Gilpin observer., 1911-03-30
NOTHING ACCOMPLISHED
WITHOUT A CAUCUS

We are in receipt of letter from
President Stull Of the Democratic
State Editorial Association, urging
the Democratic editors to take a
stand for the present caucus agree
ment that is being circulated.
In the first place this caucus
agreement calls for a determination
of what are party" or platform
pledges. The last two conventions de-
cided that question.
In the second place the agree
ment makes no provision for record
ing or publishing the votes of the
members.
We favor a caucus on condition
that every vote is on roll call, the
roll call recorded and published i'm
mediately after each session Of the
caucus. And on the further condition
that the senatorial question be not
taken up till all the platform pledges
are put into shape, in the caucus,
and passed by the legislature.
These conditions will, we believe,
carry out the spirit and the letter of
the resolutions passed at the late
meeting of the Democratic editors.
The above is an editorial from the
Arapahoe Republican, edited by Claude
Street, and from the attitude of Mr..
Street, both as to editorial expression
and his position before the recent
meeting Of the Democratic editors it
is hard to determine If he is really
sincere in his seeming insistency thai
the Democratic legislators redeem Tho
party pledges. The agreement clearly
states that the legislation promised
the people in the platform shall be
first considered by the caucus, and
further, that no platform pledge
shall be killed in caucus and If ma
jority Of thirty-four shall vote against
any such measure in caucus the same
shall thereupon be reported back tc
the respective bodies and placed up
on the calendar for consideration sc
that each member may go on record
thereon" This provision of the
agreement is fair enough for anyone
who earnestly desires the accomplish
ment Of promised legislation.
At the meeting Of the Democratic
editors. Mr.. Street opposed caucus
and supported resolution which W,
knew at the time would avail nothing
and in a sense gave endorsement t.
and sanctioned a continuance of the
legislative horseplay which is tres
passing upon the patience Of muci
abused public. We can't help bu
laugh every time We think OF that un
meaning resolution. To be sure 4
was for the pledges all right, bu
advocated no procedure which woult
bring about their enactment. But the
climax Of the ludicrous affair wa:
reached when the resolutioa provided
that the senatorial candidate who
worked most diligently for the pass
age Of the platform measures SHOULD
receive the toga. More than month
has passed since the adoption OF thai
resolution and II any candidate has
so much as turned hand in thai
direction investigation has failed tc
reveal his name.
Mayor Speer has done what he
could to get the senate and house
members into caucus and then ar
rive at some understanding as tc
Just what bills meant genuine and
faithful redemption Of the pledges
thereby bringing the Legislature
Ground to the point Of doing some
thing. To any person possessing the
slighteet glinmering Of political in
telligence minus the desire to OBJ
struct legislation, caucus is the
only method whereby tho Eighteenth
Assembly will accomplish anything
worth while. We took this Wow a,
the meeting OF the Democratic editor.