The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1910-07-02
DOWNRIGHT HONESTY
Timely and Sensible Advisory Article What the
Democrats Of Colorado Had Ought to Do
and Which Reads Suggestive

The following timely political ar-
ticle appeared in the last issue Of the
Idaho Springs Mining Gasette, one
Of the leading Democratic papers Of
the state:
xx x 4 x 4 xxxxxx 4
< The Idaho Springs Mining Ga <
sette, In placing before you its <
little homily upon downright x
Honesty" believes that the men, <
x beSs Of the Democratic majority 4
Of the Seventeenth general as Z
sembly are more sinned against x
K than sinning-that they are prob x
< ably ~ earnest and loyal - the K
x selfstyled "Platform Democrats" K
Z or other would-be guides who de- <
rive inspiration and authority K
from their own personal inter- <
K ests. Chairman Ward, in call x
< Ing them to meet informally. has Z
< exercised . privilege strictly <
within the powers vested in him <
4 by his position In the party and K
Z his exclusion Of all disturbing x
K elements give promise Of favor <
4 able results from . situation that <
before offered nothing but . little K
< transient adva n tage to the Z
Z trouble makers 1t the cost Of the Z
party. Z
vvvvw~w =
Downright honesty is . basic ele-
meut Of ethics. It II not separsble
nor can It be transmitted by an al
chemy. 1t occurs free In nature but
10 rare enough and Of such value that
II 10 frequently counterfeited and the
substitute is sometimes boldly labeled
''honest'' and passed ~ tho true
metal. Downright honesty has at
least one Of the qualities Of radium in
that its rays Of light will penetrate
the densest clouds Of ignorance, self
seeking or prejudice. Downright
honesty II the touchseons Of political
sssivity Today. 1t = the thing t6ss
has saved Roosevelt In all the COM
plications into which his impetuosi-
", wrong Judgment or the trickery
Of his faithless friends and advisers
have led him and from which he has
emerged the brightest political char
acter in the world Of the twentieth
century.
State Chairman Charles B. Ward,
with downright honesty has cleared
the political situation Of Colorado
with single message. He has called
the Democratic members Of the leg
islature to meet In Denver informal
ly and outline the work Of the special
session which the governor will call
in August. Ward il retiring from
political activity, (only for . short
time We hope) and has no ambition
to crafty, no antagonisms to foster,
NO retaliation to execute. He says,
II want you to come to this meeting,
not with . chip on your shoulder
and an AZ in your hand, but In .
spirit Of fair play, -. and with .
determination that you will try to
get together In spirit Of harmony,
doing only what IL best for the Demo-
cratic party and the people Of the
state"
In spirit Of downright honesty he
has opened the way for tho demo-
cratic majority Of the legislature to
pass every one Of the progressive
platform measures promised by the
last state convention, without max
ing such action part Of the campaign
Of any candidate for the United
States senate, without allowing it to
become the club In the hand Of any
political boss to be applied in the
punishment Of political opponents or
enemies, without the possibility Of
any reform preacher being able to
plsgarise from Democracy Its noblest
ideas. Wards cali is notable not for
brilliancy, but for sincerity; not for
scutness, but for loyalty; not for