The Elk Mountain pilot. [volume], August 16, 1923, Image 2

About The Elk Mountain pilot. [volume] (Irwin, (Ruby Camp), Gunnison County, Colo.) 1880-19??

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The Elk Mountain Pilot
a T. RAWALT, Publisher
MATTIE L MILLER, Loc&l Editor
Entered as Second Class Matter at the Postoffice at
Crested Butte, Colorado.
Advertising rate cards furnished on application
Subscription $2.00 per Year
READERS will note that PUBLIC OPINION has
forced the labor baiter, Judge Gary, to establish the eight
hour day in the steel mills. One more instance where
organized public agitation can and will correct wrong.
A FELLOW back east wants another constitutional
amendment forbidding any one to look as though he en
joyed life. We rather suspected the 18th amendment ac
complished that purpose. You can’t enjoy life with it.—
Durango Democrat.
■ GREAT and unseasonable rains continue to damage
many parts of the country. Denver had a veritable flood
last Saturday, and the Walsenburg country had disasterous
cloud bursts. The damaged tracks of railroads add their
quota to the disasters reported from all over the country.
GUNNISON banks have been allotted about $19,000
of D. & R. G. W. money for loaning this fall. Not a great
sum but enough to take some of the slack out of hard
times if placed to advantage by our bankers, which we
doubt not will be done. Gunnison banks have always
handled the local situation well, but this additional
money should be some help at this time.
JUDGE MORLEY of Denver, in a test case has de
cided that the two cent gasoline tax is all right except
that no part of same can be given to the counties. This
will enable the State Highwaymen to disburse the huge
fund instead of dividing it up with the country bucca
neers. Thought there would be some way found to sepa
rate the counties from their share of the gas tax.
STATE after state is following the lead of South Da
kota in making war on the gasoline trust. The result is
greatly reducing prices and will lead to an investigation,
which, unlike the recent congressional one, will probably
produce results. We firmly believe there is no trust or
combine that cannot be curbed by an awakened public
conscience. Even the colossal Standard Oil may.be com
pelled to be decent if the public concludes to fight.
OFFICIAL courtesy leads us to take a good many ac
tions we would not take otherwise; this sentiment led the
county commissioners to adopt a resolution practically
commending the Gunnison commissioners for the actions
which a jury pronounced criminal after hearing the evi
dence. Further, the Gunnison commissioners treated
their guests with whiskey, which is absolutely against the
law for private individuals as well as public officials, who
also should set an example of law enforcement.—Grand
Junction Sentinel.
ONE AMENDMENT FOR ALL
SINCE the U. S. Supreme Court, May 15, 1922, held
unconstitutional the Act of Congress intended to prevent
child labor, there has been an enormous increase in the
number of children shunted into the mills. Miss Grace
Abbott, chief of the children's bureau of the Department
of Labor, has just made public some figures collected by
the five important cities the number has been
doubled. /In the state of Connecticut, the increase has
been 57 per cent. In the city of Waterbury, it has been
800 per cent!
Miss Abbott joins other workers *in the cause of the
children in the proposal that the Constitution be jimended
in such a manner that the use of children in industry
may be properly regulated. If children can be saved from
the greed of the mill owners in no other way, this news
paper readily agrees it is time the Constitution were
amended.
But here is an alternative.
Amend the Constitution so that the courts may not
overrule the acts of Congress. That is all that is neces
sary. Congress can protect the children, if given half a
chance.
It will take years to obtain the amendment in behalf
of the children. It will take as long as it will to pass a
general amendment putting an end to the present pernic
ious practice of the federal courts.
If the American people once amend the Constitution
so that the courts cannot override the people’s wishes,
as expressed through their representatives in Congress,
there never again will be need for amending it. —Denver
Express.
THE COURTS AND THE PEOPLE
THERE is only one essential difference between a de
mocracy and an autocracy. In a democracy the will of a
majority of the people is accepted as the law of the land;
in an autocracy the arbitrary dictates of a few rulers, not
responsible to the people, must be obeyed.
Have we a demomcracy in the United States?
The overwhelming majority of the people wanted an
income tax law. Congress passel it. The Supreme Court,
by the majority vote of one man (who changed his mind
over night) declared it unconstitutional. The people
again demanded an income tax law. Congress again
passed it, this time in different form. The Supreme Court
again declared it unconstitutional. Then, after seventeen
years’ delay, the people amended the Constitution to in
sure the validity of income taxation. Congress again
passed such a law and the Supreme Court thereupon “in
terpreted” it to apply only to certain kinds of income, so
that income in the shape of stock dividends could not be
taxed—this decision, too, by a bare majority of the court!
