The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1908-10-21
MCDONALD AS GOVERNOR.

The following article was publish
ed in the Pueblo Chieftain's Sunday
magazine OF January 20. 1907. and
at this time 1t was not known that
the Hon. Jesse F. Mcdonald would
ever be a candidate for Governor
again, and therefore was not pub
lished for political effect. 1t gives
an insight into the sterling charac'
ter OF this man which every voter
should have.
A few days ago Colorado changed
her officials at the state house. The
most important Of these changes is
in the position OF governor. and In
that change a man was retired to
private life who has, within the past
two years. erected for himself a moA
ument Of personal esteem and con-
fidence from one end of the state
to the other.
No man ever accepted a public
trust under greater disadvantages
than did Governor Mcdonald two
years ago. At that time the Capital
and Labor classes of the state were
rent In twain as result of the
two years conflict. and SO terrible
had this conflict been that people
outside of Colorado characterized
the representatives of both Labor
and capital and the state officials as
well. as being anarchists, law-break-
ers and un-American citizens.
Out of this turmoil, Lieutenant
Governor Mcdonald became COVER
nor. When he accepted the posi-
ton statements were freely made
that, accepting the position as he
did, his administration would be a
failure. but how different has been
the result.
The phenomenal change of public
sentiment can best be told In the
actions of the daily press. Two
days after he was inaugurated a
Denver paper cartooned him as a
worm squirming about on an empty
seat. Two days before he retired
from office the same paper cartoon
ed him as Colorado's greatest execu-
tive.
And why this change Of sentiment?
Why was it that a man could in a
few short months bring the people
of the entire state from a condition
of opposition to him to worship at
IL. r.
ernor and was honest and did his
duty quietly and without any blare
of trumpets. Those who knew him
best as chief executive loved him
most.
There was one thing Governor
Mcdonald despised and that was pub
deity 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 would not
let the press boys publish it. The
following are few of the incidents
ton, which show the metal of the
man, but which as yet have never
been made public.
About a month after Governor Nc
Donald was inaugurated strike was
imminent in a section of the state
that was not affected by the tur-
mol Of the previous two years. In
fact it was agreed that a strike was
to be called on a certain day. Both
miners and mineowners were anxious
for the conflict. One day a commit
tee of mine owners visited Governor
Mcdonald and asked him what he
would do in regard to maintaining
law and order. and If he would al
low them to deport the miners.
Gentlemen" said he, eft a strike
is called and local officials can't
control it, will; But 1t will be Law
and order on both sides. I'll hang
the first man that
blows up a mine and I'll hang the
first man that undertakes to deport
a private citizen. When 1 go in
there will be law and order on both
sides and not on one side alone"
The mine owners went away crest