davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
DEMOCRATS OPPOSE sHAFROTH


The Alamosa Empire, which is a
full-fledged Democratic paper ap-
parently, from the following article,
has no use for John Shafroth
'The great mi 8 of amendments to
the constitution submitted to Colo
RADIO voters, naturally makes Colorado
the laughing stock of the whole Unit
ed States. There were not enough
sane people in the assembly to con-
ceive the practicability of submitting
sane amendments in that number and
volume that might be comprehended
by at least the intelligent elements of
Colorado voters. 1t is simply Shaf-
roth scheme, having the cooperation
Of Secretary Pearce, to send Shafroth
to the United States senate. Shafroth
engineered the outrage upon the peo-
pie, and Pearce, being for Shafroth,
found himself in possession of great
power to further Shafroths candidacy
for the United States senate. With
the help of the Rocky Mountain News
and Denver Post, the scheme readily
took formidable shape. Secretary
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER

The Republicans of La Plata county
have named very able and worthy
man to represent the people of the
eastern part of the county on the
building up the industries of our peo-
pie, and we do not hesitate to rec
ommend him to the voters for con-
sideration in November.
The candidate referred to is John
Moss who has been a resident of this
county for thirty years and a man
who knows the needs of the people
His long residence in the county
has given him an opportunity to
watch the building of roads and
bridges and he is in a position to
take advantage of the experiences he
has had and the observations he has
made.
One of the chief qualifications of
one selected for county commissioner
is that which requires a knowledge
of road and bridge building.
Not only is Mr.. Moss qualified along
the line of experience in practical af-
fairs but he is one of the best citi-
zens Of the county and believes in
board of commissioners.
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
RADICAL PRESS CONDEMNED

1t now appears that the active poll
tical campaign for 1912 has been clos
ed in an unusual manner, different
from the close of any other campaign
in the history of the country.
Until Roosevelt was shot at Mil
waukee this has been one of the most
active campaigns in American history
and will be remembered in part for
the bitterness injected into the cam
paign, but now it appears that so
far as public speaking is concerned
it is closed for this time. 1t is not
likely that Roosevelt will be able to
make another address before election
day and Wilson has signified his in
tention to close his active campaign
until Roosevelt is able to join in the
campaign. This means that there will
be no further touring of the country
by any one of the candidates. Taft
has not been making any speaking
tour and, of course, will have no plans
to change.
1t is most remarKaDie that the press
of the country should change from
extreme bitterness to one of most pro-
nounced sympathy. Even those who
are indirectly responsible for the COM
mission of the crime are now repent
ant and expressing sympathy.
1t goes to show that after all the
bitterness injected into heated poll
tical campaign is only superficial, and
mostly pretention. 1t is not real. 1t
is assumed. Defeat is the only thing
aimed at and if anything else results
even the most bitter are disappointed.
Those public speakers who have
been holdin gthat ex-President Roose-
welt as dangerous character, a man
desiring to be a czar, can now under
stand what the American people think
of that kind of campaign, regard
less of whether they believe in Roose-
welt policies of government or not.
Such a campaign should be considered
un-American. 1t should have no place
~ eiiio Souhtiy WuO lne
man is and what party he represents.
So far as the press of the country
is concerned it, generally speaking,
has been fair, but in every state there
have been a few newspaper men who
have been carrying on disgraceful
campaign to the detriment of their
own party However, these people
have been in such a small minority
that no party should be held RESPONSE
BILE for their style of campaign.
These same writers condemn the acts
of anarchists, yet they have been
building up anarchy at rapid pace.
1t is pleasure to us all to note the
unanimity of the press, regardless of
party, in condemning their acts.
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
GRAND JUNCTION LANDS
THE COVETED PRIZE

