The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1889-07-20
THE CnIcAGo WEEKLY News. and
LINCOLN Go. LEADER. year 81. Z 5
A QUESTION ANSWERED.

Ii Is u notorious tact that the
Democratic party of this Territory
as represented by its managers, are
opposed to Statehood, and under
this advice the several Democratic
boards of County Commissioners
propose violating plain mandatory
Instructions touching the legal call
ing oi el, CT Ons and the looking to
the carrying ont OF the law relative
t" such duties as dcvolve upon
them as commissioners. Chairman
OF the Taos Go. Board recently
wrote to Il. +. Twitch, II. Atty.
Gen, Santa Fc, tor instructions
and received in reply the following
which we commend to our Lincoln
County Board, which. We under
stand propose acting upon the
lpartizau advice of Gilderslcevp,
Chairman Of the Territorial Dem.
ocratic Committee rather than ny
on the law which their uaths re.
quirc them to follow. The letter
1T the ATTORNEY General is us Il.
10 ~:
Sn: | am in receipt If your favor
{! inu !'ih.. asking lnc whether.
under the circumstance related by
YOU, i. e., that neither of the poIiI-
.cLl parties IN your county intend
10 Nominate can,lidatcs tt,r the
coming constitutional convention.
ii Is necessary to issue an election
proclamation and apl ONT the nd
scs ;.id c TX 1T eclection.
Krpl\ins. / desire To Inform you
mat your duties as board of
county commissioners, in so far as
me said election /, concerned. are
clearly defined in section 3 of the
act oi the 18th Legislative assembly
entitled '';.n act to provide for II
constitutional convention and the
formation ct IL state constitution
and tor other purposes. That
sect."n provides t.I.t tn. election
shall DC held oh the first Monday
i'll August, 1889; tnat the election
shall be conducted III all respects
as elections under the general laws
vi tic errlturA; that the several
boards OF county commissioners
OF the territory are required to
issue notice OF such election at
least twenty days prior 10 sand
date; you are also required to APP
point lnd yes of elections, receive
and cnn.'ass the returns and do
and perform all other things re-
qui-tle and necessary in the pre-
misses. In fact, do not see how
any question could arise as TO your
duties in this matter. The statute
prescribes your duties and per-
usal thereof will DO all that is
necessary,
The statute prescribed that the
election in question shall be con
Quoted in ali respects Ms elections
under the general laws Of the ter
rilory. OF course amy Gereliction
OF duty on your part will render
NOu and each member OF Your
county board liable to the penal
ties imposed for failure to comply
with the general electioI laws of
the territory, so tar as they ielate
to the calling of elections, etc.
What that penalty is, is prescribed
IN section 1905 OF the Compiled
Laws et n. NJ. 1884.
Your duties are plain and they
should be followed to tho letter.
1t can make no difference to you
in your official capacity what plan
or cnur e has been determined up
on hy any p"liical party. aud in
matters ut tbi, kind, iIvoiying II
,..D X and sih,iai duty, you are
suprosed to know NO party what
ever; the ga -tlon Of saving ct eN
penses does NOT enter into the mat
/ tor a.iS your action must not be
prciniiced on tina, ground or bv
any lapse of political interest in
yonr community.