The Lamar register., 1912-07-17

son who intends to support MIN
must necessarily be considered
member of that new party and not
member of the Republican
party"
Z. p. Costigan, as chairman OF
the Progressive party. has Issued
call for state convention OF 404
members to be held in Denver ON
August first. This convention Will
nominate full set of presidential
electors, a delegation to the ma
tional Progressive convention at
Chicago, two United States sena-
tors, complete state ticket. and
two congressman at large. Calls
have been issued for two congress-
Ional conventions to nominate can
didaIes for congress in the first
and second districts.
The Progressive party did not
poll ten per cent OF the vote at
the last general election. hence its
candidates must 20 ON the ballot
by petition.
Phillip b. Stewart has issued a
statement in which he declares. In
effect, that he intends to support
former President Roosevelt for re-
election. Mr.. Stewart IL candi-
date for the Republican nomination
for governor and 10 attempting to
bring about condition wherein
there will be one state ticket and
two ELECTORAL tickets. Following
his statement. Halsted L. Ritter.
another Republican candidate for
governor, issued , statement in
which he declared that President
Taft Is the legal nominee of the
Republican party and that he in
tends to support Mr.. Taft. He does
not ask for any compromise with
two sets of electors and one set of
state candidates. He u willing to
take his chances on the regular
Republican ticket. He says. 1--WE
should count the national issues as
fixed and turn our attention to the
needs of the state and the atti-
tude of our party thereto. l am
progressive. but not a radical.
The corporation bound boss must
go. The Beast and the Jungle"
likewise must no longer be a text
book for Colorado. Constructive
legislation LIS needed and now Is
the time to consider these things"
Colorado appears to be facing a
serious situation In connection
with the submission of its initiated
and referred bills. OF the twenty
seven submitted through petition
by the people. Secretary of State
Pearce claims that many of them
are reeking with fraudulent sig.
natures. He contends that in sew
eral instances three of four per-
sons have written's4ytr, after page
of tho signatures. The Direct
Legislation constitutional amend
ment giving the right for the peo-
pie too submit laws. makes the
statement that when the signatures
have been sworn to. this shall be
prlma 1acle evidence Oh tnelT Seuu-
ineness and the secretary of state
shall place the same on the ballot.
Nevertheless, Mr. Pearce does not
feel justified in doing this until
after he has let the people know
of their condition. He has asked
the attorney general for an opinion
on the question.
That many of the bills are reek-
ing with fraud can be evidenced by
one look at the signatures. This
brings up a serious question as to
how to prevent wholesale fraud in
the signing of these bills and it
also calls to attention the ques-
ton would bills that received the
vote of the electorate of
the state be law II the petitions
them were fraudulently
secured. 1t would appear that the
initiative and referendum constitu-
tional amendment must be changed
so as to protect the state from the