Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-09-14
PLAINLY PUT.
A Stalwart Republican Objects to
the Displacement of the Super
intendent of the Pen.

10 the Editor OF the Optc.
SANTA FE, N. M September 1lth,
1897.-It is with surprise that we no
ticed in your papers few evenings ago,
the governors determined position IN
regard to the removal Of Col. Berg
mann from the superintendency of the
penitentiary and the installment of Mr..
Clark in his stead. From q number
Of ~standpoints we think this q bad
move-bad politics, essentially; bad
morally, for various reasons, but par
ticularly bad, IN displacing q trae and
tried public servant for the enthrone-
ment OF a personal fa7orito. who has
40 experience, and those who know
him best, know he Is incompetent to fill
a position requiring to any extent ex-
ecutive ability Again. it is bad in so
far as it places the management of the
~penitentiary in the hands Of q man
whose calling has been suggestive OF
leniency toward the very class Of men
over whose destInies be would be
placed, and that may have been d.
reclly the cause of more than n OF
these unfortunates occupying the world
condemning position he does. When
q man aspires to become q public SER
want, he is open to criticism /; his actions
must pass a crucial test In the interest
of the public veal. Every citizen has
the right, and it is his bounden duty, to
hold public interest as paramount to
personal feelings, and he should, under
all conditions, pass II judgment on the
qualifications of every individual who
holds to the world his special fit.
ness for positions of public trust.
1t is not our intention to laud the
good qualities OF the incumbent, nor
condemn some questionable things
against the, applicant, but more partic-
ularly to emphasize the fact that it Is
better to accept those evils we have,
rather than to fly to those we know not
Of. Governor Otero may be right in
rewarding his faithful Achates. but
when using public ~sinecures to reward
personal opponents, we question his
good taste. The fact that street talk,
not only here, but in many other towns
in u Territory, says that our governor
is under personal and pecuniary obi
gations to Mr.. Clark, is no justification
for rewarding him at the public's ex-
pense. Far more honorable would IL
be to compensate him by personal
sacrifice, were the above charges true
the truth or falsity OF which, we say
nothing about. 1t Is certainly bad
enough to have the nam of the noble
Office Of governor Of our Territory
dragged around In The slums in this
particular, eve by suggestion Of venal-
Ity, without attempting to prove the
indiscretion of the parties In interest,
and establishing what we do not want
to believe-a TIA ficking in the peoples
offices, that would be despicable, and,
il proven, should disbar a mar from
holding any position-be it high or
low, important or insignificant. We're
this rumor true. it would only 60 to
more emphatlcaily call attention that
the spirit of speculationi in consummat-
ing an end is paramount to honest
endeavor. 10 other words, if an Office
cannot be secured in any other manner,
it can be bought. Personally, Mr..
Clerk is a nice man; personally, Col.
Bergman is a nice man-honors are
easy there; politically, MIR. Clark is a
republican +; politically, Col. Bergman
is a republican-honors easy again.
In point Of qualifying experience, Col.
Bergmann has everything in his favor,
but conjectu.ally. Mr.. Clark might be-
come useful in the position Of superin- !
tendent Of The peniten,iary, essentially