The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1910-07-09
THE DEMOCRATS
GET TOGETHER
Harmony the Keynote Of Meeting Of
Members Of Legislature Recent
~ Held At Denver. Clouds
Of Misunderstanding are
Now Fading Away

Denver, Colo, July b-There are
those who believe that the political
atmosphere in and around the state
capital has been somewhat murky
for months, tho clouds even over
hanging the d Democratic camp.
Whether or not the superstition was
correct In the case Of the party In
power need not now be discussed.
However, II such were the case, there
has been = remarkable clearing dur
ing the past week, and from present
indications there are only sunny days
ahead.
Some criticized the wisdom Of State
Chairman CizAs. b. Ward In issuing
q call for members Of the legislature
to meet him in = friendly and unoffl-
cial conference, to the end that some
course might be decided upon for the
good Of the party and the people it
serves. 1t was indeed bold stroke,
but the outcome has demonstrated 1t
. statesmanlike and fruitful action.
Many legislators who came to the
meeting under protest or from curl
osity, firm In the belief that no good
could come Of 1t, went away giving
the chairman credit for master
stroke that removes all doubt of
Democratic success next November.
OF the seventy members Of the two
houses, fifty-eight appeared in re-
Spouse to the call. A number sent
letters regretting their inability to
attend because Of pressing business
matters, but containing the assurance
that they were willing to abide the
majority decision. Only one man re-
mained away because he .could't see
'tbnt such . gathering would b able
to accomplish satisfactory results,
but very likely he has now changed
his mind. One Of the healthiest signs
was tho universal disposition on the
part Of the leaders, who during the
regular session had been extremely
bitter at times, to make reasonable
concessions In order that some har-
monious plan might be agreed upon.
They needed the request Of the chair
man not to come with axes In their
hands and chips Oh their shoulders"
and many newspapers did their part
to bring about harmony. The Pueblo
Star-Journal devoted q page Of wise
counsel that had much to do with in
fluencing the result. What is now
necessary to complete the harmony
program Is the elimination Of adjec-
lives too much used In classifying
Democrats. With no platform"
Democrats and no ''machine" Demo-
Gratis, 1t will be shown to the enemy
that while Democrats sometimes
Disagree on minor details, in the end
they are just plain Democrats and
practically all of one mind.
The Initiative and referendum
measure agreed upon provides that
10 per cent Of the voters may initiate
legislation, while 10 per cent may in
woke the referendum In case Of laws
passed by legislative bodies. In or
der to avoid minority rule, 1t is agreed
that at least 80 per cent Of the voters
must express themselves for or
against the measures so submitted In
order to make them operative. The
bill appears perfectly satisfactory to
all members of both houses, and there
IL no doubt that these direct legislat-
i've measures, now In popular demand
all over the country, will be submit
ted at the extra session.
Another meeting Of the Legislators
will be held July Goth, when 1t Is ex-
pected the greater part Of the bills to
be considered in August will have
been drawn. By this means the
members will familiarize themselves
with the proposed measures before
the session begins, thus saving time
and money. The conference last
week had q decidedly disheartening
affact npon the Republican leaders