Rocky Ford enterprise., 1908-01-03
TO EMF G THE LAW.
Gov. Buchtei IS Proclamation to
Dis attorneys.
TO EMF


in the matter Of illegal liquor selling
and gambling. but II remained for the
rrorers trust TO point the way. In
the recent fight against the food trust
In Denver. Attorney General Dickson
went to the governor and secured IN
order by means OF which he could
proceed in the courts under the com
mon law. The order was vieiously
attacked, but Il stood and the fight
was won. Basing his action upon the
law in this case as expended by Judge
Allen OF the district court. Gov
Buchtel on Saturday issued 4 procla-
nation which will become famous
throughout the country.
Here is the proclamation:
Estate House, Denver. Colo. Dec.
IS. 1907.
ITO the District Attorneys and Peace
Officers of the State of Colorado.
Greeting:
The statutes of Colorado place
certain specific duties in the hands OF
district attorneys and peace officers.
These officers arc elected by the peo-
pie to execute the laws and keep the
peace. For the most mart. the district
attorneys and peace officers Of Colo
RADIO arc doing quite their whole duty.
II is conceded by those who have
been for long time familiar with NOR
nj conditions in this state that the
laws are now better executed than
ever before in our history. This Is
exactly what We ought to expect. Two
years from this time. in the middle OF
the term OF Office Of my successor.
We ought to be able to say again that
the laws are better executed than cv.
or before. The whole struggle OF
civilization is an effort to bring men
to the point where they will endure
the stimulus OF high motives. In
frontier communities certain common
vices arc a, first tolerated openly. In
process of time they arc restricted
and yet tolerated. In the best com
muni,ics they arc ultimately prohib-
tied absolutely and prosecutions fol-
low whcnsocver the law IS violated.
Tho most bitter opposition is al:
ways directed against the efforts oil
peace officers who set themselves 10
the task Of executing the laws. When
these officers perform their duties.
they arc assaiicd by the whole tribe
of law brcakers-saloon men. gam
blers. prize fighters. harlots and the
men who rent buildings for immoral
purposes. Seldom do district aitor-
ncys aud peace officers receive any
words OF encouragement from the
law keeping people because these pco-
pie do not appear to think !, ncces-
Sary to speak word OF approval to
faithful officers. So | wish to praise
the brave men in Office who have
done their d. Sc. 'Nc face OF all mai
ncr OF host
"Iu mant cs in Colorado
there is no ,cn gambling and
no prize is Certainly the day
has arrived &C can take step
forward in C and do in every
county what has been so we'll done
in some counties. l therefore most
urgently request all district attorneys
and peace officers to do their whole
find plenty OF bitter hostility to a
general programme of fearless exc
cr,ion OF all the laws against illegal
liquor selling and gambling and kind.
red vices. Only few people will
speak out bravcly in approval Of such
a programme. But all the laws must
be executed. District attorneys and
peace officers arc elected for that spe-
cihc purpose. The very life OF the
nation is bound up with reverence
for law and the fearless execution Of
all the laws.
Ever since have been in office
as governor, l have been consulting
able lawyers about my authority. 10
secure the execution of the alws
against these common vices in which
young men and young women are
wrecked for time and for eternity.
l have secured many opinions from
those who were insinccre; from men
who desired to cmbarrass me in aid
of the political ambitions Of insineere
men. But all these opinions are in
substantial agreement. Every one ad-
mits that the governor has no power
to remove any official from Office
who has been elected by the people.
The governor has power to call out
the militia for just two purposes:
First, to queli a riot or put down an
insurrrection; and secondly, to en-
force an order of a court. The gov
ernor cannot call out the militia to
enforce an order made by himself:
This is not peculiar to the state OF
Colorado. The president of the Uni.
ted States and the governors OF all
the states can exercise their powers
only under the constitution and the
laws.
"The governor of Missouri has au-
thority over the police board in two
cities, namely. Kansas City and St.
Louis. The governor of Colorado
had at one time the same authority
in the city of Denver. But the pass
age of the Rush amendment took
that power away from the governor
of Colorado The fact that the gov
ernor OF Missouri has no authority
over district attorneys and peace Off
GERS outside Of Kansas City and ST.
Louis is shown in the following re-
port of the Grand jury at Joplin, Mo.
which was lblishcd at Joplin IN No
vemher. loa. when Governor Folk
was in that 'ity in attendance on :he
sessions NJ '" Mining congress:
ssRrf this fcyort che