Eastern Colorado times., 1913-07-04
MINUTES 1918 MIDSUMMER
MEETING.
Colorado Editorial Association.

Colorado Springs, Colo, June 16,
The Midsummer Meeting of the
Colorado Editorial Association was
called to order in the Parlor of the
Antlers Hotel by President Cain at
IL A. M. this date. The roll call
showed the following officers and
members of the executive committee
present: w. E Cain, Walter Walker,
Alva A. Swain, Guy U. Hardy, D. p.
Saunders and George E. Hosmer.
Mr.. Hosmer reported for the legis-
lative committee appointed last winter.
He told of the laws that were enacted
and distributed circulars showing each
new law and what effectit will have on
the newspaper business of the state.
Considerable discussion was given to
the newly proposed plan of advertis-
ing constitutional amendments and
initiated and referred bills.
G. II. Hansen, of Greeley, called at
tention to the fact that a proposed
constitutional amendment has been
initiated and filed with the Secretary
of State to be voted upon by the peo-
pie. in November 1914. placing news
papers under the control of the Public
Utility Commission.
A general discussion followed but
no definite action was taken on the
matter.
Secretary Swain called attention to
the opposition that was manifest
against the newspapers on account of
the heavy advertising bills for the ad-
vertising of initiated and referred laws
and proposed. constitutional amend,
ments. Following a general discus
sion of the matter, motion was made
by Mr.. Hosmer and seconded by +. S.
Hoag, and unanimously carried, pro-
viding for the appointment OF a COM
mittee to draft resolutions appealing
to the people not to promiscuously
sign petitions proposing initiated and
referred bills. The motion carried,
and the chairman appointed on the
committee, George h. Hosmer, f. S.
Hoag and d. H. Saunders. The
Committee reported as follows:
WHEREAS, 1t is the duty of the leg
islature to enact the laws needed by
the people of the state, and the initia-
tive and referendum provisions of the
state constitution were given to the
people of this state to be used only
upon the failure of the legislature to
enact laws of general Importance de-
by the people and,
WHEREAS, certain people seem to
have an idea that every measure
passed by the legislature that does
not meet with their approval should
be referred, and that laws embodying
pet theories not of general interest or
Importance should be initiated, thus
placing an unnecessary burden upon
the taxpayers of the state through the
advertising of these initiated and re-
ferred laws,
THEREFORE,. BE IT RESOLVED; That
the Colorado Editorial Association
deplores the unfair, unnecessary and
use of the provisions of
the initiative and referendum by GER
tain interests and certain people, not
only to further their own selfish ends
and purposes but also to belittle the
real purpose of the initiative and re-
ferendum, by circulating petitions to
initiate unnecessary and uncalled for
laws and by circulating petitions to
refer, and thereby make imperative,
laws already passed by the legisla-
ture that were demanded by the
people.
AND BE ITFURTHER RESOLVED, That
the Colorado Editorial Association
urges the voters of Colorado to help
reduce taxes by refusing to sign all
initiated and referred measures unless
each voter shall personally investigate
the merits of each proposed measure
and shall be personally satisfied that
such measure is OF statewide inter-
est and Importance, and that it is de-
manded by the people.
(Signed) George Hosmer, Chairman.
q F. S. Hoag,
D. p. Saunders.
The resolutions were unanimously
adopted and a motion prevailed ask
ing each editor to publish same.