Semi-weekly herald., 1912-04-15
MIKE, THE FOUNDER.


mike, the Rounder, will entertain
Herald readers from day to day with
comment, interviews, gossip, political
news, criticisms, etc.
Mike is our real name, but many
of sme friends" insist on calling me
"Moike." A lot of people are all
the time insisting on breaking into
print, but before dog days maybe some
will wish Moike was dead or would
break "out of print"
Durango will soon be in the throes
of an election. Some people are al
ready excited and by the eve of cleo
tion they will be fuming. It's too
bad some of this excess concern can
not be infused in the average citi-
zen. 1t is lack of interest and pride
in ones home town that permits a
few people-politicians some call them
to run town to the detriment of
the majority. In this connection there
is undoubtedly vast amount of ig-
norance regarding commission gov
ernment. 1t is the duty, therefore,
of every voter to study the matter
carefully. 1t is not the intention to
discuss the question whether the peo-
Pile at this time want a change from
the old methods, because the voters
settled this a year ago. There were
number of very good citizens op-
posed to the proposition. This class
should now get in harness and see
that Durango is given charter which
will be approved by large majority.
On the surface we hear murmurings
unless you put up the right kind
of charter it will be voted down."
Instead of this talk why not line up
and assist in making the right kind
of charter. There is no doubt but
some who are opposed to commission
government would like to have the
city put to the expense of holding
several charter conventions in order
to verify their stock in trade argu-
ments that commission government
will prove expensive. Let those in
charge of the commission government
league fool them. All that will be
necessary will be to name twenty-one
conservative taxpayers whose only in
terest in the premises will be char
ter for the people as whole. There
are some who think charter govern
ment is going to turn conditions up
side down. For some reason the sa-
loon element, as whole, regard COM
mission government inimicable to
their interests. Just why this should
be the case with a law-abiding bust
ness is hard to. tell. The saloon ques-
ton should not enter into the discus
sion. The excise laws should not be
considered. Let the regulation of sa-
looms be taken up at later date by
the people. No doubt there are some
who would like to have charte.
calling for the abolition of the sa-
loon and on the other hand there are
some who would like to return to the
old days when everything was "wide-
OPEN" But let US first secure stable
commission government and then take
up the disturbing issues. The excise
issue, therefore should not be permit
ted to divide the voters on the gem
eral principles of commission govern
ment. When commission government
is once inaugurated based on com
mendable and business like charter
then the people can initiate regula-
tions for the governing of institutions
above referred to. Under the law at
the present time the same privilege
is granted. 1t may not be known,
but it is fact just the same, that
upon the presentation of the proper
petition to the city council the license
fee saloons must pay and the hours
and other rules can be handled by the
voters. Therefore, we say, let all
troublesome issues be laid aside for
concise, clean and economically ad-
ministered charter. The question of
what should go in the charter will be
discussed from day to day and If
you are interested watch this column.
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