Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-11
EDITORIAL, CONVENTION SKETCHES,

EDITORIAL CONVENTION SKETCHES,
Lieut., Col. Theodore W. Heman, OF
White Oaks, one Of the representatives OF
Lincoln county in the convention, is q
native OF st. Louis Mo. He was born
March /, 1872. lie graduated from the
central high school of St. Louis, and
while holding the position of bank teller
he joined the Union forces i'll the civil
war. He was proved to be brave and
efficient soldier by several promotions
during active service, reaching the rank
of lieutenant colonel in the 46th regl-
ment OF Missouri state troops. He was
given various positions OF importance in
st. Louis, among which were those OF sec
rotary md treasurer Of the Iron Mountain
railroad, receiver Of three life insurance
companies and secretary and manager OF
the St. Lous Mining and Stock exchange.
Col. Heman came to New Mexico III
1881, attracted by the White Oaks gold
mines, in which he has since been inter-
ested. He is one of the prominent and
enterprising citizens Of Lincoln county,
and has greatly promoted the building OF
the Kansas City, FL Paso q Mexican rail-
road, now being constructed from Ell Paso
to White Oaks. lie is q director OF this
road and the protector of other railroads
in Lincoln county, which will eventually
develop the rich country OF the Pecos. A
straight forward Republican, when to be
such required the sacrifice OF friendships,
Col. Heman has been steadfast supporter
of the party in New Mexico. lie took an
active part in the convention and was an
efficient worker in committees.
Hon. William G. Ritch was born In
New York, May i, 1880. A good academic
education fitted him early for practical
business, which he began as an architect
and builder, after holding deputy clerk
ship for Ulster county, N. Y. He was
thus employed in Hudson, Mich, when
he married q daughter OF Hon. BARNS
Babcock, prominent citizen and mem
Der of the constitutional convention IN
Wisconsin. Mr.. Ritch soon after his
marriage made his home in this state,
and was repeatedly chosen to fill the Of
flee of clerk in his county. The civil war
found him a ready volunteer in the union
army. He was appointed adjutant OF the
46th Wisconsin regiment, and did honor
able service till the end Of the war. In
1868 Mr.. Ritch was elected to the state
senate. Here he had a recognized posi-
ton as q prominent member OF the legls'
lature, where against much opposition he
secured the adoption OF assessment and
taxation laws of special importance and
value to the state. He was honored with
the office of presidential elector when
Gen. Grant entered upon his first term
as president.
In 1869 Mr.. Ritch became the editor
and proprietor of the Press, q newspaper
published in Wisconsin, and was very
active in politics till 1872, when forced by
ill health to relinquish his position as edi
tor. About this time President Grant
appointed him for three successive terms
to the oiEce Of secretary OF New Mexico
for which Mr. Ritch's personal quaIltle:
and experience specially fitted him. The
frequent absence of the governor devolvet
upon the secretary executive duties Which
he ably discharged. Gov. Ritch was vel
known and felt in the administration 0
territorial affairs. OF positive conviction
and clear view of the peculiar disad
vantages OF New Mexico at that time TO
healthy growth into statehood, he firml.
advocated and maintained the principle
of government and social conditions AM
legislation which would ultimately prevail
III this territory.
Gov. Ritch was respected for his patriot
ism and pertinacity in upholding Repub
licanism and loyalty to the union, and aIst
for his vigorous cooperation, when acting
governor, with the military authorities
during the Apache outbreaks. no ordi
nary frmness or sagacity would have
served the needs of New Mexico at some
critical times in the long period Of his Off
cal life here. Gov. Ritch retired from
active politics in 1884 to cattle ranch il
Socorro county, of which he had previously
become proprietor, where he has made
success in adverse times Of stock raising
and turned San Andres park into a habita
BILE portion of the territory. Elected witt
others to represent Socorro county in the
state convention, he was made membeI
of five committees and chairman of thu
committee on education. The credit 0
the sound educational provisions of thu
constitution belongs very largely to- Gov
Ritch, who originated them and man
aged, with few others, to secure thei
hearty adoption.
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Commencing Monday, October Is
1888, the WABASH ROUTE, in connection
with the Union Pacific railway, Kansas
division, will run new and elegant Butfe
Pullman cars daily between Cheyenne