Child labor laws, minimum wage protection for wom
en. and other important pieces of progressive social leg
islation have been enacted in response to the almoftt
unanimous demnnds of the people, and then promptly
knocked out by a bare majority of the Supreme Court.
Whence does the Supreme Court derive its power to
override the solemnly expressed will of the people? From
the constitution? No, the framers of the constitution
four times considered a provision to give the court a veto
power over acts of the congress, similar to the president’s
veto, and each time such a provision was defeated, with
never more than three states voting in favor of it. It is
an usurped power, first seized by Chief Justice John Mar
shall in the famous case of Marbury vs. Madison, and
since increasingly expanded by the fourt.
Is this power necessary to protect the liberties of the
people—to safeguard the rights of the minority, as it is
sometimes expressed? British judges have no such power,
yet civil liberties are nowhere guarded more jealously
than in Britain. In none of the other great countries of
Europe, Asia, or Africa does any judge or court possess
such power.—Locomotive Engineers Journal.
SUNDAY NIGHT MUSINGS
By C. T. RAWALT
ONE cannot but be discouraged with those people
whose powers of observation are so limited as to see the
wreckage of reform hopes in the apparent dissolution of
the National NonpaYtisan League. Our reactionary ex
changes are all chortling over the cessation of activities
of that organization in North Dakota. Can not these pa
pers recall the old Farmers’ Allliance? Can they not re
call that after an educational campaign or two it
brought forth the Populist party? The people forgot al/
about the Alliance, and centralized on Populism. Result,
they scared the republicans and democrats into running
a footrace to see how they could beat each other to a
recognition of populist demands. Both old parties for a
time became better advocates of populist reforms than
the pops themselves. That same evolution is taking place
today all over the country. The objector is organizing
under a new name and with augmented numbers that bid
fair to run into millions before the next campaign
Dream on, you sleepy reactionaries, while the armies of
producers and consumers undermine your walls.
•H* <->
M. M. RINN, in the Boulder Miner and Farmer, advo
cates the nomination of James M. Collins for governor in
1924. He insists that Collins is a real dirt farmer and
not a farmer by proxy, and indications point to the fact
that the farmers wish to vote for one of their number.
The Sterling Democrat suggests the names of Bruce
Lampson and Joseph Dillon, both farmers.—Grand Junc
tion Sentinel.
We do not know just how good any of these men
might be except James Collins. He would be an excellent
candidate. The others also might be. - But this thing is
sure: The next candidate of the democratic party for
Governor must be as satisfactory to the farming class as
was Wm. E. Sweet. To name one less aggressive for the
producers’ interests is to invite defeat. Colorado is dem
ocratic next year from rind to core, if the people are
given a satisfactory ticket. Give them an uns at isf act on
one and the republicans will capture several important
offices. They too, are going to try and be progressive,
enough to knock down some of the persimmons. The sen
atorial tickets are as good as nominated now. There will
be competition of course, but any good forecaster can see
who will be nominated. The democrats have all the
best of the senatorial race. But it is nine chances out of
ten that we have to beat Shoup for Governor with a new
man. To do that we must not lose sight of the fact that
our candidate must be absolutely satisfactory and ac
ceptable to the laboring and producing class. Theirs are
the votes we can get and the only ones that will count,
because organized greed will support Shoup to a man.
•:->
IT is to be regretted that the Democrats of Colorado
have no such political timber as John Shafroth, Tom Pat
terson and many of the early progressives. The Republi
cans now have progressives of the type of Brookhart, La-
Follette, and taken as a whole there is not much hope of
Colorado sending any progressives from either old party
to Washington.—Center Post Dispatch.
Fiddlesticks, Sister Werhle, we have just as able men
now as we ever had, all we have to do is sort ’em out and
put them on our ticket. John Shafroth left a splendid
scion in his son Morrison. John Tobin of Montrose, stacks
up with the best of the great democrats who have passed
on. Governor Sweet is making good, very good. Horace
Hawkins will compare favorably with any of the old-time
democratic leaders. Mark Skinner is a coming man in
Democratic circles who must be considered as a potent
quantity, also John Barnett. Lord, Sister, the woods are
full of big democrats. All we have to do is pick out the
most likely ones. And, we mighty near forgot to name
one recently picked out by Governor Sweet, Senator
Adams. It is the republicans who are shy of progressive
timber in Colorado.
«c~>
AT this writing it really looks as if the Old Rio
Grande were to be rehabilitated. The action of Judge
Symes in selecting a new receiver of the calibre of Thos.
