Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-07-08
IN THE FAR WEST.
Hon. Lafe Young OF the Iowa Capital Tells
OF the Rough Riders Reunion.

Of the Rough Riders Reunion.
Monday night the people OF New Mex
leo gave a grand ball In honor Of the
Rough Riders in the Casino OF the
Montezums hotel at Las Vegas Hot
Springs. up in the mountains. Eve miles
from the city, connected by branch
line of the Santa Fe. The guests from
Las Vegas arrived at the Montezuma at
10 p. m. One newspaper man had the
sorrow of his life when he discovered
that be had gone 10 Las Vegas carry
lug revolver instead of dress suit.
Therefore he simply watched the other
people in their gay maneuvers. The
guests were more ultra fashionable than
a swell function in Des Moines. The
night was ideal. The shady walks were
of unusual length. The halt between
the dances were Of satisfying tenure.
The floor was as slick as the ice above
the, dam In December. The Rough
Riders were not extensively in evidence,
but all would have been welcome and
would have been accorded glorious
time if they had been there. Governor
0tero and wife, Judges Mills and McFie
and their wives, Hon. Frank Springer
and family, Mr.. Jones, who delivered
the address of welcome, and his wife;
Col Clark Il. Carr, of Galesbrug, ILL.,; q
from Missouri, a Judge
from New York, and hundreds of les
ser lights, mingled in the gay throng.
The music was inspiring and was occa-
given a rare spirit of war by
the introduction of "a Hot Time" The
special train with six coaches Landed
all the guests at Las Vegas at a. m,
the most unreasonable hour anytime,
when one has marching or
ders for a. m and is destined to try to
sleep on cot in room with three 9TH
ers, two of whom were old friends and
had to talk over their past lives before
to sleep. Two Des Moines
ladies, Mrs. A. L. Campbell, and her
sister, Miss BroUkfield, were at the ball.
They are at present making their
home at Las Vegas for the health of
Miss Brookfeld. The visitors will al
ways regret, however, that Colonel
Roosevelt was not there to lead the
grand march. Any march he leads will
be great and he would have given spirit
and vim 70 the entire evening. But the
colonel could not stay longer, having
promised KOhlsast that he would be in
Milwaukee Tuesday night. -
1t is difficult to get at the true senti-
ment of the people of New Mexico in
regard to statehood. The Territory has
belonged to the United States more
than fifty years. 1t is large enough for
half a dozen ordinary states, but has
only 100000 population. Notwithstand-
ing the influx of immigration, the
Mexican population predominates aud
some of the leading people say that the
Mexican people are not fit to govern.
4 The majority of the Republi-
can politicians are In favor of immedi-
ate statehood. TIE judges of the court
assert that statehood would be per-
fectly safe, and that juries composed of
Mexlcans will convict Mexicans of
crime if the evidence establishes the
same. Some of the conservative bus
mess men, even among the Repubh-
cans, will tell you privately that state
hood would mean ruin. They claim
that when the Territorial legislature is
composed of majority of Mexicans all
kinds of Jobs get through, and that
they are without conscience when it
comes to extravaganza In public ex-
penditure. The Intelligent American
women of the Territory are nearly all
opposed to statehood, claiming that
none but the politicians want New
Mexico admitted to the union. They
Is given brief authority he becomes ar.
rogant and self.assertiye, his clothes
being entirely too small for him. In
quiries need not be long directed to un-
derstsnd that there is great deal Of
politics IN square acre in New Mexi-
co. Former Republican delegate, Cat
ron, is admitted to be the ablest man
in the Territory. He is lawyer by
profession and perfectly fearless In
whatever he undertakes to do.
He controls the Mexicans; also
the legislature, which is two
thirds Mexican, The last leg
islature had but three Democrats In
it. Catron, like all strong men, is both
loved and hated. 1t is admitted that
his one mistake while he was IN con-
gress was the appointment of his own
sons, one to Annapolis and the other to
West Point. Both sons failed tO.pass
the examination, and while the unwise
appointments were damaging to Ca
tron, he is too strong man to be killed
off by such a circumstance. Catron is a
warm friend of Colonel ID. Il. Hender-
son of Iowa, and expects much at the
hands of the new speaker. The present
delegate from New Mexico is Mexican
Republican, put up by Catron. so his
enemies say, to beat the man who had
beaten Catron. All agree with tue
Mexican Republican that he is man
of good character and perfectly honest
Some, however, criticlse his ability, oil
the lack of it. To ell outward appear
ances the present governor is Q popular
man. He is young and vigorous, ma
tive of the Territory. He comes from
one of the oldest and strongest New
Mexican families. No complaint was
heard that he is not fit and proper
man. nl s.st Fss..k
AUTHENTIC NEWS