The Raymer enterprise., 1923-01-11

~ the IWenfy-1Ourtn
General Assembly
started on its way, under the gold
tinted dome of the Capitol building.
Every member elect was in his seat !;
there were no contests. The names Of
the members-elect, as certified by the
secretary of state, and approved by
the credentials committee, were an
nounced. The House then proceeded
to elect a speaker; both Democrats
and Republicans had their candidates.
the Democrats presenting the name of
A. T.. Headlee of Monte Vista. and the
Republicans offering Charles c. Sack.
man of Denver; Mr.. Sackman receIv-
Ing his party vote Of thirty-three, and
Mr.. Headlee receiving the thirty-two
Democrat votes. Mr.. Suckmann was
declared elected. Mr. Sackmann nc.
ccpted the gavel with appropriate re.
marks the House rules of the last
session were adopted, committees
were appointed to arrange for the in.
auguration Of Governor Sweet, and
several routine matters; 1t was ar.
ranged for Governor Shoup to address
both Houses. in joint session, Friday
morning; Ii was his swan song,
after four years of service to the state.
Heretofore, the Senate has at
tracted the larger amount Of attention,
but this year the House is going TO
take the center Of the stage. This Is
true because the two parties are so
evenly divided, that there promises to
be something doing every minute of
the time, and hair pulling experiences
will be many, no doubt.
Governor William l.. Sweet took
charge on the 9th, and If, he succeeds
in putting over his program, as many
believe that he will, 1t Is a foregone
conclusion that Colorado will have
more progressive legislation enacted
this winter than for the last twenty
years of her history. Thus far, In or
sanizing the Assembly. the Democrats
have allowed the Republicans to have
their way, and there does not seem 10
be any disposition to thwart Mr.
Sweets program on the surface. II
the Democrats succeed, they will be on
the defensive In the next campaign :;
If the Republicans oppose, they will
have to assume the responsibility.
While this was going on in the
House, much the same proceedings
were going on in the Senate. Senator
GOlHng Fairfield of Denver was
chosen president, and the usual com
mttees were appointed, and an unuS-
uully large number of House employees
were engaged. Politically, all this pa.
tronage belonged to the Republicans
in both houses; morally, the Demo
Gratis might have been considered
more favorably.
Within the next few days many
bills will be introduced, some of them
freaks. Of course; then the Assembly
will get down to business. Already
sponsors for various measures are
busy seeking to make friends for their
cause. This Is an evil, everywhere
present, but Ii cannot be avoided: it
also has its good side. II you visit the
Legislature some day, you will wit
ness contests, political and parliamcn-
nT thn lar.
Of the state, where millions are nl
stake or the good of some institution
involved.
The personnel Of the Assembly is
good, and fairly divided, between
youth and age, LONELINESS and beauty,
Democrats and Republicans. GIancin.
over the body in joint session, we see
farmers, teachers, lawyers. doctors. in
surance men, w0rkmcn in the crafts
as well as women, for there are three
of them. Colorado was one of thr
first states that recognized that WON
en- had certain inaIienable rights"
and gave them the ballot. Politicians
do not represent, necessarily, the sur.
vival of the fittest," but rather the
survival Of, politically, the strongest.
Darwin's theory may be right, but II
does not always work in politics
In the House, men like HeadIcr.
Swelnherl. Lacy, and others, are head.
ers; In the Senate, billy" Adams,
though small in stature, Is the "Bi,.
Bertha" of that body in influence;
and, for the first session, Senator
Eaton Is the big noise. There may be
some humorists, but If so, that fact
has not yet developed. However,
some Of these fellows look rather
FUNNY. Some of them look "green."
but green things are usually growing
things, and so we have hopes.