The Lamar register., 1910-08-10

The legislature is now in spec.
ial session to consider the extraor-
dinary emergency in which the
state democratic party finds it.
self. The regular session played
horse for 80 days and did nothing
but pass appropriation bills. ant
as they had plenty of time for that
they passed more and larger ones
than any session had ever prev
iously passed. and at a much larger
expense to the state.
Since adjournment the democrat
ic state officials spent a whole year
trying to find some chance to
prove crookedness against some OF
the past republican officials. in or
der to detract attention from the
doings of their own legislators. The
Gals in Jail and a number of Others
on the anxious seat or so badly
exposed as to be out of politics fol
good.
emergency within the meaning OF
the state constitution according to
Governor Shafroth, so he called the
legislature together in hopes that
a repitition of their monkey work
of last year would in turn detract
the attention of the voters from
the much more serious dishonesty
of the democratic state government.
If it will do this. the governor es-
Inmates that the $4,000 to $780,
900 1t will cost the taxpayers will
be well spent from a political stand
point, as it will still enable him
to think that he is candidate for
the senate.
The session is now at play again
and the Indications are that of the
five platform measures they were
called to consider. the only one
that could be made of benefit to
the people-the public utilities com
mission-will hardly even be con
sidered. The bank guarantee farce
will pass the house but be killed in
the senate. The headless ballot
will not pass. The two biggest
frauds, the initiative and referen-
dunn and primary elections. will be
passed In an expurgated form and
that will be all the state gets for
its money.
The primary election law that
will be passed will provide the
democratic party Just what 1t has
always wanted. an opportunity to
talk Loud for the poor man. but
not have to vote for him. as he
will be absolutely unable to run
for office under its provisions. The
law provides that he first has to
face a county convention. then
stand for a party primary election,
and then go before the whole peo-
pie for the regular election. The
chance a poor man will stand In
that game can easily be judged
Even the ordinary primary election
has proved a bar to him In most
states, but this added convention
feature will put him out OF the
running entirely.
The initiative and referendum
will enable the agitators Of the
state to spread their various fads
and griefs on the ballot each cleo
Aion. The voters rather than read
them will pass them over and the
agitators by voting for them may
win on a small vote as they did
in Denver. At any rate the news
paper in each county that stands
in with the secretary of state will
get from thousand dollars up ac-
cording to the crop of agitators and
griefs, In Oregon this year they
are voting on 81 bills and IS con
stitutional amendments. And the
Lord help Colorado with Patterson
Rush, Stevens. Temple. Vincent. etc
to be heard from.
The above is about a fair esti-
mate of what the taxpayers will
get for their money. Honestjohn'
for his part will put over another
of his "honest" jokes on the pub
lie.