The Glenwood post., 1911-02-04
THE DoINGS
OF POLITICS

Two years ago the democratic legis
lators maintained that the Attorney
General was the only official who should
have charge of settling inheritance tax
matters and accordingly three inspec-
tors were given him for this purpose.
Now with Ben Griffith Attorney Gen
eral they are trying to transfer the
work to the state treasurer s office.
Fourteen platform democrats have
signed pledge not to allow the clec
tion of U. s. Senator until the plat
| form pledges are redeemed. While
nineteen supporters of Speer have
equally pledged themselves not to re-
deem the pledges until Speer is elected.
So there you are.
| Two years ago Governor Shafroth
vetoed bill accepting the Fort Lewis
Indian School as State Agricultural
College. He wanted the Grand June
ton School for an Agricultural College
because he owns land near there.
This year, when Secretary Ballinger
became tired of the foolishness and re
commended the repeal of the federal
law giving the state the Fort Lewis
school, Governor Shafroth gets busy,
rushes the bill-half irawn-through
the assembly and claims he secured
for the state five million dollars worth
of federal land
.Rhoda Kenehan explained the $3.50,
900 surplus the other day by saying
it was the uncollected taxes still due
the state from the counties The cash
collected as well as that left by the
republican administration, is all gone.
The republican members of the as
sembly are complimenting all republican
leaders by casting thirty votes for
them for United States Senator.
Attorney General Griffith has answer
ed every question so far propounded to
him by the state officials and the assem-
bly, and has apparently answered them
satisfactorily, for they have acted on
his advice.
Representative Judkins of Pitkin de-
clared Saturday that he had been told
if he didn't support certain measures
he would never get any of his bills
through. In other words, laws by force,
not merit.
| The republican members of the as
sembly are complimenting all the party
leaders by giving each one thirty votes.
Vaile, Goudy, Dawson. Northcutt and
McCreery have been decided upon, after
which will probably follow Griffith,
Garrigues, Work, Mcdonald and others.
Proposed constitutional amendments
extending the length of time of state
and county officers to four years are
being considered in the house. The re-
call has been promised with these laws
The first month of the legislative
session ends with practically nothing
accomplished. The selection of the
successor to Senator Hughes has divided
the democrats into so many factional
camps that the consideration of bills
is almost an impossibility.
The Adams people say Adams or
nothing. Likewise do the Speer people
demand that their man shall be select,
ed and then to complete the deadlock,
there are fourteen who say platform
pledges first and then the United States
Senator.
When it came to the show down none
there was among all of democracy who
wanted the matter submitted to a pri
mary. Had they submitted the ques-
tion to vote of the people with under
standing that the highest man be the
unanimous choice Of all members. the
real work of enacting laws could have
gone ON uninterrupted.