Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-09-18


port of the transactions of the COM
missioners when the subject was un-
der consideration the Chicago News
says: FINALLY, however, the matter
was referred to a special committee
composed Of the national commits
sioners from Wyoming, New Mexico,
Virginia Massachusetts and Ken
lucky, with President Thomas w.
Palmer as ex-oficlo chairman. This
special committee was authorized to
meet at the call of the chairman and
was empowered to send for persons
and things. President Tom Palmer
tells us that he shall insist upon only
one point 50 far as the poem is con
cerned, and that is one involving the
meter. Being a confirmed pedeOt-
Omist, he viii insist upon the poets
adopting for his rhythm that parta-
cular style Of feet known as greater
Alcaic." Now IL the matter is to be
left to a committee Of which, Richard
Mansfield White is a member the
pOetsof New Mexico from Captain
Jack Crawford to Ex-Governor Ross
may look for n fair show, yet we can
tell all the poets in the territory that
while the commissioner from New
Mexico will see they have even and ex-
act justice and an ample opportunity
to bring their poetical effusions be-
fore the committee, yet G when it
comes to voting on the election of a
poet the vote of Richard Mansfield
White will be cast for William Alci-
bides LeoRard of Silver City. OF all
the productions of New Mexico, be
they mineral, agricultural, live stock,
or even fair senorites Mr.. White as
surcs the LIBERAL there is nothing to
compare with the literary eftusions
which Mr.. Leonard effuses and of them
all his poems stand at the head. Of
ten during the last session of the legis-
lature when Mr.. White was waiting
for the honorable body TO pass the bill
approprlating money to be expended
by the commissioners, this important
business would be interrupted by Col.
Dick Hudson, who would want a COW
bill passed Immediately, or by the
Hon. Pedro Perea, who would again
desire to inform the council that his
finance bill had saved the territory
thousands of dollars-by stopping the
payment of honest debts-or when
Judge Thomas Catron was informing
the benlghted Legislators how anxious
he was for the passage of a free school
bill. When these interruptions would
come to vex his soul Mr.. White was in
the habit of taking a chew Of gum
and a volume Of Mr.. Leonard's poems
and retiring to the seclusion of a
committee room until the voice Of the
Interpreter would inform him that
business Of Importance was again be-
lag transacted. Mr.. White has often
told us that if ithad not been for that
volume Of poems he would have de-
serted the legislature and left it to
work out its own salvation as best il
could with the aid of the Hon. A. B..
Fall and Ada IIumes. 1t was then
that we, that is to say Mr.. White the
writer, and Mr.. Leonard, put up the
job to have DIR. Leonard elected poet
laureate Of the Worlds Fair. The
work has been carried on very quitely
but Mr.. Leonard now has in his pos
session letters from all the members
of this cOmmitte, except the gentle
men from Massachusetts, who is
pledged to one of his constitutions,
named Holmes we believe, pledging
him their votes. Mr.. Leonard also has
promises from the commissioners from
all the states east of Pennsylvania and
south of the Ohio river, and when the
day of poet election comes he will have
a walk over, practically speaking there
will be no opposition. 1t is only with
in the past few days that promises
were received which assured his cleo
ton and we are now at liberty
to announce that he has receiv-
eu Inese assurances and TO
congratulate him on his good
fortune. Mr.. Leonard has been hard
to work for some time on this ode
which he calculates will be the mast
erpiece of his life's work. We have
been permitted to see portions Of this
work and we can safely assure our
readers that when it is given to the
public they will be permitted to read
something which win do New Mexico
proud. Mr. Leonard has produced
what might be called the
frame work of a poem that is entirely
original. As New Mexico is different,
and better, than all the rest Of the
world, so is this poem different, and
better, than any other poem that has
even had printed. The LIBERAL is
not, of course, at liberty to reproduce
any Of this poem, but it can announce
it will eb read from the grand stand
at the Fair Just after the procession of
nations and will be printed In the LIB
go - a. OIL. Taa- |