The Monte Vista journal., 1912-07-20

IN much greater proportion than even
the increase in population. recurring
more buildings, more equipment. more
help and more expense.
In a sparsely-settled state like ours
the building of good roads is a prime
requisite Tor the proper settlement and
development of the country. Colorado
mas justifiable ambition to become
the playground of the nation. To real
ize this we must complete a network
OF good roads throughout the state
connecting our numerous parks and
resorts with their unexcened variety
OF scenery and at the same time omen
up avenues for trade with every neigh.
borhood in the state.
me improvement of our highways
VIII increase production and popula.
ton, command more efficient railway
service and better educational and so
cial conditions.
10 secure people and capital to mas,
ten the development of our wonderful
resources we should furnish tn,
board of agriculture means to secure
reliable data concerning all lines OF
agricultural products and furnish am,
pie support 10 tne immigration com
missioner. In this campaign | believe
the sentiment OF the state will 1avor
comprehensive exhibit at the Pan
ANA Exposition in 1915, and 1t will be
the duty OF the new administration to
assist this project.
To meet all these important prob.
lens and at the same time not over
burden the people with taxation is
indeed gigantic task, but | believe
1t can be accomplished. Expenses will
nave to be kept at the lowest point
consistent with efficient administra-
ton. 1t should be the aim not to in
crease taxation, but to evenly dis.
tribute 1t and compel all classes of
property to pay their just share. All
revenues derived from our natural re-
sources, not in private ownership,
should be paid to the state, because
1t must pay for the protection OF the
lives and properly and furnish the
stitutions necessary for the people who
operate them.
The three-year homestead law will
add millions OF acres with large quan,
titles OF accompanying properly to the
taX-rolls. | confidently expect still
more liberal legislation from the next
administration, bringing to AS large
ibfluX of capital and people to hasten
development, increase production and
wealth and consequent public revenue.
| To insure this it will be necessary to
nave such an efficient, business-like
| and economical administration Of our
state affairs as to etfectually remove
any ground for the charge that we
cannot be trusted with the control of
our natural resources.
Let us be a self-reliant people, a
| sovereign state. Give us an equal op-
Iortunity with the older states, and we
will need no apron string. Mere plat
forms can and should no longer be
relied upon to elect tickets. The vot-
ers are going to demand candidates
who are known to be in full sympathy
with the platform, and both platform
and candidate must be thoroughly pro-
gressive.
We want more people to make
homes here. To get them we must
not only advertise our business oppor-
tunities, but We must make our gov.
ernmental institutions attractive.
Without safe, progressive government.
there can be no safe, progressive bust.
ness or industrialism. The first need
is efficient administration. OF what
avail is it to enact reform laws unless
they are effectually enforced?
Ever since can recollect 1t has
been our dream to become panufac
turing stats. With our enormous de-
posits of coal and almost unlimited
water power. we should easily be able
to realize this dream. We should
hedge them about with wise legisla.
| ton at the outset
Coming into uninviting surround
| ings Colorado pioneers accomplished
great achievement. They wrested
our territory from the savages, turned
the desert into fertile fields, dug the
precious metals from the ground, and
poured their wealth into channels OF
trade; developed agriculture rich In
| variety and excellence. founded an ed