Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-06-24
A Suggestion to Patriotic New Mexicans.

A Suggestion to Patriotic New Mexicans.
The experience of the past three days.
in mastering the Is men wanted to
bring the 1st regiment of United States
volunteer cavalry up to the MAXIMUM in
numbers. has opened the eyes of those
persons who are interested in enlisting
the men to a serious defect in the ar
rangements under which the work is
done: that of a lack of funds for the
care of the men who are willing to 60 to
the front in defense of the country and
in behalf of freedom, from the time they
leave positions for that purpose until
they have been accepted by the muster.
ing officer and enrolled, when the gov
eminent assumes the expense. 1t is
neither right nor just that men. who
are willing to answer to the call fOl
troops, should bear their own *
penses while awaiting examination,
But the national government makes ne
provision to meet those expenses, and
as no appropriation has been made by
the territorial legislature for that pur
pose, the necessity for it not being
known when the Thirty-second assembly
was in session, there are no funds avail
able for the care of volunteers for sery-
ice during the interim mentioned.
Before many days have passed it will
become the duty of this territory, under
the apportionment of troops under the
presidents second call, to enlist a large
number of men for service in the war,
and money for that purpose will be sad
ly needed. There is but one way for il
to be obtained, and that is for citi
zens to advance it to the governor,
and to wait until the next session
of the lnoiSlatnrA for lie "ntn"nS whnn
the proper appropriation can be made
from territorial funds. In Colorado,
when the first call for troops was made,
that state was in the same position in
regard to necessary money as is New
Mexico at this time. Governor Adams
friends actuated by purely patriotic mo.
tives, advanced the large sum required
out of their own pockets, until the legis'
lature meets next year, when it will be
returned. The wealthy residents Of
Colorado are no more patriotic than hun
dreds of wealthy residents of New
Mexico, and the New MEXICAN be,
lieves that when the real situation is
understood by the property owners,
business men and capitalists of such cities
as Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Las Vegas,
Ration, Silver City, Las Cruces, Roswell
and others, they will ONE to the rescue
of the fair name of New Mexico and
place the necessary money in Governor
Otero's hands to care for the men who
will present themselves for enlistment
in the infantry, loon to be made. Gov
ernor Otero has no easy task on his
hands in the fulfllment of the promises
which have been made by the press of
the territory that thousands of loyal
men stood ready to answer any call that
might be made upon the people of New
Mexico for aid in the present war, and
the purses of those who have the means
and who cannot go to the front in per
son, ought not to be withheld when
there is need of temporary assistance.
In advancing this money no risk will
be taken. The Thirty-third Legislative
assembly of New Mexico will not be
lacking in territorial pride or national
patriotism, and one of the first acts OF
that body will be to provide for the re.
turn of the funds. Again, the tax pay.
ers will gladly stand the expense which
will be incurred in the enlistment of ad.
ditional troops. They feel that the
reputation of the territory, and the
honor of the inhabitants, are at stake.
An opportunity is now presented for
the wealthy portion of the New Mexico
people to show its patriotism, and for
the sake of all that true Americans
hold sacred, it is hoped that a hearty
response will be made to this appeal to
aid the causes of humanity and freedom.