The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1922-04-13

N0t 70 0Ohott tn0 fATUhoF0 IN
the End.
The highest duty citizen Of the
United States owes his family and the
community in which he lives, Is to do
his part In making this government.
local. state and national. the best
possible. And this result he can &C.
complish only by paying some atten-
ton to civic matters.
True it is that q large number Of
business men and active farmers give
little attention to what they call poll
tics" They do not take the part In
their party affairs they should. They
say. "Oh, l am too busy, and leave
that for the fellow who hasn't any.
thing else to do" but the fellow who
hasn't anything else to do, US matter
Of fact, IL putting In all his time DO.
ING OTHERS.
For 4 number Of years there was Q
loud clamOr for the primaries. The
objection to the old system was that
the bosses ran things" The conten
ton was that the people should speak
more directly as to who should be the
candidates on the different tickets. So
we got the primaries. But who
speaks? All the people? The figures
taken from the primary votes ever
since Colorado has had this sO-called
reform. show that mighty small
minority of the voters so to the pri.
mary polls, and so mighty small
number of people name the candidates
on their tickets.
But is the primary system at fault
No; not the system. The fault lies
with the people who do not pay
enough attention to who are going to
be their party candidates; not enough
attention to seeing that able. loyal
capable and conscientious men are se
lected for important positions. II
every Republican would go to the pri
mary polls and vote us candidates on
his ticket for the ablest men avail
able, and every Democrat would dc
the same, then the people would have
presented two tickets OF high class
men, and it would simply be Ques
ton Of party superiority rs to who
would be elected. but no matter which
ticket was successful Mt the polls. the
people of the state could, and would
have confidence in the men and know
that no legislation dangerous to thu
general welfare Of all the people
would result.
Two years ago men with ulteriol
motives were in Colorado. They hat
been working for many months prev
ious. They were organizing what they
called the NOnpartisan League. 1t wal
''wOnderful' organization to save
the farmers. At the same time 1t wal
wonderful" organization to secur,
money from the farmers that the or
ganixers, lecturers. managers and agi
tatOrs might enjoy an easy living
Then the primaries came. These out
siders, not taxpayers In Colorado. di
rected the faithful little army the!
had raIsed-and the members OF thll
army, as q rule, were merely deceived
Northumberland 'stOle" one OF tn,
old parties. naming inen for office wht
were Obsessed with Ideas detrimental
to the welfare of the state and thu
people. Do yOa suppose they cOult
have done this II the loyal member
Of that party had done their duty
Had gone to the polls md voted fOl
men and women who stood fiat fOOtet
for the principle of that party? Sur,
they could not. Then. where lies tn,
fault? Why, with those who remained
away from the polls.
The same scheme Is to be wOrke,
again this fall. The same agitator,
and their cohorts have been busy II
the country for some time. The,
have gained control In many section,
Of I'M established and respected farm
ers' organization - the Farmers
Union. In the city they have gainet
control of respected labor organixn
lions and under the name OF ''labOl
and farmer" they IRE going into tn,
primaries OF one Of the old parties thi,
fall and name as candidates OF tina,
party--nOt men and women pledged I,
the principle Of that party-but mcr
and women pledged secretly and In nd
vance, to these radical leaders. to pas,
legislation which would put Colorado
bnck many years and materially nffect
the welfare Of every line OF bushes,
In the state.
II they succeed In this. who will he
to blame? Why the business men. tin
farmers. the loyal wngc.cnrncrs. who
stand aloOf and refuse to do theIl
duty. There 10 no use kicking nbout
taxes when those who force thes.
taxes nrc men who pay no taxes. and
nre In public positions simply because
the men who must pay the frcIgh,
refuses to take hand.
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