The Paonia newspaper., 1911-03-31
RAMBLING REMARKS
By Geo. O. Blake


of contradictory theories. 1t con-
templates more direct rule by the
people and at the same time the
practical concentration OF all
power in the executive. A few
days ago down IN Arizona he told
the people that the recall provi-
sion of their constitution was a
dangerous innovation, especially
as applied to the Judiciary. He
thought judges should be free
from the intimidation of recall.
A few days later he was in Cali
fornia and praised the people for
having adopted the recall includ-
ing judges. He advocates theo-
ries absolutely irreconcilable. He
is the only man who has ever
made a success of being on both
sides OF the fence at the same
time. He is without doubt the
most spectacular four 1usher OF
modern times.
lust now the Denver papers and
a few others are full OF eulogies
tor ID. III. Moffat. Since he Is
dead his alleged virtues are being
exploited. His will has been read
and not cent has been lett to
any Colorado institution. The
whole fortune is LETT to his family.
True he was the moving spirit of
many enterprises which incident
ally benefited the state, but not
one of them was begun from any
altruIstic motive The profit to
be made from'the project was ever
the moving cause, and for this
the state owes 10 homage. No
halo is due to the author. The
fact is that David H. Moffat was
a successful money maker, moth
ing more. and that is not recog
nized claim to sainthood.
| note that the city of Denver
has received another shipment OF
1900 trees. That city assumes
the right to say what kind OF trees
stall be set along the residence
streets, and how they shall be set
and when. And to be fair with
the property owner. the city fur
nishes the trees. In this way some
system is secured and desirable
varieties only are allowed to
stand. Thousands of cottonwoods
have been cut down and replaced
with hardwood trees. This ex-
ample might be followed with
profit by towns. / know towns
not a thousand miles from here
which could thus have spent
money to better advantage than
has been done. And that reminds
me that the governmental machin-
cry of American towns is the
most cumbersome, expensive and
inefficient in existence. No man
with sense enough to make sue
cess of a country store would
dream of allowing his business to
be managed as towns are man.
aged. The people are waking up
and the commission form is sure
to come. Three men could run
town of the size of Paonia. and
one right good man could do it
better and cheaper With the re-
call. three men would be a great
plenty. And that will come.
Just what explanation President
Taft will make to congress for as
sembling an army on the border
of Mexico is one OF the things the
people are anxiously awaiting
Never before has this country
taken sides against people strug
Cling for freedom from tyranny.
If that is not now the purpose.
what is3 Diaz is president OF
republic in name. an unbridled
despot in fact. Which fact is we'll
known to our government Con
gress alone has power to declare
war. but "maneuvers" such as are
being INDUCED in at the order Of
the president might involve us in
war without the consent of con.
gress. With the best of reason
Mexicans of all kinds resent
the threat these movements
imply. One who goes about with
a chip on his shoulder is very apt
to be accommodated with scrap
sooner or later. Sooner, generally.