The state herald., 1908-10-23
Democratic
Absurdities
IN COLORADO LAW-MAkiNG :
OPEN LETTER TO "HONEST-
JOHN" SHAFROTH.

Denver. Colo, Oct II, 1908.
Hon. "Honestjohn" Shafroth, Demo-
cratic Candidate for Governor.
Sir:
Give me your ear, 'Honestjohn,"
while tell you of some of the bowling
absurdities of Democratic law.maliing
in Colorado. From these you will be
able to understand why the people will
not elect Democratic Legislature this
fall.
The Constitution Forgot.
Do you recall the Eleventh General
Assembly. which existed during the
reign OF Governor Adams? You states.
men in this session forgot to appropri-
ate funds to 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 a brlstling batch Of res
olutions upon the foreign relations Of
the National Government.
But after all, Alya Adams went out
of office leaving deficit of over $780,
coo.
Thomas Borrows Money to Run State.
Then followed Governor Charles S.
Thomas. who was obliged to skirmish
around among his friends and unohl-
Cially borrow $4,000 wherewith 10
prevent the sheriff from levying upon
tho state house and penitentiary. This
was The Thomas debt of honor" of
which profane history speaks so 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
100000 in excess of the revenue of
the state. This was unlawful bat they
did not know H.
Gave Us Prize Fight Law.
Just at that time Colorado needed
advertising in the East, so you passed
a prize fight law inviting sluggers to
come TO Colorado and assault one an
other Governor Thomas. true to his
pugnaclous Democratic instincts,
signed tho bill. This splendid monu.
ment of Democratic constructive
atoiacpna a ~ q hi, .,.ug afI,r,,,rI, i.tt,.t
by a peryerse popular sentiment.
In the Twelfth General Assembly.
you passed an eight.hour law which
sava the people delightful labor
strike. costing lots of money and CIV
ing the police courts and surgeons
much active employment. This would
havo been real law II you had not
again overlooked the constitution: but
you forgot about It and n Democratic
Supreme Court scratched 1t on the
books.
Don't 1t beat all how the constitu,
ton gels in the way OF Democratic
statesmen?
The Constitution Again Overlooked.
And then came the Thirteenth As.
sembly. which rc,distrlotcd tho state
to insure Democratic supremacy They
provided thirty-siX state senator's and
tried TO put the law Into effect before
they discovered that that glorious but
troublesome document, the Constltu.
ton. permitted but thirty. .nye.
Another evidence of the oxtraordln.
ary wisdom OF your party was the sub.
uniting OF slngle-tax amendment
which the people promptly wiped of
the map at the polls.
Thls Assembly also passed a lively
grist OF Joint memorials and resolu.
uons about foreign matters. II was
especially concerned about the Boer
War.
Forgot to Record Third Reading.
Then they passed the Tanauary Elm.
pioyerS' Liability Bill. which would
have been useful II tho great states.
men OF your party had not forgotten
10 have tho third reading appear upon
the record OF the Senate. but lhcy did,
and 10 the courts were Obliged to
chloroform Il.
Don't you swell and glow with pride,
''iioncsuohn." when you contemplate
thin fccord'
Then the Democratic governor called
n special session: tho corporations
were 10 bo regulated. A bill was
nnased arranging for tho obsequIcs of
cow killed by railways. Railways are
operated by corporations. you inowl
Constitution stu in,erferes.
I almost forgot TO mention the rev.
'enuo law. The highest Intelligence
and legal talent of the party was
brought TO bear upon this bill. Day
NiSer day and night after night Il was