COLORADO
130
COLORADO
each non-mineral township, the value of which is be-
yond accurate approximation, besides school district
ownership of over $9,000,000. The total number of
pupUs enrolled in 1906 was 144,007. The teachers
numbered 4600 and the schoolhouses 2010. The
expenditure for that year was $4,486,226.78. The
pupils attending parochial schools number 5905
students; in Catholic colleges, 261 ; girls in academies,
595; total youth under Catholic care 7574. There
is a total of 537 sisters in charge of hospitals and
schools.
History. — Coronado (q. v.) probably crossed the south-east comer of the State in his celebrated expedi- tion of 1541-2, and FrancLsco Escalante explored its southern border in 1776. The first immigration was Spanish from New Mexico, at Pueblo, Trinidad, and other places south of the Arkansas River. In 1806 Zebulon M. Pike crossed the plains on an official ex- ploration and gave his name to Pike's Peak. Long's expedition was iu 1819. John C. Fremont and Kit Carson explored the mountain passes in the forties. In 1858 gold was discovered in Cherry Creek, which led to the Pike's Peak excitement and immigration of 1859. That year is the date of the first real settlement of the country by English-speaking people. (\)lcirado was organized as a Territory in 1801, and admitted as a State in 1876, with a constitution formed in that year. This explains its sentimental title of " The Centen- nial State". The State motto is Nil Sine Xumine.
Colorado coming in as an organized territory just as the Civil War broke out, the question of loyalty or secession agitated the population, but the Union men were in overwhelming majority. The Territory con- tributed two regiments to the Union Army. Since 1876 the State has generally gone Republican, but being so large a producer of silver it supported the Democratic ticket so long as the double standard of money remained an issue. There have been two or three occasions since admission when the State has paid the price for encouraging innovations parading themselves as reforms. In 1894 Governor Da\'is H. Waite, elected as a Populist but really a Socialist, ordered out the State troops in opposition to the armed police of Denver; cannon were trained on the City Hall and only his yielding at the last moment prevented what threatened to be a serious civil revo- lution. Under his administration the militia were or- dered out in the interest of the striking miners at Cripple Creek, and later in 1904 they were ordered to the same district under Governor Peabody in support of the mine-owners. Drastic deportations and vigi- lance-committee violence were committed by the State authorities, excusable, as they alleged, owing to the extreme conditions. This led to an exciting election in the fall of that year, in which Alva Adams, the Democratic candidate for governor, was undoubtedly elected and received his certificat«, but was allowed to hold office only until a recount by the legislature was decided against him and Jesse McDonald, the Republican candidate for lieutenant-governor, was given the seat.
Woman suffrage was adopted by popular vote in 189.3. It has since been in full operation, but its results for good have been nil. Only during the first few sessions were one, two, and, at most, three women elected to the legislature out of its 100 members. No woman has been elected to any State office except to that of superintendent of public instruction. Instead of being represented in conventions by nearly half, women delegates now are scarcely seen in such bodies. As a political factor they have not made either of the great parties stronger or weaker.
Religious Factors. — The State constitutes one dio- cese, with its see at Denver. Citizens of Spanish descent, about 20,000, are practically all Catholics, and there are 8,000 to 10,000 Catholic Austrians and Poles at Trinidad, Denver, and Pueblo. The Catholic
population is estimated Q908) at about 100,000.
Among the Catholics prominent in the development
of Colorado may be mentioned Gen. Bela M. Hughes,
the Democratic candidate for governor at the first
State election; Casimiro Barela and James T. Smith,
both in the legislature or executive departments of
the State Government for over thirty years ; Peter W.
Breene and Francis Carney, who held the lieutenant-
governorship ; .Senator H. A. W. Tabor, Hon. Bernard
J. O'Connell of Georgetown, Martin Currigan, and John
K. Mullen of Denver. John H. Reddin, an attorney
of Denver, was the organizer of the Knights of Colum-
bus in this State. The Catholic Church numerically
exceeds any one of the Protestant denominations.
Tlie next in numbers is the Methodist, and then comes
the Presbyterian. Although the State adjoins Utah
there are very few Monnons.
Absolute freedom of worship is guaranteed by the Constitution, and there is apparently no disposition to infringe this law. In no State is there better feel- ing between the Church and non-Catholic denomina- tions. The common law of Sunday prevails with no specific statutory change. In the cities the matter is left to local ordinance. Stores in all towns large and small are generally closed. In nearly all the cities liquor is sold under licence. In Colorado Springs, Boulder, and Greeley it is prohibited. In 1907 a local option law was passed allowing any city, ward, or precinct to prohibit all sales of liquor except by drug- gists on prescription. Little or no attempt is made in the large cities and the mountain towns to enforce the Sunday liquor law; but the reverse is the rule in most of the smaller towns in Eastern Colorado.
Legal Oaths. — A statutory form of oath is pre- scribed: the affiant shall with his or her hand up- lifted swear "by the ever living God". It has been unchanged since the first revision of the statutes. Any person having conscientious scruples against tak- ing an oath is allowed to solemnly affirm. Interrupt- ing religious meetings by profane swearing is made a misdemeanour by statute. The use of profane lan- guage is everywhere prohibited by city or town ordinance.
The State Penitentiary is at Carion City. Each county has its jail for confinement of persons held for trial or convicted of misdemeanours. There is a State School of Reform for boys and another for girls. The latter was created by an Act providing substan- tially that all its officers must be women, and has been as conspicuous for mismanagement as the school for boys has been for successful results. The legislature in 1907 created a Juvenile Court for the care of neg- lected children.
Charitable Institutions and Bequests. — Charitable institutions of any sort may be incorporated under the Acts relating to corporations not organized for profit. Barring the question whether the old Eng- lish statutes of mortmain would be held in force under a Colorado statute adopting, with limitations, the com- mon law and Acts of the British Parliament prior to the fourth year of James I (1607), which point has never been decided in this State, there is no limitation on the power of such institutions to take property by deed or will and no limitations on the power of a testa- tor to bequeath his property to them, except that neither husband nor wife can by will deprive the survivor of one half of his or her estate.
Church Property Exemptions. — Any church organi- zation may incorporate under provisions relating to religious societies (Rev. Stats, of 1908, §§ 1018 to 1033) ; but title to Catholic Church property as a rule is held by the bishop and the parishes have ordinarily no need to organize under these laws. Churches, schools, hospitals, and cemeteries not organized for profit are exempt from taxation. Public aid to any sectarian purpose is prohibited by the Constitution. Clergymen are not in terms exempt from jury duty,
