Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-05-07
Send DeleuateS!

New Mexico, having but a delegate
without a vote in congress, is at al
times exposed to attacks on the rights
and property of it's citizens by unscru-
pulous spectators and lobbyists, whc
regard New Mexico as a field of exploit
alton much the same as they do the
Philippines or Porto Rico. 1t is not so
long ago that a bill was introduced in
congress to set aside the greater parts
of Chaves and Eddy counties as a buf-
falo reserve for the peCuniary benefit OF
a single individual, not ever a resident
of New Mexico. 1t was only after a
sharp fight that the establishment of g
forest reserve that would have Grip
pied the growth of Lincoln county was
defeated. While forest reserves have
been thrown open to sheep grazing in
Utah, no such permission has been Civ
en- in New Mexico. While almost daily
congress passes legislation for the ben
eft of Colorado and Wyoming, New
Mexico is neglected, simply because it
has no voice in congress.
But the most brazen attack upon the
most vital interests of the territory has
been made by Congressman Stephens of
Texas, who introduced a bill in con-
gress to rob New Mexico of the use of
the waters of the Rio Grande. SO rank
an outrage upon the people of this ter
ritory is this bill that eve the Ell Paso
VIC ar, of nrD fin,a itS r1opct ar.
dent defenders, have ceased to advo-
cate it, and now admit that the bill was
unfortunately" worded.
New Mexico must take action upon
this attack upon it's riparian rights. 1t
must kill this Ubiquitous measure
known as the Stephens bill. 1t must
seek to prevent the building of the pro-
posed international dam at FL Paso at
the expense of the government and at
the cost of the prosperity of the many
thousands of people in the Rio Grande
valley north of El Paso. 1t must show
the nation that it will not submit with
out a protest to the attacks upon its
most valued and long established rights
and privileges and it's most fertile prop
erty. 1t is for that reason and with
that aim in view that Governor Otero,
in defense of the rights of New Mexico,
with foresight and the love of the terri
tory which characterizes him, has called
a convention to meet at Albuquerque
on May Is, to adopt strong resolutions
against the Stephens bill, to awaken
congress to the fact that the provisions
of the bill are intended to injure New
Mexico for the benefit of a few FL Paso
real estate spectators. Not only that,
but to give notice to congress that fur
Their attacks Upon the rights of the ter
should cease, that it's land and
it's natural wealth are not to be par
celed out to spectators and lobbyists
and real estate sharks.
This is a matter hat concerns the
territory, and whatever concerns
the prosperity of New Mexico as a
whole concerns every county, every
city. every town and every citizen
the territory. If no strong pro- /
10 h'o"' III III SdSe, lueSt dtldChS |
upon New Mexico will not stop with a |
proposition to fitch the waters of the |
Rio Grande from the rightful owners |
but will only cease when there is MOTH |
ing more to rob and give away in this |
commonwealth. 1t is the duty, there
fore, of every county, every city and
every town in the territory to send dele
gates to Albuquerque OF May Is to !
show the country at large that public |
spirit Is wide awake in New Mexico to
is own interests, and that the people of
the territory will not be imposed upon
any man or set of men. |