Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-08-13
PRESS COMMENT.
Democratic IgchDOnSibiIity.


The welfare of New Mexico demands
that the Democratic party put forward this
year It's very best and strongest men for
the public Offices. Particularly is there
need OF exercising care in the selection of
a candi date for delegate in congress, for
should Demooracy's standard bearer
be man who is in the least degree weak I;
who has not the full and enthusiastic
support Of his party, and who Ia not pos
sessed Of the ability and the tact to har-
monize all differences now existing or
that may be reasonably expected to arise
in the party, then in that event New Mex
leo would suffer staggering blow. NEW
MEXICAN.
The foregoing words of our Santa Fe
neighbor can not be too strongly i'm
pressed upon the mind of every Dem
ocratc voter in New Mexico. This ia n
cam paign in which we can not afford to
make any mistakes. The next national
administration will be Democratic. This
is now practically certain, unless greater
reaction should take place in the public
mind during the coming two and a half
months than ever before ocodrred in the
United States. Hence il New Mexico is
to have any influence at Washington
under the coming administration her del
egate must be a Democrat. We believe
the masses of the people of the territory
are with the Democratic party in this
contest, but to make assurance doubly
sure, we should AVOID the mistake of put
ting up man "who ia In the least degree
weak" We should nominate a man who
is strong with the masses Of the people;
a man who is known to the whole terri
tory to be man of integrity and ability,
and above all man whose record on the
silver question il without flaw and
above suspicion; and after carefully
measuring the qualifications OF all those
whose names are likely to be presented
to the convention, the Democrat is con-
WINGED, beyond any shadow of doubt, that
the man who comes up to this standard
more fully than any other now promi-
nent in the Democratic councils Of New
Mexico Is Harvey B. FERGUSON, Of Al
buquerque. His nomination would make
victory in November certain, and his
election would give US represe at
Washington who would not only DO,
politically, in full accord with the powers
that are to be after the 18th Of next March,
but one who would have the advantage
Of personal influence with the head of
the administration in favor of New Mex
100.
No truer words were ever spoken than
those uttered by the New MEXICAN when
IL snid, "The welfare of New Mexico de-
mands that the Democratic party put for
ward its very best and strongest men for
the public Offices" and therefore, putting
aside all personal considerations
and personal preferences, this pa
per is prepared to yield its I'M
qualified support to Mr.. FERGUSON as
"the very best and strongest man" for
delegate to congress.
MIR. FERGUSON would have been the
nominee OF the party two years ago but
for the fact that he declined to accept the
nomination. In reply to question from
the Democrat as to whether he 10 willing
TO become the standard bearer at this
time of the Democratic ard free silver
elements of the territory, Mr.. Ferguson
says:
~ have decided to accept the nomina-
ton of the Democratic party for the Of
foe of delegate in congress-, If 1t is offered
to me. do not wish to be the candidate
If to attain that honorable position I
must make pledges Of any kind as to the
offices or rather my recommendations for
them. have made no such pledges and
shall make none; but shall do In that re-.
gard what may appear, when the time
comes, to be for the best interests of the
whole acknowledgements Democrat.