Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-10-23
PRESS COMMENT.
CatrOn VS.. Education.

1t seems that Thomas B. Catron is un-
alterably opposed to popular education
among the masses, at least We infer such
from his record. He did everything in his
power to defeat the present school law,
which was enacted in 1891 and which was
really the first comprehensive act ever
passed providing for substantial public
school system throughout the territory.
He now owes territorial and county taxes
amounting to more than $4,000, large
percentage of which, If paid, would go
into the school fund. When he had an
opportunity, by virtue of having been
elected to congress by the votes of the
fathers of New Mexico boys, to appoint
two bright boys to positions where they
could be splendidly equipped for life at
the expense of the U. s. government, he
was unable to find any poor boys in all
the territory of New Mexico who de-
served such chance, bat must appoint
two of his own sons, and when one of
them failed to passed satisfactory ex-
animation, Mr.. Delegate Oatron goes to
the state of Maryland to get substitute.
Such fragrant and shameful display
of nepotism was never before witnessed
by the American people. The fact that
congressman would go out of his district
to select cadets to West Point or An
napolis ought to damn him forever, po-
lltically, and otherwise in the minds and
hearts of his constituents. We believe
that congress has been disgraced by the
presence of two such members in all its
history, and 1T goes without saying, we
are proud to say, that both of them were
Republicans-Thomas B. Catron, of New
Mexico, and Roderick Random Butler, of
the LIST Tennessee district. Butler frank
ly admitted that he sold his appointment
for 100 and bought plant to start a
Republican newspaper with the proceeds.
Catron has not made his report yet, but
1t is probable that the proceeds of his
Maryland sale will 60 the same way. Now
when large land owner opposes free
system of public schools and appoints
none but his own sons, or goes out of
his own territory to select cadets to our
great national schools, we must infer that
he is opposed to the education of his
constituents, and that his opposition is
based on two counts: first, he is not pub
lie spirited and patriotic enough to will
ingly pay his pro rata of the taxes re-
quired to support free school system;
secondly, he believes in the feudal idea
of the middle ages, that the great mass of
mankind should be kept in ignorance, in
order that they may be the more easily
controlled by their unscrupulous bosses
that education is intended only for the
favored few and dense ignorance is best
suited to the masses.
Is there man in this territory who
loves his country and his family; who is
Intelligent, patriotic and progressive;
who pays his taxes and believes in free
schools and general education; who wants
to see his boys qualified to discharge the
duties of citizenship and reflect credit
on himself and their country who will
cast his ballot to return Catron to con.
grsssi If there is such one, he will
please step forward, We have an insati-
able desire to see the shape of his anatomy
and the width and height of his forehead
in order that We may speculate on the
probable amount of gray matter In his
cran INN. --Roswell Register.