Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-03-13
Otero County Loyal to New Mexico.

The New Mexican invites the atten-
ton of its readers to the Geographic re-
port of the convention of the citizens OF
Otero county held at Alamogordo, pub
lished last Saturday, with reference to the
creation of the new state out OF the south
ern part of New Mexico. southeastern
part of Arizona and the western part OF
Texas. a convention to formulate a plan
for which has been called by the people
of Ell Paso, Tex, to meet in that city. on
the 10th of this month, and is gratIfied
at the fact that such resolutions
and the absolute refusal of the people
of Otero county to join in the effort to
dismember New Mexico, fully justifes
the action of the present legislative as
sembly in creating that county M re-
flutes all of the sinister things that have
been said as to the opposition ofthe new
corners and others in that section to the
people of New Mexico generally.
The special report of that meeting
shows that not only did the people re-
fuse to send delegates to El Paso to take
part in the effort to dismember New
Mexico. but also expressed their entire
confidence in the political situation at
present existing here, and in the pres
ent administration thereof. The New
| Mexican has watched with considerable
interest the frantic effort which is be-
ing made by the people of Ell Paso to
mold public sentiment in southern
| New Mexico in favor of their new state
scheme. 1t may not be known, gener-
allv. that this effort has been thorough
ly organized, committees appointed, a
convention called, and each particular
center in all the southern New Mexico
counties visited by delegates from Ell
Paso in order to induce such parts of
this territory to join in the scheme.
| Money has been furnished in abundance
for such purpose, and the politicians OF
Ell Paso have regarded their plan as on
the high road to success. While The
New Mexican has never believed that
the present effort to create a new state
to include any part OF the state Of
Texas. could be successful, yet there is
no denying the fact that it has been
entered into with q zeal and energy
which is capable under different circnm-
stances of having great influence to-
wards the purpose in view.
Some of the citizens of southern New
Mexico have for many years talked
among themselves, a plan for the crea-
ton of a new state out OF southern New
Mexico and southern Arizona, and it has
been known that citizens of Arizona
have been conferred with and consider
able favorable discussion has occurred
in that territory, also; over the proposed
plan. 1t is learned that the dissatisfac-
ton of the people in the southern part
of the territory, has been based upon
what they choose to consider their prac-
tical exclusion from the management of
the affairs thereof. There has been more
or less of a feeling for years, that in
political conventions, and in legislative
assemblies, their interests. opinions and
advice, have been largely ignored. They
have also claimed that they paid more
than their share of the taxes and gem
eral burdens of our government.
While The New Mexican neither SYM
pathizes with these complaints, nor be-
lieves they are we'll founded, still. there
is no denying the fact that they have
been earnestly made, and that a great
many people in the southern part, not
fully understanding the conditions
which exist in other parts of the terri
tory, have deep-seated convictions to the
above effect, which, it Is difficult to
remove. In the main: The New Mex
lean has in the past years found the
people of southern New Mexico, devoted
to the interests of the territory, and an
xious to see its affairs well managed,
and to remain citizens thereof, and such
men have always insisted that, If south
| ern New Mexico could be treated fairly
In the government of the territory and
| given it's fair share of public institutions
and its full voice in public affairs. its
people would be unanimous and en-
thusiastic in their patriotism and loyal
ty, but have accompanied this statement
with a note of warning that there was a
growing dissatisfaction. Such persons
have stated that any and all parts would
quickly respond to what they considered
fair treatment at the hands of the terri
tory at large.
The dispatches from A%lamogordo tend
to show that there is a quick willingness
on the part of such section to promptly
respond to kind treatment. The people
Of that newest and progressive section
needed a new county. They have been
trying for years to get 1t created. The
present legislature created 1t with q
hearty u~nanimity which sent a God
speed along with the message ann0unc-
ing its creation. This was promptly