Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-01-07
Rankin and Mora.

The following telegram is appearing
in the various papers of the country
under the form of press dispatch from
Albuquerque: "Col. Don j. Rankin, rep
resentative from this county, has re-
turned home from Santa Fe. He was I'M
seated by the Democratic house without
investigation and Francisco Lucero WAS
seated in his place. Mr.. Rankin had
over 700 majority. He reports that the
signature of Vidal Mora, Republican
from this county, was obtained in Secre-
tary Mller's Office after drugglng the
man, and that he was carried there by
four men,"
The author of the telegram, whoever he
may be, seems to have been guided in
sending 1t out by desire to
1NJURE THE TERRITORY
of New Mexico among her friends in the
states, for a vier concoction of misrepre-
sentation was never presented to public
sight. The fact that such dispatch was
sent out shows that the Albuquerque
penny-a liners are persisting In sticking
knife in the throat of our territorial ad-
vancement and that they will continue SO
to do just as long as they can get pay for
such conduct. The truth of the matter, as
every one who knows the facts or cares
to know them is aware, is that Rankin's
apparent majority was the result of
frauds in Bsrnalillo county; that the
house committee appointed to look into
the matter had evidence submitted which
showed these frauds to be sweeping in
their character; and that Rankin, doubt
less actuated by recognition that his
cause was
HARDLY CAPABLE OF DEFENSE,
failed to put in an appearance when his
case was to be heard, although he had
been served with notice of the contest
and the fact that it would be heard. That
he remained away was in keeping with
the general imbecility displayed by the
Republicans in their now-famous walk
out; for had they remained in the house
and performed their duty, under the law,
in hel ping to organize the legislature
they would to some extent have averted
the conseq uences, which their foolish
conduct in establishing and maintaining
Fort Catron for forty eight hours brought
upon them.
AS to the second statement to the effect
that Vidal Mora, in signing the oath, did
40
BroAUsE HE WAS DRUGGBD,
Secretary Miller said this morning:
"Mora came to my Office Monday night
accompanied by H. L. Ortiz, of Santa Fe,
Nestor Montoya, of Albuquerque, Jose
Montoya, of Albuquerque. his cousin, and
one or two othcrs. He stated that he de
sired to take the oath of Office and told
him that as he had certificate of cleo
ton was prepared to administer it.
"He hesitated little on the ground that
he wanted further assurance that certain
offices would be given four of his friends
whose names he had on piece of paper.
told him that I had absolutely nothing
to do with that matter, my sole duty un
der the law being to administer the oath
when he was prepared to receive it. After
further conversation in Spanish with
those by whom he was accom-. panied, he
TOOK THE OATH
and signed the roll of the house. That
he was incapable of properly doing 30
on account of drugs or from. oths, causes
is entirely false. The contrary, the
concern ne showed about having HE
friends provided for in consideration of
his performance of tins duty showed him
to be in full possession of all his facul-
ties. He was not carried into my Office
by four men, as the article states. In
fact he seemed in every respect mentally
and physically qualified to drive what he
appeared to consider very sharp politi-
cal bargain"