Semi-weekly herald., 1913-12-11
DURANGO CITIZENS
HAVE RIGHT METHOD

when taxpayers and business men
of the city become sufficiently in
terested to meet and talk over
cost of conducting city and county
governments" said a business
man to a Herald representative
the other day. 81 was not among
those present-wasn't invited, but
| intended going after reading the
article In the Herald the previous
evening, but getting busy forgot
all about it. 1t makes one very
tired to have newspaper make
fun of efforts put forth for the
common veal of the entire public.
On account of abuse or ridicule it
was getting so that no business
man wanted to or would run for
alderman. Now because of an
interested citizenship in the af-
fairs of the city we find the move
slurred."
There is word of truth in the
above statement. True citizenship
means taking an interest in every
thing that pertains to the welfare of
community in which one resides.
The trouble with Durango and La
Plata county citizenship has been ne
glect of duty and then street corner
talking that only stirs up dissentions.
At recent Board of Trade meeting
President Clay, when the Pueblo diff
ferential rate question was up for dis
cussion, said the directors We're aetu-
ated by best intentions in all matters
of public nature, but possible the
directorate was not representing the
interests of the city and if so they
should resign, whereupon half doz-
EN- members jumped to their feet an,
said the directors were honestly and
efficiently representing the interests
as they saw it, and F. r. Graham
said it was the people who were at
fault-that they should attend the
meetings of the directors and discuss
matters by an exchange of views the
best results would be obtained. Mr..
Graham added that it required a stick
of giant powder to get Durango
man to attend important public gath
erings and he admitted being negli-
gent and this sentiment was voiced
by Jackson, Jackway Cherry and
many others. If this is true regard
ing the work of the Board of Trade
how much more so when it comes to
and put this or that man into office
and after election set back and think
no more about the men elected or
what they are doing until rumors of
this or that action which has not been
to our liking reach our ears. Then
we are filled with horror at the
official action which is entirely due
to Indifference on the part of those
who should always be on the alert
Many an official has gone counter
to the wishes of his constituents with
honest intentions, believing he was
doing the best thing. When an Off
cial is beyond enlightenment on any
subject and goes on his own views en-
tirely then it is time to begin to
worry. When the time comes that
a delegation of taxpayers cannot
meet with their chosen servants ano
discuss city affairs there is some.
thing radically wrong and there is
something wrong when a newspape,
slurs citizenship that takes such an in.
terest and no resentment shown, anC
the agency that slured the delegation
has driven more trade from ID range
and caused more injury to the city
in general than all the officials il.
competent and otherwise, Durango ha.
honored in the past. This agency as
sumes to dictate to the business m n
what they shall and shall not do. Ir
the case of taking an interest in city
affairs they are ridiculed. In serv.
ing in different official capacities the
past years they have been punched
as a set of scoundrels and incompe-
tents. Had the general interests of
Durango met with the city council in
the past and talked over public mat
ters we are certain better condi-
ton of affairs would confront US, but
as stated above, the taxpayers and
business men set around and paid no
attention to what the aldermen, mayor
and other officials were doing, and
we see the result.
The Herald trusts, therefore, that
the taxpayers and citizens of Durango
will not be discouraged by newspaper
slurs but will keep right on in the
well doing. Every one attending the
meeting at the city hall last week
went away feeling better. They had
enjoyed friendly heart-to heart talk
with the commissioners and Will, the--
expressed their views they in turn
obtained the views of the commission
ers. Will any one stand up and saw
this was not beneficial? 1t would
have been well IL hundred or more
taxpayers had been present. They