H. Beacom, and his action in advising and securing the
deposit of idle railroad money in local banks along the
road for loaning to farmers to tide them over crop mar
keting, argues for better things. This paper sincerely
hopes that the receivership will continue long enough to
permit the expending of the entire sum provided for bet
terments under the direction of the court. It is safe to
say that the Rio Grande can be made a great road again.
And if Judge Symes can keep it out of hands of the
cormorants in Wall street long enough to set it squarely
on its feet, perhaps it may yet be the boon to Colorado
which its great builders planned it to be. A great oppor
tunity is in front of Judge Symes.
<->
FINANCIAL papers are commenting on the slow de
mand for sugar. They seem to be mystified because the
preserving season is not having more effect on the de
mand. While in the North Fork country last week we
found out that distillers are becoming great users of
honey in place of sugar. Also the housewives are using
strained honey for making jellies apd preserves. Honey
is equally good and costs much less, and this may. easily
account for a falling off in the demand for sugar. The
illicit distiller must get quick action in making his al
cohol and sugar has been his chief reliance. Now with
honey cheap and sugar dear he naturally uses honey and
this makes sugar return to a normal demand. For some
time we have felt that the excessive price of sugar was
largely produced by the distilling demand, and now we
feel sure we were right. The honey raiser, like the raisin
grower has prohibition to thank for his increased pros
perity.
«->
ANOTHER attempt has been made to kidnap Grover
Cleveland Bergdoll, this time by a combination of Amer
ican and European thugs. Mr. Bergdoll defended hhnself
with a revolver and killed one assailant and desperately
wounded another. The attack took place in his personal
apartments where the thugs had gained entrance in his
absence. The populace seem to uphold Mr. Bergdoll and
for a time it was feared a mob would assault the survi
vors of the raid. All participants are under arrest and
the government openly charges that this government and
the American Legion were the initiators of the plot
Both the U. S. government and the Legion deny any .par
ticipation. It is probable that the attempt was made by
thugs who sought to make money by returning Bergdoll
to a point where he could be turned over to this gov
ernment.
AND now we are to have the floating wharf boat on
the ocean. Galveston is the first to establish one, four
miles off shore where the thirsty may run out and have n
drink occasionally. Also incoming vessels may unload
their liquor, come in dry and on going out to sea again
'oad up with necessary supplies. This enterprise will
doubtless be followed by others along the coast line, and
will at least serve to accommodate vessels from the un
just and impudent interference with their shipping rights.
The interior of the country will have to depend on local
industry as per usual.
Convincing Definition
A colored parson addressed his con
gregation on a Sunday morning:
“Dearly Beloved:—De subject on
which I’se gwine on-dress you dis
mawnin* am ‘knowledge and faif;’ for
your furder salubrication on dis sub
ject, I p’ints out to you dat Sister
Smith is settin’ in one end of de pew
and Bruvver Smith is settin’ in de
odder end of the pew, and between
’em is all the little Smiths. Now den.
Sister Smith, she done knowed she’s
the Muvver of dose chillen —dat’s
knowledge. Now den, Bruvver Smith,
he done believe he’s de Fadder of dose
chillen —dat’s faif!”
•A subscription to this paper Is
worth far more than it costs. $2.00
for a full year.
flesh
CEREMONIAL PAGEANT
Wni.nl.'. |i|irlj- In Sinn. Pn.nnill In
The Garden of the Gods.
An Equal Rights ceremonial pag
eant which will be even more mag
nificent than that produced in Seneca
Falls New York, last July, will be
given by the National Woman’s Party
in the Garden of the Gods in connec
tion with the convention of the Colo
rado State Branch of the party, early
in September. This will be the first
in a series of nation-wide reproduc
tions of the Seneca Falls ceremony.
Hazel Mac Kaye, sister of Percy
MacKave. the playwright, herself
probably the foremost woman pag
eant producer in the country, reached
Colorado Springs Saturday, and at
once took charge of the preparations
which are going forward at top speed.
A committee of fifty of the most
prominent women of Colorado Springs
are asssisting Miss Mac Kaye, and
some 550 women and girls will take
part in the tableau and processional
which form a part of the pageant.
The production of the ceremonial
pageant has brought to Colorado Alice
Paul of New Jersey, internationally
known as the head of the feminist
movement in America; Anita Pollitzer
of Charleston. South Carolina, national
secretary of the Party who has led
Equal Rights campaigns in several
state legislatures; Maude Williams.
State chairman in Nevada, Florence
Rogatz, attorney of New York City,
who is national chairman of the Stu
dents’ Councils of the Party; Joan
Grayson of the District of Columbia,
national organizer; and Carol A. Reh
fisch of San Francisco, secretary of
the Woman’s Party in California.
