresentation of the powers of the
governor and its constant efforts to
make good people believe that the
governor can make an end of all
wrong by waving his hand is an un-
mitigated evil.
81 am told that certain yellow
newspapers which l do not read, are
reporting that l have the same author
ity which Governor Folk has in Mis-
souri,. am just home from Kansas
City. l saw Governor Folk on Satur-
day night. l learned from the mayor
Of Kansas City that Governor Folk
appoints two members of the police
board for Kansas City. The mayor
is, shep, the chairman of that board
~ learned also that Governor Folk
appoints four members of the police
board of st. Louis. The mayor of st.
Louis is also member of the board.
From this it appears that the governor
has absolute control of the police
boards both in St Louis and in Kan
gas City. That condition once existed
in Colorado. The governor at one
time had authority to appoint the fire
and police board for Denver. This
authority however, has been taken
away from the governor. The same
people who are now requesting me to
exercise this power are the people who
voted to take this power away from
the governor.
81 learned that the law abiding
people in Missouri were greatly dis
appointed in the extra session of the
legislature which was called by Gov
ernor Folk The governor called an
extra session of the legislature to pass
ward local option bill. The opposi-
tion to it, however, was so fierce that
the extra session adjourned without
adopting the measure. 1t was great
disappointment to Governor Folk.
The republican Legislature of Colo
RADIO did adopt a local option law with
the ward feature, so the republican
legislature in Colorado has done
something which the democratic leg
islature of Missouri refused to do
''Of course the yellow newspapers
which are SO constantly and SO mali
ciousiy misrepresenting Colorado will
refuse to admit that we have done
something in Colorado which is dis
tinctly to our credit.
II shall make more elaborate
statement about the duties and powers
Of the governor in the near future.
Whatever influence Can exert to pre-
vent fights will certainly be exerted.
1t will be understood, however, that
l shall not make an effort to exert it
through the yellow newspapers.
81 shall not make efforts to exert
my influence with the accompani-
ment of brass band and photog
rapher.
"HENRY A. BUCHTEL,