Semi-weekly herald., 1917-09-13

Democratic StlLe olllCl'l paper, tue
signed by 10 insurgent Democrats and
"Refusing to bend the neck to the
yoke of corporation agents, major
ity of the Democratic members OF
the lower house of the legislature held
caucus of the Twenty-first Gen
eral Assembly, elected A. Il. Wright
of Chaffee county chairman, Ernest
Barlow of Garfield county secretary.
protested against the election OF
Boon Best as speaker in clear-cut
resolution declared in favor of a free
legislature and an independent speak
er.
"These twenty Democrats includ
ed Representatives Wright, Owen, Du
Praw, Proske, Marold, Frisbey
Banks, Cawlfield, Furrow, Gallegos
Herzberger, Kelley, Laube, Lucero.
Mishou, Rodgers, Roth, Thompson.
Horton, Bronaugh, Friend, Canon
Representative Ardourel walked into
the caucus, and, disappearing the
plans, walked out again. Represen-
tative Evangeline Heartz, absent
from the caucus, joined forces with
the insurgents on the floor of the
house.
"The story of the revolt Of the in
people who believe in representative
government and the ideals of Wood.
row Wilson may know.
'"rhe Democratic party of Colorado
was returned to power on platform
echoing the sentiments of the nation
al convention which pledged the par
ty to fair play and the square deal
to all people.
"In January, 1917, the legislature
with large Democratic majority in
the house and working majority in
the senate, convened TO serve the
people by enacting such laws as
would insure protection and welfare
and relief from oppression by AFRO
giant interests.
"The day before the Legislature
was called to order members reached
Denver and discovered that headguar-
ters We're established in room 416 of
the Shirley Annex where Dave Howe,
agent and lobbyist for the railroads,
was in charge; that Boon Best, cat
tie baron of Kiowa county, had been
selected for speaker, patronage had
been dispensed and all that remained
for members to do was to listen to
the governor and watch the floor
leaders-Ardourel, Rogers and Crow
ley.
"The Twenty-first General Assem-
bly,, directed and controlled us it was
from outside by corporation agents
thru an alignment of stand-pat Dem
ocrats and Republicans, refused tc
enact laws which had been promised
the people, flouted labor, bent the
knee to capital and forgot the goa,
for which they had started.
"On the first week of July cal
was sent by the governor for the leg
islature to convene in extraordinary
session for the purpose of enacting
laws which would provide for the
conservation, production and distri.
button of food; to raise funds for the
creation, equipment and maintenance
of military force; to provide funds
to defray the expenses of co-opera'
tion between the state and federal
government and funds to meet wai
emergencies not specified.
"To the articles of the call the .n
surgents' subscribed to man. Here
was work for patriots. Politics must
be discarded.
"If the people had failed SO sig.
nally to find relief thru the legis.
lature in the regular session wher
Boon Best was speaker how shoule
they hope or expect fairer play from
an extra session with the same fore
es in control?
"This is the question asked by in
dependent Democrats in their eau
.us. For answer resolution was
Introduced declaring the speakershir
vacant and asking the election of a
peaker, their candidate being Bar.
icy Du Praw of Ouray.
"As tho to draw u herring across
he path o. their purpose, the cry of
reason was raised and the men who
,anted to do away with the old or
or were called obstructionists. /