Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-10-03
; Great Territory Was Rep.

| Promptly at 10 o'clock the convention
was formally called to order by Hon
John S. Clark, of Las Vegas. chairman
Of the Republican Central Committee
Whereupon the venerable Father ]
L. Gay, probably the oldest Lying Epis
copal clergyman in the United State-
limpressively delivered the opening in
vocation. After the brief and appro.
pirate opening speech Of Chairman
Clark, congratulating the delegates and
Republicans generally upon the bril-
liant outlook of the party in both the
nation and the territory, the call fol
the convention was read by Gen. E. l.
Bartlett, as a substitute for Colone
Frost, secretary of the territorial cen.
trail committee.
Chairman Clark then announced that
he had been instructed by the terrific
rial committee to present the name OF
Hon. George w. Pritchard, Of White
Oaks, Lincoln county, for temporary
chairman of the convention. The an
nouncement was greeted with applause,
and Colonel Pritchard was unanimously
chosen temporary chairman.
The chair designated Frank A. Hub
bell of Albuquerque, Bernalillo county;
Margarito Romero, of Las Vegas, San
Miguel county, and L. o. Fullen, of
Carlsbad, Eddy county, as a committee
to escort the chairman to the platform.
COLONEL PRITCHARD'S ADDRESS.
Upon being presented to the conven-
ton, Colonel Pritchard delivered an elo-
quent and effective Grafton on national
and territorial issues, which brought
out tumultuous applause, and was lis
tened to with absorbing interest and
frequently interrupted by enthusiastic
rounds of applause. In opening, the
speaker rendered his sincere and COR
dial thanks to the convention for the
distinguished honor conferred upon him
personally in being called upon tempo
rarily to preside over it's deliberations.
He regarded it as a high honor to be a
delegate to any Republican convention,
history Of both the nation and the ter
ritory. The Importance of the great
questions pending before the people in
the present campaign could hardly be
was concerned, it was question wheth-
er New Mexico should remain steadfast
in the Republican column, or should
again be turned over to the Democrats,
and large part of the responsibility in
the premises was born by the conven-
ton before him. If the Republican NOM
inee for delegate was the man the peo-
pie wanted he would certainly be elect
ed. Four years ago the people of both
the United States and the great terri
tory of New Mexico had absolutely and
contemptuously repudiated the Demo-
cratic party as totally unworthy of
trust and confidence. What had the
Democratic party since done to regain
the respect and confidence of the peo-
pie? He would be delighted to hear
some Democrat answer this question.
For his part, he was unable to see that
they had done anything to retrieve
their past fragrant errors, but on the
contrary had Enthusiastically played
the part of calamity howlers and OBJ
structionists of the car of progress. On
the other hand, what had the Republic
an party accomplished under the wise,
prudent and statesmanlike leadership
of William Mckinley, whom the speak
er pronounced one of the greatest pres
idents the country had ever had? The
pledges Of the last Republican national
platform had been more than redeemed.
Peace and prosperity had been re-
stored. The finances and currency of
the country had been placed upon the
soundest possible basis, and now ex-
torted the respect and admiration of all
the commercial nations of the world.
Plenty and happiness were the present
portion of the American people to a
larger degree than ever before In the
history of the country. Republicanism
and good times were synonymous
terms; they walked hand In hand In the
mines, on the farm and range, in the
factory. store, and in all the useful and
productive occupations Of life. Can any
Democrat say as much for his party?
The Republican party enjoyed the dis
|tinction of having made greenbacks and
ether forms Of paper money as good as
gold in all parts Of the world. 1t stood
for prosperity and expansion-expan-
sion of business and prices, particularly
the prices of such staple products OF
New Mexico as sheep and wool. Would
some one explain why a Republican
sheep was worth more than Demo-
cratic sheep? Why the sheep Of New
Mexico were now worth over $4,000, 900
against not to exceed $2.0O0,00O when
President Mckinley was inaugurated?
These were questions of much more
than ordinary local moment, consider
ing that the sheep industry of New
Mexico was now greater than in any
other state or territory in the Union,
and the wise protective tariff policy Of
the Republican party was largely &C.
countable for the fact. But the Repub.
lican party did not stand for every.
thing. The Democratic party stood fol
some things. including free soup houses
in 1896, contraction of the currency, and
many other things inimical to the inter.
: ests Of the people. The speaker then dis.
cussed Democratic platforms past and
present, remarking that the best way tt
make the average Democrat nervou,
was to read to him some of the past
platforms Of his party, and that ever