Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-07-22
Address to the People.

the Assembly, Governor Shafroth also
gave out an address to the people,"
regarding the call. and it is under
stood that he will go into details quite
fully in a message to the Assembly
when it convenes.
The governors address is as fol-
lows:
To the People of the State OF Colo
As Governor of the State I have to-
day issued call for n special session
of the General Assembly of Colorado.
and l deem 1t proper to state to you
the reasons which impelled me to take
tnat action:
The present officers of the state and
members of the General Assembly were
elected upon u platform n which chm made 'es spe
provided for the enactment OF the FOL
lowing laws: The initiative and referen-
direct primary. the election of United
States senators by direct vote Of the
people the guaranty i, OF bank. bank deposits. deposits
sion, fashioned after the New YORK law.
and a railroad law which would vest ade-
wrongs. and which would prevent the
giving or accepting OF Tree transporta-
tion. All of these measures tend 70 bring
administrative affairs nearer to the peo-
Pile. and hence are essential to good gov
ernment.
Some of these pledges were contained
iitical party OF this state. In my inaug-
ural address called the attention OF the
General Assembly to the fact that these
pledges constituted contracts with the
people and should be faithfully fulIiiled.
Two weeks before the adjournment OF
the General Assembly. In message,
again urged the enactment of these plat
form pledges into law, and stated that
in the event substantial compliance here
with was not made that l would convene
the General Assembly in special session
for the purpose of having Il fulfil! these
platform nas.e nearly All Of IN. bills
covering the subjects: but n number Of
Democratic and Republican senators,
senate. failed or refused to pass any o,
the measures.
In view of these facts regard 1t to
be my mpernxsS 10 tSe ay Gepe9at Assembly TO
redeem these contracts OF honor.
The constitution OF this state vests the
governor with power on nraI exIraotunaTy asan,'
bly, by proclamation. stating therein the
purpose for which II Is to nssemble,. and
transacted at such special session other
than that specifically named IN the proc
Iamation.
The very highest duty of public Off
ciaIs is the fuifiIiment of pledges made
to obtain office: and, when they fati or
refuse to perform that duty. II IL IA shock
tpustsa t9 sns an.m Sfss fnere i. mo- way r Of rec.
ufying the betrayal OF such confidence
under our laws.
The failure OF Legislators to fulfill sol
emn pledges made to the people there
fore alone In my Judgment. constitutes
sucf AN extraordinary occasion as war
rants the convenins OF "A special Session
oI the Legislature.
1t Is ABSURD to contend that these
measures can De enacted at the schcrai
session which meets ii IN ,as January ..s,I. men.
ures coming before n regular sessioh'
special interests are enabled to induce
i..emDers to vote against their pledges
anu then nave them Justify such woes
ny claiming that thcy thereby were en-
nDled to get iarse APPROXIMATIONS ior
MEASURES nave been Introduced and
urged IN every regular session OF the
nast sixteen years, and yet by reason OF
the persuasive influence OF corporations
and the diverse interests OF the mem-
each time OF passage. 1t is only In a
special session, when the attention ot
members Is confined to few subjects
tnat We can nope to pass these meas
ures. BY reference to the session laws
OF Colorado II will be seen that some
statute books Of this state were enacted
sembIy.
The Initiative and referendum law re-
auircs an amendment to the constitution
and unless passed AT this session could
not be voted on until the November cleo
ton Of 1919.
The straight Australian ballot law un-
Icss passed with an emergency clause
cannot become operative until the faii
election OF lyls.
The railroad commission law OF this
state was declared unconstitutional only
a few days ago and there Is urgent need
Tor such n tribunal.
These instances warrant the calling of
n special session, but the greatest ne
cessIty therefor arises from the fact
that, though pledged. none Of these laws
wosia scssian. The Situation therefore. pro-
duccs the alternative Of an extra session
no laws.
These measures are not partisan in
both Democratic and Republican states:
The direct primary has been enacted
in and ssh. the Se
hendIess ballot in more than twenty
states: the bank guaranty law In four
In New York and other states. and the
railroad commission in every state in the
Union except Utah. Delaware and Colo
RADIO. l know of no instance where any
one of these laws has been repealed.
These measures viii have tendency to
were Intended by the trainers OF our gov
ernment to always remain with the peo-
pie.
1t has been contended by the opposing
members OF the General Assembly. as u
ures, that the people are not in favor Of
that the county conventions OF ali the
political parties OF this state should ex
press themselves upon whether these
laws should be enacted. have the ut
most confidence that no regular conven-
tion, of any political party. will advise
the repudiation Of platform promises.
Believing that legislators will truly
represent their constituents when they
fully realize that the people do want
these reforms enacted into laws, ! have
the highest hopes that most beneficial
results will come from the conyening OF
this special session OF the General As
sembly. Respectfully.
JOHN F. sHAFROTH.
Governor.