The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1915-09-30


at Echo l asst Week..
find that most of you would rather
be trying this Road than listening to
those who will talk about it, but the
gods have been good to us, and have
placed this wondrous sky over US on
this day. In fact l know that the Al
mighty never achieved greater sue
cess than when he made Colorado all
together. (App,ause.)
Your program says viii include
Statesmen of National prominence"
Yesterday / received a telephone
message to come to this celebration
because these men, these Statesmen
of national prominence, had failed to
materalize, and they wanted me to
come. Well, am good natured, and
SO am here. Like Senator Thomas,
thank God am here. and that they
failed to come, and permitted me to
be on this platform today. l am
grateful to Mr.. Hardy, and the men
who at late hour invited me to par
ticipate in this celebration, because
1t means more, stands for more. tnan
anything that has ever taken place in
Colorado.
l believe in preparedness, but when
I think of it, cannot help thinking
that one battleship would build 1000
miles Of road, and ! believe the one
is a greater element in civilization
than is the other. l believe there is
more power in digging irrigating
car ais than in digging graves. Gap
plause.) We are more in accord
with the great spirit OF God in max
ing this country fit for people to live
in that we are IN killing on the young
men of the land. We Of C-lJrado
and America ought to get down on our
knees with gratitude that while the
world is at war We are at peace.
while at the head OF our great nation
there stands a man. statesman. con-
| fident and patriotic, man who dares
to treat the nations of the world as
honest men treat honest men.
In conclusion, these CT you who may
criticise some of the work that has
been done and the money that has
been spent on roads. let them think
that the money thus spent, the money
spent in building roads and developing
our resources, making easy the ways
of our people is economy. not extrava-
gance, It is statesmanship. and
ought not to be criticised.
| A few days ago in Egypt they dug
up an old statue OF that great Egyp-
tian King Ramesis, the great canal
builder and road builder. and upon
that statue there was written these
words: Il am the King of Kings
Let those who doubt It. look upon my
work and surpass it. II they can Sc
we say to the critics and those who
object, look upon the work our poor
convicts have done, look upon the
work which the genius OF our road
work has started, and then IL they
cannot surpass these achievements,
then in Gods name let them keep sill.
ence. rr
II is to celebrate an event which.
as Senator Thomas has said, means
much not alone to this valley and
Colorado. but 1t is national in its
influence. Anything that brings to-
gether and makes easier the meeting
of the people of our country Is an
advantage to all the nation. 1t uni
fies the people, it strengthens the
nation. and it makes for good gov
ernment. good citizenship and for
prosperity. This is what we cele-
broader sense the greatness OF our
state and glory of our nation. Had
| 1t not been for that invitation yester-
day, would probably have been in
DenveS in bankers convention.
with $40 banquet invitation in my
pocket. Right here, under these won
drous skies, in this spot here, I have
had a finer banquet than was ever
laid in any palace in any city OF the
land, and around 1t are friends who
have achieved and accomplished some
thing; they are a credit to Colorado.
In fact, today there is no advantage
that heaven can offer over Colorado.
In fact. I do not know that heaven
has any particular advantage. unless
/ 1t may have better roads and more
angels. (Applause). We are going to
improve upon the roads and we still
have some angels here. So for my
part. have no ambition to change
my residence from Colorado to the