Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-09-17
AFFAIRS OF STATE.
The Educational Department Made the
Special Order for this Even
ing's Session.
The Optic Man Barred Out for Misrep'
resentation-Cr owding the
Good Work.

said:
Before the convention proceeds to its
usual business | wish to make few re-
marks on q matter OF the highest import
ance. would have preferred to bring it
m at later hour, when some persons
whom | do not see here might be present,
hut as think it demands immediate at
tention | think best to proceed now. This
has now been in session for
two weeks. We have been hard at work
during all that time, and have accom-
pIisled a very considerable amount in the
wa, of articles adopted. Members OF this
are here at a time of the year
when it is very difficult for the great ma
iority Of them to be absent from their
homes. A great many of US are here at
II great sacrifice Of our personal interests
and business. With a great many 1t Is a
great hardship to remain here, without
nay, paying their own expenses, and in
many instances paying some of the ex-
penses of carrying on this convention.
From what l have observed in the pro-
ceedings of this body think am enti-
tied to say, that, taken as Il whole, and
myself as one of the humblest
members Of this convention, it is body
OF hard working, patriotic citizens, who
ARE here endeavorlng to discharge the
duties imposed upon them by their fell
low citizens according to their respective
We have had some differences
OF opinion as to the ACCESSIBILITY of adopt
ing this or that article which has been
proposed. 1t is characteristic of human
nature that such differences of opinion
should exist as have shown themselves
in shape OF debates upon this floor. 1t
is, how ever, to I've observed that these diff
ierences ii opinion have been expressed
ut all times in Il courteous manner. Our
deliberations have been conducted
with the utmost good nature
and the questions have been
settled, as they should be, by vote after
every one has had an opportunity to eX'
press his opinion. Now, Mr., President,
under these circumstances believe that
the work OF this convention is entitled tC
fair amount Of respect before the people
OF this territory. We may make some
mistakes. We do not pretend to he in
iallibe. 1t would be strange if we did
not make SOME mistakes, and for the err
rors we may commit, individually or col
lectively. | think We all stand ready tc
be responsible to our constituents. II
will lie enough for US, probably, to mee
that responsibility, but it is certainly ask
ing little too much of us, Individually
and rs a convention, to be charged before
the people with things We do not do. Anc
this brings me, Mr.. President, to {
matter in regard to which | arose, and
now send up to the secretary's desk il
the first place Il Geographic dispatch, pur
porting to give some OF the proceedings o
this convention, which appeared in thu
l. as Vegas Optic of Last Saturday, anc
ask that it he read.
(The Optics special was here read
Now, MIR. President, this article appears
TO be Geographic dispatch, dated the
l4th OF September, which appeared last
Saturday in the daily Optic, published il
Las Vegas, in the county have thu
honor to represent upon this floor as ont
of its delegates. had occasion to go t
Las Vegas on Saturday evening, ant
spent yesterday at that place. fount
the people there in state OF some LITTLE
excitement, at least those whom l met
growing out of statements in this dispatch
and | WAS piled with questions by many
of my felow-citizens desiring to have
some explanation us to why this conven
ton WAS making itself ridiculous, getting
itself into the state of mind indicated il
the latter part of this dispatch, and passing
"a constitutional provision of the character
indicated in this dispatch? why it was tina
! as q member from that county WAS II
favor Of taking the rights OF election from
the people? Furthermore, the dispatches
which appear in this paper are COPIED
in various other newspapers OF the terri
tory. They are copied abroad in other
states, and the substance of item in
many cases is telegraphed as part o.
the press dispatches to other news
papers throughout the country. If yol
v i'll observe, Mr.. President, the wordins
Of that dispatch, it will be apparent tha
If it was sent out 10y person who hac
any opportunity for ascertuining the pro
cee,iings of this convention, it coul'
only have been conceived in malignity q
the most despi,able kind, and COMPOSED
without the slightest reference to the
truth. You will observe tn 1T this dis
patch states that the elective right
have been stricken out" and that it i.
now made the duty OF the governor ''tt
appoint The district judges and thei
clerks" whereas every member OF THU
con ention knows that previous to the
time when this paper appeared, which
WAS about = o'clock in tie evening OF
Saturday, this convention had alread,
adopted an article providing that the dis
trict judges an clerks should be elected
by the people OF their respective dis
tricts; and that the onl y action which
had been taken by this convention pre-
vious to that time on the subject OF aT'
puintment of officers of this character
was applicable to the judges OF the su
pfeme court, as to whom We had pro
vided that they should be appointed by
the governor with the concurrence of the
senate, therein initiating the selection o
the supreme court OF the United States
and the courts in sixteen or seventeen
states. This dispatch carefully refrain!
from stating anything OF that kind, bu
confines itself entirely to the subject o
the district judges and their clerks, as t.
both Of Which the author OF this dis
patch knows very well, and mus
have known when he prepared
it, that this convention VA
unanimous. He knew, furthermore, tina
it was this very subject of the election o
clerks OF the district courts upon which
the people OF the entire territory wer,
more sensitive than any other. After
had explained to those who interrogate,
me upon the subject exactly what thu
convention had done, ! found genera
approval of the action of the convention
with regard to the appointment and cleo
ton Of the supreme and district judges re
+pectively. When the people with whom
| ronversed aseertained just what we ha'
done they appeared satisfied with it, ant
at the same time they all expressed tin
utmost regret that such reports as thi
should 70 out, because they tended t.
bring the action of the convention in dis