James Sleeth wired local Odd Eel
lows today that Grand Junction sue.
ceeded in being named as the next
reoting place for the Grand Lodge
L o. o. F. of Colorado, thus secur.
ing the prize that Durango peopi,
hoped would fall to our city.
Our local Representatives Messi J.
Sieeth, Mason and Wilson did al!
that was possible to bring che lodge
to Durango in 1913 and in their ef-
foits were ably seconded by the city
council, the county commissioners. the
San Juan congress and other oigani-
zat;ons, but better passenger rates
f,r Grand Junction spoke with loud
pedal in that city's favor
However, Durango's latch string
will still be out and doubtless year
hence the order will agree to accept
our hospitality in 1914.
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
INCENDIARIES BURN HERR
MILLS AT FARMINGTON

Charles Herr left for Pennington
this morning in response to mes
sage telling him that the Pennington
portion of the Durango Planning Mill
and Lumber company properties had
been almost completely destroyed by
fire which broke out about 1880
this morning.
The substantial buildings, the sheds,
the lumber and the hardware were
burned. The books were among the
most valuable of the property saved.
The loss is estimated at $4,000 and
is fairly well covered by insurance.
1t is practically certain that the
fire was of incendiary origin. The
possibilities of it having been caused
by the electric wires is impossible as
the light plant went out of commits
sion last night at $3.50. There had
not been fire in the office or in any
of the buildings during the day.
The guilty parties will doubtless be
placed under arrest before the day
is over. They are generally supposed
to be the ones who burned the can
ming factory.
When asked what the motive of tht
fire bugs" could have been, Mr.. Herr
said it was probably more habit thar
motive because the suspects were per
sons famed for overriding their par
in the matter of home consumption
of the apple jack manufactured dow
| there.
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
MINISTER TO SPEAK AT PUEBLO.

Rev. A. G. Carey, the famous color
ed minister of Chicago who is making
national fight against Roosevelt's
policy on the negro question, will
speak at Pueblo next Tuesday evening.
Rev. Carey took an active part in
the Brownsville affair and accompani-
ed forty or fifty of the discharged
soldiers from Chicago to Washington.
He is in Colorado for the purpose of
telling the colored voters the relative
positions of Roosevelt and Taft on
this affair. In one of his addresses
in which he was discussing the
Brownsville affair Rev. Carey said:
"Col. Roosevelt's animus as evinced
in the discharge and disgrace of the
colored soldiers who had saved his
life has never been equalled in his
career, which is remarkable for its
bitterness and bullheadness. The
colored people will remember how he
bounded Joseph Benson Foraker to
political exile for no reason other
than that he had defended the black
who had defended the flag"
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21

The bill provides, among other
things, that the commission shall con-
sists of three members, one of whom
shall be lawyer, one certified pub
lie accountant and one a practical
mechanic of at least ten years ex-
perience at the trade. The office of
the Commissioner shall be open dur
ing business hours of every secular
day of the year; all sessions are to
be public. The Commissioner is auth
orized to inquire into every detail of
management, bookkeeping and practi-
ces of all Public Utilities Corpora
tions and to issue orders upon such
examination. All issues of stock by
Public Utilities Corporations are con-
tro1led by the Commission so that the
public may be protected against the
paying of dividends upon watered Sc
curities. The Commission has juris-
diction over all accidents which may
occur to the employees of a Public
Utility Corporation, and supervision
of all appliances and devices used by
such corporations in the operations of
their respective lines of business. 1t
is empowered to fix rates, basing such
rates upon the actual cash investment
of the particular Utility in question,
and it is empowered to investigate
foreign corporations in the same man.
ner as those created by Colorado laws.
The commission is authorized to inn
pose severe fines and penalties for
violations of the law as written, and
also of the orders of the commission
after its appointment.
The advocates of the bill insist that
they have included all of the best pro-
visions of the California Public Utili-
ties Act and the better and more
practical features of public utility
laws which have been longer in opera
ton; namely those of Wisconsin, New
York and Massachusetts.
This is the longest proposed measu-
re before the people. 1t has 65 sec
tions and occupies about one-thirt
of the total space in the published
proposed bills.
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21

