The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1912-11-14
MR. DAWSON d EnRoR.

speech at the Opera House here the
night before election he made one
statement We want to take exception
to.
Discussing the initiative and refer
endum he said the people didn't want
it and he said in effect these words:
"In tell you who brought this upon
us-it was the newspapers-for what
they could make out OF it By publish
ing the amendments"
Mr. Dawson WIS wrong in fact and
unjust in his inference.
The fact is that the people did want
the initiative and referendum at the
time, they voted on it TWO years ago.
They were wrought up to believe III
it by the politicians One great poli,-
ical party in convention had come ont
strongly for it The other great po-
ntical party in convention was afraid
to say where ii stood on the question
and straddled-with majority Of is
active political workers in favor Of
1t.
Very few newspapers ever adyocat-
ed 1t strongly. The News and the Pot
came out for It and some smaller
new spapers followed their party plat
forms and leaders and advocated q.
but the majority OF newspapers did not
support ii. II the question had been
put up to the newspaper publishers Il
Colorado fora vote the majority would
probably have voted against IL. Per
haps majority OF the Democratic
publishers were for IL two years ago,
but that was largely because Demo
cratic leaders OF every section we.e
using Il as a political slogan tn rla-
into office ON.
II the question could be put up o
the Democratic publishers alone to-
day We believe a large majority would
vote against IT for they now realize
what silly thing 1t is in the form
We have it in Colorado
We object 10 the inference that Mr.
Dawson and others draw that the
possibility OF making little bubiic
printing would influence the newspap-
er men as a class in the support q /,
measure.
Mr.. Dawson Is not alone. In maxim g
these uncompIimentary remarks aboHt
the press. The Honorable Robert W
Bonynge started that slander He and
others told the people tao years ago
that the publication of these amend
ments would bankrupt the state. Tacy
yariousiy estimated the cost at half
million dollars and some got the
figure - in the millions. That was
the scarecrow that was used mn oFier
to frighten the people into voting
against the measure two years ago.
Now the facts are that the total cost
under the expensive system now In
vogue was only little over $4,000
not much more than a half dozen Ia a.
yers would want for defending u 1T
tie suit down ut Washington.
In an effort TO save the state some
money and - double the publicity II
these amendments the Colorado Edl-
torial Association initiated new
law cutting this cost about in t~so.
which shows the good faith OF that
organizations.
The cost this year was not exhor JI-
tant In tina great city OF Denver IL
cost only about 1880 to publish al
the amendments four weeks. Dsas
anybody believe that even the News
or the Post could be Influenced to sup
port measure or policy for that sum
OF money: II they do they know
nothing Of the class OF nen who run
newspapers.
Knowing newspaper men as We 10
We Will back the publishers OF ths
state or the publishers Of any city or
town against the lawyersNof the state.