The pageant was originally present
ed in connection with the celebration
of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the
first Equal Rights convention in the
world, which was called at Seneca
Falls, in 1848, and which drew up n
“Declaration of Sentiments” demand
ing for women complete equality with
men in eevry possible field. It por
trayed the development of the Equal
Rights movement, showing the pio
neers who participated in the first
convention, Luctetia Mott, in Quaker
costume, Elizabeth Cady Stanton,
Martha C. Wright, Mary Ann McClin
tock, Amelia Bloomer, in the garb
*he made famous, but which made her
unpopular. James Mott, and about
thirty others. The Seneca Falls pag
eant attracted so much attention
throughout the country, that it was
decided to reproduce it in every state
: n connection with the campaign for
•he Lucretia Mott amendment to the
federal constitution, reading: “Men
and women shall have equal rights
throughout the United States and
every place subject to its jurisdic
tion.”
A new feature of the Colorado Pag
eant will be the introduction of pio
neer women of Colorado who played
an important part in the early life
of the State and territory. Among
the women whose memories will be
honored in this way are Mrs. General
William J. Palmer, who taught the
first school in Colorado Springs,
named the city streets, and contrib
uted in various ways to the improve
ment of the community life; Dr. Alidn
C. Avery of Denver, who was the first
woman physician in the territory, and
was also the first president of the
Territorial Woman Suffrage Associa
tion. formed in 1876; Helen Hunt
JaCkson whose novels have, made the
romance of western life known
throughout the world; and Mrs. Mary
Wipfrey Epperson, the friend of Mrs.
Jackson and one of the most interest
ing of the pioneer women of the state.
Here’s Good News For
the Man who needs a
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LjJ ftlM H IB! Method of building a
i ■ffl jjf \mM Cord Tire.
j ■ffl ß Ml Made in all sizes
nj |JI I II 30 x 3V2 and up.
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101 l Ml are Good Tires
II 4. to
Where to buy US Jins SE!
Crested Butte Nelson & Whalen
Denver & Rio Western
Heaviest Taxpayer
in Colorado and Utah
The following statement shows Tuxes paid in 1922 by the Denver and
Rio Grande Western in Colorado, Utah and New Mexiep:
COLORADO
State Tax 73,755.26
County Tax 239,175.47
Highway and Road Tax 198,364 74
School Tax 597,148.93
City and Town Tax 33,864.57
Total Taxes Paid in Colorado * $1,142,308.97
UTAH
State Tax 1 $ 42,600.13
County Tax 82,995 26
Highway and- Road Tax 81,265.72
School Tax* 346,489.86
City and Town Tax 56,047.70
Tctal Taxes Paid in Utah z • 609,398.67
NEW MEXICO
Stale Tax $ 8,480 07
County Tax 16,818.51
Highway find Road Tax 11,348.73
School Tax 39,532 61
City and Town Tax 345.08
Total Taxes Paid in New Mexico __ 76,525.00
Grand Total 1,828,232.64
D- : ly average of Taxes paid in Colora
do, Utah. a* d New Mexico, year 1922 5,008.84
1922 Gunnison County received from the Denver and Rio Grande
./cstem Railroad ?6f.271.70 made up as follows:
Sta e T*x ___s 5,737.93
County Tax 21,297.21
Road Tax 11,511.05
School Tax 26,221.91
City and Town Tax 1,503.60
Total .$66,271.70
f ederal ownership of the railroads means the people would be deprived
of the income now accruing from these taxes. The Alaskan Railroad, post
office, forts, arsenals, etc., are not taxed, nor is any property used or con
trol.pel b> the United States and state governments assessed for taxes. The
income now derived from taxes paid by the railroads and which would be
lost under government control would have to come from some source, and
t e experience of government control of the railroads during the war sug
gests a deficit instead of a profit. How would the national, state and mu
nicipal governments make up this loss?
RAINBOW HOTEL
SALIM. COLORADO
Mrs. W. H. H. DYE, Proprietor
house 8 riTnt P an?'! y Ira *] e solicited A thoroughly modern
service ->n/i located, and one that boasts its efficient
service and courtesy to guests.
on EI S A CALI, IVHEN IN TOWN AND SEE FOB YOURSELF
Reasonable Rates
EAGLE “MlKADo”>^^^J^^p enci l No . 174
FOR THE YELLOW PENCIL WITH THE RED BAND
EAGLE MIKADO
_ EAGLE PENCIL COMPANY. NEW YORK