La Junta tribune., 1908-10-24
Democratic
Absurdities

~ COLORADO LAW-MAseifto -
OPEN LETTER TO ~HoNEST-
JOHN" sHAFRoTh.
Denver. Colo. Oct. II. 1908.
Hen. '.Hsnesttohn" shafroth. Demo
cratic Candidate for Governor.
9ir:
while tell you Of some OF the bowling
absurdities OF Democratic law-making
In Colorado. From these you will be
able to understand why the people will
not elect a Democratic legislature this
fall
The Constitution Forgot.
Do you recall the Eleventh General
Assembly. which existed during the
reign OF Governor Adams7 You states
men In this session forgot to appropri-
ate funds 10 run the government and
Governor Adams had to call them back
to give him money wherewith TO keep
the convicts, the insane and the school
dependents from begging from door TO
door for their food. This extra session
also produced bristlins batch Of res
oiutions upon the foreign relations OF
the National Government.
But after all. Aiva Adams went out
OF office leaving q deficit Of over 310o.-
900.
Thomas Dorrows Money 70 Run state.
Then followed Governor Charles 8.
Thomas, who was obliged TO skirmish
around among his friends and unoffi-
cially borrow $4,000 wherewith TO
prevent the sheriff from levying upon
the state house and penitentiary, This
was the Thomas debt Of honor" OF
which profane history speaks 80 feel
ingly.
The next general assembly blindly
rushed to the opposite extreme and
few in the face OF providence and the
Constitution by appropriating over
$500, 900 In excess OF the revenue OF
the state. This was unlawful but they
did not know It,
Gave Us . Prize Fight Law.
Just at that time Colorado needed
advertising In the East. SO you passed
. prize fight law inviting sluggers to
come to Colorado and assault one an
other. Governor Thomas, true to his
pugnacious Democratic instincts.
signed the bill. This splendid monu.
ment of Democratic constructive
statesmanship was afterwards killed
by a perverse popular sentiment
In the Twelfth General Assembly.
you passed an eight-hour law which
gave the people delightful labor
strike. costing lots OF money and Civ
ing the police courts and surgeons
much active employment This would
have been real law II you had not
again overlooked the constitution: but
you forgot about II and Democratic
Supreme Court scratched It OF the
books.
Don't II beat all how the Constitu-
tion gets In the way OF Democratic
statesmen?
The Constitution Again Overlooked.
And then came the Thirteenth As.
sembly. which re-distrIcted the state
to insure Democratic supremacy. They
provided thirty-six state senators and
tried to put the law into effect before
they discovered that that glorious but
document. the Constitu-
ton. permitted hut thirty-fve
Another evidence OF the extraordin.
ary wisdom OF your party was the sub
mitting Of q single-tax amendment
which the people promptly wiped OF
the map at the polls.
This Assembly also passed lively
grist of joint memorials and resolu-
tions about foreign matters. II was
especially concerned about the Boer
War.
Forgot to Record Third Reading.
Then they passed the Tanquary En-
ployers' Liability Bill. which would
have been useful II the great states.
men of your party had not forgotten
to have the third reading appear upon
the record Of the Senate. but they did,
and 80 the courts were Obliged to
chloroform II.
Don't you swell and glow with pride.
"Honestjohn." when you contemplate
this record?
Then the Democratic governor called
. special session: the corporations
were to be regulated A bill was
passed arranging for the obsequies OF
cows killed by railways. Railways are
operated by corporations. you know!
Constitution Still interferes.
almost forgot to mention the rev.
eAue law. The highest intelligence