Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-08-25
TUESDAY EVENING. AUG. IS. 1908
THE QUESTION OF The HOUR.


THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR.
No subject before the people Of New
Mexico Is of more Importance just al
present than The judgeship Of the Fifth
district. The Optic viii today devote
d large part Of Its editorial space 70
q further discussion Of the question
and the reproduction or views VI other
newspapers.
We are pleased to note that both In
the Fifth district and outside of Il,
many papers have warmly commend
ed the struggle 81 The Optic for a ros-
ognition Of tho principle OF home rule.
We shall have no complaint To make II
the president Of the United States In
protest against the Inconsistent action
Of the l0udest shobtcrs for home rule
and statehood should send us another
Judge from outside territory. The po-
litical leaders or New Mexico never
took q more unfortunate course ana
placed themselves Iii d more un.
cnyiablc light that when they en-
dorsed \ man who only by courtesy
even claim TO be a resident OF the
First district for the judgeahip OF the
Fifth district. The claim that the ap.
pointment OF a man from any part or
New Mexico 10 a Fifth district post.
ton Is u recognition OF home rule Is
too shallow To be taken seriously. and
New Mcxicans but acknowledge their
i~nsincerity when they advance II. Far
better say plainly. what such an anon
aious position is interpreted to mean,
that we are moi ready for home rule,
that we are not ready for statehood.
that the great and wealthy Fifth dis.
trict has not among the members Of
her own bar a man fitted TO wear the
ermine. Either admit that or confess
that a petty political Issue Is made
paramount to the sacred principle OF
American liberty and fair play about
which We have prated so long and
loudly. but don't try to make the au,
tborities ut Washington think we
are so stupid as 70 believe a New Mex.
leo carpet Dagger Is any more accept
BILE to the believers III home rule In
the Fifth d.s.r.c. or The ~.
pointment Of D any more nm &C.
acknowledgement OF the principle for
which we have pretended to be fight.
ing than a carpet Dagger from outside
the territory would be.
The people OF the Fifth district want
a judge Of their own. Let the people
Of New Mexico unite In urging such d
course, or let them for ten years nj
least cease 10 make p%retonse Of want.
Ing statehood or home rule.
The Optic. believing the people and
press of New Mexico. were for once
united and that the devotion 10 the
cause Of seif-government was genuine,
respectfully asked Judge Smith 10 DO
cline an appointment. which had been
given in violation OF sacred pledges
made 10 the citizens Of Now Mexico.
Other papers supported the position.
and 4 Il known that one Of the judges
reasons for declining was his feeling
that he vas not acceptable 10 the peo.
pie. For Judge Smith, we have the
very highest esteem But Judge
Smith and the papers who urged him
10 withdraw we're mistaken ~ their
estimate Of the extent 20 which the
people were animated by the principle
Of home rule. Witness The fact. thai
The most Influential republican leaders
Of HE territory az nee FASTENED q
endorse n candidate quito AZ much in
violation Of pledges IN the national
platform as was Judge Smith.
The Optic Is informed that this re
markable action on the part 81 Nov
Mexico politicians has already Beer
called ID The attention ~ the rresi
dent and the Encouragement. III
may yield 10 the request Of the New
Mexico leaders. But In what sort q
a position win We be when we ash
again for the passage Of the statehood
bin, and urge the fuinllment o. part,
pledges. Our opponents a and viii
point TO our own utterly Inconsistent
action. Our best weapon will have
been turned against US. Whether, a.