Pearce in giving out the amendments
for publication, was careful to see
that any newspaper which did not
support Shafroth, did not get any
part of the revenue from publishing
the amendments. 1t may be said with
out fear of contradiction, that the
plan to send Shafroth to the senate.
will cost Colorado from 100000 to
100000. And should Shafroth go to
the senate it will probably be said
that he is the first who did not buy
the senatorial toga in Colorado. But
it may dawn at some time that it is
economy for the state where the SEN
ator buys the toga with his own
money instead of using that of the
state"
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21

tuition SO that each city and town in
the state may have absolute home
rule providing that they have a popu-
lation of two thousand as taken by
the last preceding census under the
authority of the United States.
The following sentence describes
the amendment practically in it's en-
tirity:
They (meaning the towns and
cities) shall always have power to
make, amend, add to, or replace the
charter of said city or town which
shall be an organic law and extend
to all its local and municipal matters.
Such charter and the ordinances made
pursuant thereto in such matters shall
supercede within the territorial lin
its and other jurisdiction Of said city
or town any law of the state in con-
fiict Herewith"
The proposed amendment gives the
cities and towns the right to create
all municipal offices, agencies, and
eHiplOyiiitHtsy anu W uellhc o@ihc, anu
to create police and municipal courts
and to define the powers of those
courts irrespective of state laws. To
issue, refund and liquidate municipal
obligations of all kinds, including
bonds and other obligations of parks,
water and improvement districts. 1t
gives officials the right to levy and
collect taxes for all municipal pur-
poses. One provision in the proposed
law reads:
at is the intention of this article
to grant and confirm to the people
of all municipalities coming within its
provisions the full right of self gov
ernment in both local and municipal
matters and the enumeration herein
of certain powers shall not be con-
strued to deny to such cities and towns
and to the people thereof any right
or power essential or proper to the
full exercis of such right"
The last section Of the bill seeks
to make legal any illegalities which
may exist in the charters of the city
of Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand
Junction and Pueblo.
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
THE FOURTH AMENDMENT.

The fourth measure to be voted
upon by the people this fall is a pro-
posed public service commission bill.
There are two such measures but the
fourth one on the ballot will be the
one, originally circulated under the
direction of the Denver Trades and
Labor Assembly, and which has been
endorsed by the Colorado State Fed
GRAFTON of Labor. Those responsible
for the bill are leaving no stone un-
turned in their efforts to have every
of organized labor in the state
of Colorado vote upon the bill favor
ably. While some minor questions
are left to the discretion of the COM
mission nearly every problem which
IAN come up in the regulation Of pub
ic utilities is provided.
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
SAN JUAN CONGRESS
WANTS OPINIONS

Some time ago the San Juan con-
gress sent out list of nine or ten
questions soliciting answers from the
public generally as to the needs of
greater railroad facilities in this sec
tion.
The questions submitted are for the
purpose of securing information COLI
corning facts bearing upon the needs
of better railroad traffic in the San
Juan country. They are for the pur-
pose of getting at facts concerning
the shipping of products of this Sec
ton and not the raising of products
In fact the congress has sufficient
information as to the production OF
crops in this section but they have
hot sufficient information as to the
losses experienced by not having u
railroad to the south or facilities tn
meet the demands of the people.
The congress is not asking for
criticism but would like to get at
the facts in the case so that the
congress may be governed according
ly in making certain reports in cor
nection with certain undertakings.
With this purpose in view all those
who have not yet responded are re-
quested to respond if they are abe
to answer any one or more of the
questions sent out. 1t will be noticed
that these questions call for indi-
vidual experiences and personal OBJ
servation and not conclusions drawn
from hearsay.
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
CONVICTS TAKE REFUGE IN
COLORADO.


