Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-10-12
Campaiqn Of Misrepresentation.

II cdiuphlSH OL iillSI eoeAtdtio'
against Hon. Pedro Perea, the Republl-
can nominee for delegate to congress,
has been opened by the Democratic pa
pers in Bernalillo county, the home of
Mr.. Perea. 1t is generally considered
in politics that in speaking of a candi-
date, to tell the truth Is enough to serve
the purpose Of the opposition, but in
nominating Mr.. Perea the Republican
party placed the Democrats in a posi-
ton where they can say nothing
against the candidate or his record as a
public man, and they are compelled to
resort to Misrepresentation in order to
make a fight for their own candidate.
The first statement made concerning
Mr.. Perea Is Pan out his official career
and not a Republican color would show
| up" Regarding Mr.. Perea's Republi-
| canism, the Republicans Of the terri
tory are, perhaps, better Judges than
the Democrats. Mr.. Perea Is a protec-
zionist, a believer of the doctrine Of
America for Americans" and above
all, a friend of the common people. He
has been a consistent Republican all
through life, as was his father before
him, and as are the other members of
his immediate family. HIS is a native
born American citizen, loyal to his
country and flag and outspoken on all
questions affecting the interests of the
country in general and New Mexico in
| particular. There is never any doubt
| concerning his stand on any public
| matter.
The assertion that Mr.. Perea is Il
"mossback" welded to the customs and
manners of by-gone days from
and is based upon the stand Mr.. Perea
has taken regarding the proposed irri-
cation ditch, the construction Of which
has resulted in litigation in the courts,
On that matter no apologies for Mr.
Perea are necessary. He honestly be-
lieves that the construction of the ditch
will prove a detriment to the interests
Of the poor people in the valley, and
taking that view Of the matter, his
right to make a fight for those who are
not able to pay the expense of litigation
cannot be questioned. The Democrats
OF Albuquerque must remember thai
there are always two sides to a story
and to brand Mr.. Perea as a man OPP
posed to improvements because he diff
fers with them regarding the advisa-
bility of constructing the ditch In ques-
ton. Is equivalent to denying the right
Of free speech and personal liberties,
The truth Of the matter Is that Mr.. Pc
rea's position on the proposed irriga-
ton scheme has made him more friends
than enemies.
The same persons, for the purpose of
defeating Mr.. Perea for delegate to
congress, are circulating the report that
he opposed the building of the Santa Fe
road through the Rio Grande valley for
the reason that 1t would do away with
peonage and eventually break his
power" Anything farther from the
truth would be difficult to imagine. Mr.
Perea and the other members of his
family gave the right Of way through
their lands to the railroad and encour.
aged the building of the road in every
way they could. In addition, they sub.
scribed forty thousand dollars in cash
to the stock of the A., T. & s. F. railway
in 1880.
Peonage in New Mexico was don
away with in 1860, and when the Santa
Fee railroad was built through the ter.
ritory in 1881, every man was a free cit
izen. At the time peonage was abolish
ed Mr.. Perea was but 10 years old, and
all he knows Of that old system Is
what he remembers as a boy and what
he has been told by the older men Of his
acquaintance.
Other assertions made concerning Mr..
Perea as a man who Is opposed to pub
lie improvements, to the development