Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-11-30
PRESS COMMENT.
Delegate CatrOn's Plans.

The Optic is able to speak with author
ity as to the intentions of Delegate Cat
ron, who left this week for Washington,
D. G., to take his place in the new and
Republican congress. Having already
defined his position, and given express
sion to his intentions with reference to
number of important Issues, the Optic
will conclude this subject by statement
of his views and plans in the matter of
free silver and other sub jects with which
our delegate has made himself thorough
ly familiar.
Mr.. Catron will favor the free coinage
of silver in whatever shape it may pre-
sent itself before congress, provided that
shape is one to command the aid of the
Republican party. Mr.. Catron does not
believe that the Democratic party, as a
whole, cares for the support of the west,
in order to aid US, but only to aid them
selves in the south and east. The west
stands in different relation to silver
from that of the south and east. We are
producers of the meta, while they are not;
and as such producers We must demand pro-
tection and aid for silver as our product,
Just as the demand is made for the pro-
tection of any other industry or product
of the country. In such demand we must
look, of necessity, to the party of protec-
ton, the Republican party, and not to
anti-protection Democrats, opposing pro-
lection wherever found. At the same
time we must do whatever will bring into
our country tie greatest amount of
money. Then, too, whatever kinds of
currency we may have must be kept uni
form in value, each kind with the Others
That is to say, there must be fixed value
for all.
In the matter of the alien land law, Mr..
Catron is decided and pugnacious. He
will bend his best energies to secure its
repeal, or such a radical amendment of
the act as will free New Mexico from its
curse. That act has been in force for
nearly nine years, and has done more
harm to the people of this territory than
all other adverse influences combined, or
than anything else which has happened in
the last fifty years. 1t has absolutely
paralized the sale of real estate to for
eigners, and almost entirely stopped the
development of mining industries. Of
course, the admission of New Mexico to
statehood will of itself nullify that act.
Hence, this is one Of the reasons of Mr..
Catron's ardent efforts for statehood.
The donation of the arid lands to the
states and territories in which they lie,
and the setting apart of large portion
Of them for educational purposes, are
measures to which Mr.. Catron has long
been pledged, and concerning which he
has seen no reason to change his views.
His earnest efforts will be given to secur-
ing these desirable enactments.
In his efforts to secure such legislation
as the Optic has outlined, and which he
regards as vital to the best interests of !
New Mexico, Mr.. Gatron relies upon aid
from Senator Elkins and other members
of congress, whom he knew in boyhood's
days. Prominent among those from
whom he expects assistance, are Senator /
Platt, of Connecticut, who will most like
ly again be chairman of the senatorial |
committee on territories; Senator Carter,
of Montana, chairman of the Republican
national central COMMITTEES; Gov. Warren,
of Wyoming; and Senators Teller, VOL
colt, Stewart and Jones. With such back
ing and his own undenied ability, New
Mexico's delegate may be expected to do
much good for the territory.--Las Vegas
Optic.