The people Of Wyoming are aroused
over the fact that within the last few
days there have been two jail breaks
from the Wyoming state penitentiary.
The excitement is all the greater
for the reason that the governor of
the state has made statement that
it appears to him that the people of
Rawlins assisted and caused the jail
breaks. In consequence of this ac-
cusation the people of the city are
considering in a more or less public
manner the claims of the governor
who insists that politics is behind the
affair and that he will cause every
person connected with the Jail break
to be prosecuted to the limit of the
law.
Some of the convicts were captured
but dozen or more are yet at large
and it is reported that number of
them have reached the Colorado line
and are making all haste to reach
Browns park where the mountains are
almost inaccessible. In order to reach
this rendezvous for bandits they were
compelled to pass through Moffat and
Routt counties where they stole
horses.
Some Of the escaped criminals are
the worst of desperadoes and it is
thought that it will be almost i'm
possible for them to be captured after
they reach Browns park. Officers
from Wyoming are on their trail.
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
REPUBLICANS HAVE GOOD
CHANCE TO WIN IN STATE

DENVER, Oct. 16.-In answer to
an inquiry from an eastern news
agency, Jesse F. Mcdonald, chairman
of the Republican state central COM
mittee, today stated that he believed
the Republicans of Colorado stand a
good chance Of winning the coming
election. The agency asked him for a
summary of the situation, and he re-
piled as follows:
"Colorado's prosperity depends upon
the continuation of her sugar beet,
zinc, lead, and live stock industry
resources. The Republican party is
the only party the platform of which
promises tariff adequate to the pro-
lection of these resources. While
there was a spasmodic feeling to-
ward Mr.. Roosevelt few months ago,
it is rapidly dying cut and reports
from all sections Of the state indi-
cate that the citizens of Colorado
feel that the best prosperity can be
maintained through the election of a
Republican president and congress.
Each of our voters has the privilege
of assisting in the choosing of five
members of the next congress, re-
sponsibility no other voter in the ma
tion enjoys. This, of itself, is causing
them to seriously consider the results
of their vote. believe that Colo
RADIO, like many another state, has
seen the high tide of anti-Taft SEN
timent, and is swinging back, and on
Nov. 8, will register a Republican
majority of at least 10000 and pos
sibly more"
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
CRITICIsE POLICIES NOT MEN.

While some of the writers of this
state have now to regret that GER
tain indecent, unbecoming and de-
grading expressions have found place
for publication it is the pleasure of
The Herald to recall that not one
word reflecting upon the character of
either Roosevelt or Wilson has found
place in it's columns.
While The Herald does not believe
in the policies advocated by either
of these men or their parties it real
ICES that it is only American to grant
to others the right to entertain such
ideas of government as they see fit
SO long as they are humanitarian and
consistent with the civilization of the
age in which cwe live.
We believe that logic, argument
and good sound reason are the only
forces to be used in determining the
merits of the policies to be adopted
by the people of this country. An
illogical, unreasonable man should
have no place In the newspaper world
He is as detrimental to society as is
the anarchist, as injurious to civili-
zation as has been the barbarian.
There is no more reason for a
newspaper to be conducted against
the morality, decency and intelligence
of the present age than there is for
L.. Il. -.
who would tear down the civilization
purchased through the ages by hu-
man blood.
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
SAN JUAN COUNTY
WINS STATE FAIR PRIZES

E. P. Wilson of the Aztec Index,
]. S. Pawley, Pennington fruit
grower, and II. R. Elliott of the
Pennington Enterprise, San Juan
county's representatives at New Mex
icons first state fair, passed the
night in the city on their journey
homeward These gentlemen surely
formed monopoly when it came to
bagging the prizes on the exhibits in
their charge.
Their toll was sixty-five firsts, four
teen second, four thirds and four
fourths. For the best fruit exhibit
Pennington was awarded the first
premium of $25 and Aztec third, $40.
For the best community exhibit Farm
ington carried off the coveted $50
premium. Had the exhibitors from
our neighboring section been familiar
with the inclusive term variety ex-
hibit this premium would also have
been theirs.
The second day of the fair the
whole exhibit was disposed of at the
highest price. The apples sold for
80 and SO per box and the other fruit
brought correspondingly high prices.
The people who attended the fair
are aware that for agricultural and
horticultural resources San Juan is
without peer among its sister coun-
ties. They are also perfectly certain
that for progressive citizens San Juan
county easily leads the state. Of the
exhibit the Albuquerque Citizen says:
"The San Juan county exhibit is
well arranged and makes fine dis
play. The special stress laid upon ap-
ples by the citizens of this county
ic apparently justified in the magni-
ficen, display of them shown at the
fair. There are more than twenty
varieties on display and several va
rieties of ounces. Pears and peach
es, fresh and evaporated, are also ex-
hlbitcd. Many of the apples are SO
large that forty of them is full box.
There are cucumbers five feet long,
peanuts that weigh an ounce and a
half each, squash that weighs eigh-
ty-six pounds and pumpkin that
weighs two; some prize alfalfa, or
chard grass, timothy, oats and many
other grains and forage crops. There
are about 100 photographs used in
this display, all of them showing farm
and ranch scenes, with special ref
ererce to the sources Of water for
irrigation. 1t is leorned that the
San Juan county exhlbiy took forty
one blue ribbons, thic.oen red, two
yellow and three green first. second,
third and fourth prizes--on varieties
of fruit and vegetables shown"
While the Journal in an editorial
makes the following comment:
"It is fair to say that San Juan
county had some apples that were
never excelled in the Hood river coun-
try Of Oregon for size, beauty or fla
vor. San Juan county brought ap-
pies weighing more than a pound,
perfect in shape and color. AS to
which Of the exhibits was the best
except that one or two counties ex-
,elled in variety, it is difficult to say"
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT.

