Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1890-06-28
Mr.. PRESTON'S VIEWS,
The Contest for Delegate and the state
Constitution-The Apportiopmept'

To the Editor of the New Mexican
! SANTA FE, June 2S.-Your policy Of
calling for an expression Of opinion on
the recent action of the central commit
! tee is, in my estimation, wise one.
! The party to-day is in better shape for
carrying out strong and aggressive CAIN
paign, with an almost certainty OF sue
cess, than it has been for years. We
have, to use a Democratic smile, all the
cards in our hands, All we have to do IS
play them rightly and we are sure to win.
A mistake now would be ruinous; not
for the issue OF the approaching election
alone, but also for the future.
Personally | believe the resolution Qf
the central committee to run full state
ticket to be, if not unwise, at least haSty,
and should receive full thought and dis
cussion before final determination. II
strikes me the better plan would be to
not even submit the constitution at the
coming election, but rather concentrate
all our time and energies on the single
issue of the race for delegate, With the
mistake the Democrats have made OF OPP
posing admission under the present con-
stitution, as handle, we are in condition
to make the fight of our lives this fall
and if s~e can then elect Republican
delegate, the remaining part OF the voyage
will be plain sailing.
Then reconvene the constitutional con-
vention and let that body change the APP
portionment in accordance with the fig
ures of the present census. This will be
no recognition of flaw in the present con-
sttution, but simply change to the
latest authoritative figures. That Will
silence the present criticism, or rather
howl, for can not call it criticism, and
will show to all that the party means ialrlv
and only seeks statehood through straight
channels. Submit the constitution so
changed and it will carry beyond doubt
for there will be found hundreds of Dem
/ ocrats who would rather live in Re-
publican state than Democratic terri
tory" so much so that even the party
lash will not whip them into line. That
| is factor in carrying the constitution
which we surely should avail ourselves OF ;
in fact it would be suicidal to throw it
away Yet if We run a state ticket for
visionary offices at the same election We
vote upon the constitution, We can as
certainly count on every one OF those
Democratic votes going against the con-
atDtutlon as We are now sure Of them Tor
it.
The strongest argument have heard
advanced in favor of submitting the con-
stitution along with the state ticket, is
that the interest Of the candidates in their
own election will counterbaance the
feeling OF apathy that otherwise may ex-
ist But is it not also true that there will
be another feeling OF apathy and indil-
ference to be met even if the ticket is
run? The election itself will not be the
real contest; that will be practically ended
with the nominations, and the defeated
candidates for nomination will hardly be
as enthusiastic over the result OF the vote
on the constitution as they would be if the
hope OF Office were still before them. The
whole situation can be put thus: a vote
on the constitution, changed to meet the
howl about the apportioHment, is sure to
carry; vote on it, with state ticket tail
to the kite, may iail. Is it not more pru-
dent to take no chances by antagorizing
friends of statehood? Respectfully,
GEO. G. PREsroN.