The chronicle=news., 1914-06-23

have from time to time struck for
betterment of their conditions. They
did not resort to violence and secured
what they wanted by peaceable
means. This is as 1t should be. II
either of the disputants are not pa
triotic enough to rely upon civic rem
edies. the government must be strong
enough to make them mind.
Some serious minded people are
endeavoring to provide statutes that
In the future will lessen the occasion
for outbursts. But II the government
can be defied today by one set Of men
with the laws now on the books, It
can be defied tomorrow by another
with the laws then written. tt
Unfortunately there was little CO.
ordination or official unity to meet
the present crisis. Different state
Officers had contrary policies and
some openly disagreed with the gov
ernor. In certain districts the sher-
III had one policy, the district attsr-
ney another. Certain officials are
entitled to their own opinions and
the autonomy Of the different district
or county governments should be or
dinarily be maintained. But when
the peace of the whole state IL Sc
riously endangered coordinate Off
cials should modify and concede. and
subordinates should cooperate with
their chief executive. The govern
or's policy should be the policy Of
not only the statehouse. but Of every
officer down to the deputy sheriff in
the field. In concert of action and
official unity is strength. In disor-
ganization and disintegration is gov
ernmental weakness. .....
A public Official has gone up and
down this state telling the people
that certain laws which he himself
was charged with Initiating the en-
forcement Of, were wholly unen-
forced. He perhaps did not realize
that his declarations amounted to
complete confessions Of his own in
efficiency. He probably did not real
ize either that he was thoroughly
three attorney generals.
Governors Shafroth and Ammons. asI
well as himself. II his statements
were only half true. II he had really
been Interested in law enforcement
he would have stopped talking and
gone to work. II in any local dis
trict the attorney failed or refused
he could have at once called to- his
aid the attorney general or governor.
His purpose, without question, was
to foster prejudice against the coal
companies and thereby establish him
self as the laboring mans champion
and friend. Our state has recently
learned how dangerous and expen-
sive 1t is to pit the laborer against
his employer. Certainly Colorado
knows now that there is little good
in fostering and creating hate and
prejudice of one set of men against
another. u,
Such studied appeals to prejudice
and such persistent reflection on the
efficiency and honesty of public Off
cials did much to prevent public sem
timent from Immediately responding
to official aid in this crisis.
Mr.. Patterson and others are
fearful of renewal of violence II the
federal soldiers be taken from the
field. Mr.. Patterson Is associated in
close party affiliation with at least
one prominent leader. he calls all the
others his friends. II he would tell
these men who control the simple
Bulgar. the Tyrolean. Italian, the
Montenegrin, Albanian and Greek,
that 1t was very wrong to challenge
tie authority of the state with armed
force, there would be little ground
for his fear. The federal troops are
asking for the surrender of their
guns, that request can very easily
be complied with and 1t would be a
simple matter to suggest and insist
upon it. do not mean a suggestion
in public print, but serious sugges-
tion in the private ear OF those who
always have been and are now ready
to listen to him. There will be no
new guns nor new ammunition un-
less bought and brought in. These
cannot be bought without mind, will,
intention and money back Of the pIr-
chase. v,.
IL the newspaper OF which Mr.. Pat
terson owns tha bonds will take a
stand for government. he need have
no fear what will happen when the
federal troops go out. Had he been
in the mining camps in the latter