The new era., 1910-07-28
Addres. to the People.

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.
lows:
To the People of the State of Colo
rado:
AS Governor of the State have to-
day issued call for special session
of the General Assembly of Colorado,
and l deem 1t proper to state to you
the reasons which impelled me to take
that action:
The present officers Of the state and
members of the General Assembly were
elected upon a platform which made spe-
for the and o
dum the straight Australian ballot, the
direct primary. the election OF unitsa
States senators by direct vote OF the
people. the guaranty of bank deposits.
the creation of public service commits
sion, fashioned after the New YORK law
and railroad law which would vest ade-
quate authority in a commission to rlght
wrongs, and which would prevent the
giving aefeptng ef fFse
administrative affairs nearer to the peo-
pie, and hence are essential to good gov
ernment.
in the platform of the other great po-
litical party of this state. In my inaug-
ural address l called the attention OF the
General Assembly to the fact that these
pledges constituted contracts with the
people and should be faithfully fulfilled:
Two weeks before the adjournment OF
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 1t fulfill these
resentatives passed nearly all of the bills
covering the subjects; but a number OF
Democratic and Republican senators, .
sufficient to constitute a majority OF the
Senate. failed or refused to pass any OF
the measures.
In view of these facts regard it to
be my imperative duty to give one more
opportunity to the General Assembly to
redeem these contracts of honor.
The constitution of this state vests the
governor with power on nera ex.raorunaTy Assemy
bly, by proclamation. stating therein the
purpose for which 1t is to assemble, and
it provides that no business shall be
transacted at such special session other
than that specifically named in the proc
lamation.
{. The very highest duty of public off
to obtain office; and. when they fan or
refuse to perform that duty, 1t is a snock
to the moral hsre ot the me peVp,e of
tifying 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
such an extraordinary occasion as war
rants the convening of speclal session
OF the Legislature.
1t is absurd to contend that these
measures can ue enacted at the general
session which meets in January next.
On account OF the multiplicity or meas
special interests are enabled to induce
members to vote against their pledges
by claiming that they thereby were en-
abled to get large appropriations tor
their respective counties. Many OF these
measures have been introduced and
urged in every regular session of the
General Assembly Of this state for the
past sixteen years, and yet by reason OF
the persuasive Influence of corporations
and the diverse interests of the mem.
bers OF each assembly they have failed
special session. when the attention OF
members Is confined to few subjects.
that we can hope to pass these meas
ures. By reference to the session laws
of Colorado 1t will be seen that some
of the very best legislation now on the
statute books of this state were enacted
at special sessions of the General AS
sembly.
The initiative and referendum law re-
quires an amendment to the constitution
and unless passed at this session could
not be voted on until the November cleo
ton of 1912.
The straight Australian ballot law un-
less passed with an emergency clause
cannot become operative until the fall
election of 1912.
The railroad commission law of this
state was declared unconstitutional only
a few days ago and there is urgent need
for such a tribunal.
These Instances warrant the calling of
a special session, but the greatest ne
cesslty, therefor arises from the fact act
%Aat tHNtt
would likely be passed at regular
session. The situation, therefore, pro
or no laws
These measures. are not partisan in
their nature. They have been enacted in
both Democratic and Republican states;
and referendum in eight states; the
headless ballot in more thsH ban
states; the public service commission
in New York and other states and the
Union except Utah, Delaware and Colo
RADIO. know of no instance where any
one of these laws. has been repealed.
restore to the citizens those rights which
were intended by the trainers Of our gov
eminent to always remain with the peo-
pie.
1t has been contended by the opposing
members of the General Assembly. as
reason for not supporting these meas.
ureS, tnat the people are Hot III 1dNOI u
the same. 1t seems. therefore, proper
that the county conventions of all the
political parties of this state should ex-
press themselves upon whether these
laws should be enacted. 1 have the ut
most confidence that no regular conven.
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 convening of
this special session of the General AS
sembly. Respectfully,
JOHN F. SHAFROTH,
IsH Governor.