The Thirteenth proposition upon
which the voters of Colorado must
pass judgement on election day is
the headless ballot. II il is adopted
voters must place cross after the
name of every person for whom they
desire to vote. 1t will be impossible
to write some party designation or
name at the head of the ballot and
allow that word to cast the vote for
every candidate on that ticket. The
name of the political party to which
the candidate belongs may be printed
after each candidates name.
The law shall not apply to primary
elections, as those elections must be
covered by the law concerning the
primaries.
Semi-weekly herald., 1912-10-21
NO DESIGNATION ON BILLS

Because of someone's blunder the
people of Colorado are going to have
difficult time in determining who's
who and what's what on initiated and
referred bills and constitutional
amendments on election day. Over
half of the proposed bills which are
being advertised have no designation
marks at the bottom of the adver-
tisement to tell which bill it is. It will
be impossible to print the complete
text of all bills on the ballot and the
usual is to print designation mark
at the bottom of each bill so that
the voter may familarize himself with
the mark and he can then look for it
when he is in the booth and when
he finds it can vote as he chooses
upon it. However, in the rush to get
these bills out there is no designation
mark on them. For instance, the
statewide prohibition bill is not desi-
gnated and there is nothing printed
in it upon which the voter can rely as
a distinguishing mark on election day.
OF course this bill will be at the head
of the list. Then comes the eight
hour work day bill for women, the
public service commission bill, the
state fair bill, the immigration bureau
levy bill, the home rule for towns
and cities measure, the public utility
court, the eight-hour work day bill
for men in mines and smelters, the
brand department bill, the bill re-
quiring state officials to file a daily
financial statement with the state
treasurer, the normal school bill, the
teachers certificate bill, and the Carp
enter reservoir bill. Not one of them
has single distinguishing mark, and
when the voter gets in the booth he
will not be familiar with the title
under which they are placed on the
ballot and he will not know one from
the other.
For instance, supposing he should
see the title Smelter Regulation Bill
he would naturally think it was the
udy ioi WIG sHiCitSi, but
in that he would be mistaken, because
the smelter regulation bill is the bill
regulating the price to be charged by
smelters for the treatment of ore
Again, if the xoter should see "1he
State Tax Commission" heading or
| the ballot he might thing it was the
public service commission or the pub
lie utility court, but it would be
neither. For some reason or Other
these headings were left off the ad.
vertisements of over one-half the bills
Secretary of State Pearce maintains
that the fault lies with the people who
filed the bills for submission in his
office, while the friends of the bills
filed without being properly designat
ed say that Pearce, knowing he will
have to designate them some way
should have decided upon the desig
nation of each bill and placed them il
the advertisements of each bill.
Thus on election day when tn,
voters enter the booths and attemp
to vote yes and no on the thirty
two propositions they will not hav'
the slightest idea what one half O.
the headings mean.