Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-02-22
THEY MUST co.

At no time in the history of New Mex
leo has crime been 80 prolific as during
the. last four years, and by a singular
coincidence it began to increase about the
time of the organization of the first Sc
cret political societies in this territory,
and has been most prevalent in the local
tiles where secret organizations have e1-
listed.
Secret political organizations are con-
trary to the spirit of Republican or DEM
ocratic government, and should under no
circumstances be encouraged or allowed.
They are generally organized by ambi-
tious and designing persons for the pur-
pose of forwarding the political or private
fortunes o one or more of the leaders of
the party, who simply desire to use the
masses to serve their own purposes, and
to give them additional political in
fuence. 1t is almost universal that in
such organizations, sooner or later, Off
cial corruption and crime is organized
and promoted, and, too often, good men
who have joined the societies with the
best of purposes are induced to perpe-
trate crime, when they become forever
the subservient tools of those who are
cognizant of their unlawful acts. The evil
consequences of such organizations are
always greater among the uneducated and
illiterate people.
All persons at all familiar with the his
tory of crime in New Mexico must readi.
ly admit that shortly after the organiza-
tion of the secret political society in San
Miguel county, the cutting of fences, kill
ing of cattle, destruction of property and
even assassination, greatly increased, and
has continued to increase ever since It's
existence; while it has been recently
proven in legal proceedings in Santa Fe
that, within ten days after the organiza-
ton of the "Button society" here, some
of the members thereof were secretly
plotting the assassination of the sheriff
and his deputies, which crimes were
eventually perpetrated. In legal pro-
ceeding had in Bernalillo county only a
few weeks ago, it was brought out that
the section railroad foreman was shot
and the section men driven off by men,
bers of society that had been organized
for the purpose of preventing "honest
citizens who desire to labor for the rail-
road, working for less than $3.50 per
day." They not only arrogated to them
selves the privilege of determining the
value of services of other persons, and to
deprive good citizens of the right OF
earning support for their families e1-
cept upon terms agreed by this secret
organization, but went to the extremity
of attempting to take life to enforce this
view.
1t Is believed that nearly all of the in
crease of crime in New Mexico during the
last five years is direct result of these
secret organizations, and can, in great
majority of cases, be traced directly 10
one or the other of these societies.
The peace and prosperity of this terri
tory; the good name and welfare of its
people, demand their suppression. It is
the duty Of all, irrespective of political
party affiliations, to join hands to bring
about this result. The welfare and adj
vancement of New Mexico is above party
affiliations. A united effort of the press,
assisted by the religious influence and
the aid of all good people, should be able
to suppress these associations, and by 80
doing put an end to crime in this terri
tory. It is hoped that this united effort
may be made and war waged against
them until they cease to exist. Let the
good work begin at once.