The Elk Mountain pilot., 1922-10-19
Shall We Russianize Colorado f?
Three Articles Analysing the Ranger Problem and
Comparing it's Capacity for Good and Evil.

every passerby to pointed nquisition, riding post
haste though dreadful revolution foot,
the American in his local community has ordinarily
found control in his capacity for sefgovernment and in
the restraining influence of local opinion In Romanoff
Russia the state police kept diligently spying in schools
in local assemblies into the backfence gossip of
housewives for prospective dsloyalty the Gar while
the current of American life quietly freely along,
disturbed and then by sporadic act of way
wardness crime which the local police adjusted the
local courts but unchecked by officous inter-
ference.
The state police system of Europe was a few years
since transplanted to Pennsylvania Pennsylvania,
the Civil in the deadening grip of gigantic, reac-
onary political machine and, lately, almost
matched in its subservience corporation control
among the least democratic of states Some other
states have followed Pennsyvanas lead and. 1atery
Colorado Colorado inaugurated the State Rangers amid
the fears of wartime To organize troop que pos
sibe traitors seemed to many of our citizens wise
precautionary measure But to maintain that troop,
when the dangers of treason have vanished
dent of awing dissatisfied workingmen-that
of is quite another question on which
issue is joined in the present campaign.
In the Inauguration of the police system Penn
sylvania opened line in American government. For
it began the first serious trespass that local self
government, which, have seen, is the crowning
glory of Amercanism There is indeed no constitu-
tonal why state governments abolish
local control and independence altogether Our state
Legislatures presumably might eliminate control of
schools and local control of taxation of them
have made beginning of eliminating control Of
police directing all these matters from the capital
as in Europe
Undoubtedly superior. efficiency may be claimed for
this departure. democratic scheme government
never be efficient scheme under unitary control
But in the efficiency Is gained, local indepen
dence is lost which is by much loss of that
terstic Americansm been our proudest boast
through all history.
The deeper question facing the voter in Colorado
day is then, whether he hopeless about
sheris neficiency and alarmed by the risks herefom
that he is willing surrender his independence the
and glory Of American to that
Ihighyperfected efficiency which indsputaby within
reach of state police that will adopt the Russian meth
ods On this question William Sweet unequivocaly
stands for return to timehonored American prac
tice
The American plan of government confessedy has
faults Dependence the democratic principle must
always be daring and hazardous experiment until all
men shall by light and leading to the point where
they will not abuse their liberty Yet American plan
has been productive of rich fruits in freedom and
passable results the of order At any rate let
us forget this Trust in mans capacity for self
is in the light of history infinitely wiser than
trust in the strong of repression.
Let William Allen White speak here. He is talking
Kansas but his words pertinent any state and
at any time. This state today is in danger from
suppression than from violence because in the end sup
preston leads to violence Violence indeed is the child
of justice Whoever pleads Justice helps keep the
peace and whoever rampes upon the plea Justice
emperately made in the of peace only outrages
peace and kills something fine in the heart of which
God put there when got manhood When this is
killed, brute meets brute each side of the line.
So dear friend, put fear of your heart This
on wiil survive this state will prosper the orderly bus
ness of life will go forward if only men can speak in
whatever way is given them what their heart
hodsby voice, by postcard BY letter. by press Rea-
has failed Only repression have
made wrecks in the world"