Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-08-01
FRIDAY EVENING. JULY 81. 1908
o AND AGAINST.


The JournaI-D Democrat quotes a re-
cent editorial In The Optic relating
to Judge Clement Smith, and com.
mends II Is follows:
THE JournallDeuocrat approves
every word Of the foregoing from The
Optic, and II for no other reason than
to show our sentiments on the sub
ject. and to give the high oficials OF
this nation o understand that plat
form pledges can not be broken
against u With jmpyplty, y delegate
ought TO be Instructed to oppose the
coniirmatisn Of ledge Smith before
the United States senate, We can
well understand now, when Judge
Smith goes down 70 his district, how
local jcalousies between Roswell and
Socorro, esch lighting for the head
quarters Of tho district. will induce
the residents II those towns to fawn
upon the new judge; but We we'll I'M
derstand that they arc not then ex-
pressing their real sentiments. The
rest Of the territory Is interested in
the location Of home rule quite ~
much as the Firth district 10 inter-
ested In the location Of the judicial
headquarters. Therefore, the fight
ought 10 be kept up"
The New Mexican. however, takes
exception 10 the positions Of both the
Jouruai-Democrat and The Optic. and
argues It considerable length that
Judge Smith should accept. II says
the Fifth district Is suffering from the
effects Of having had no terms Of court
for several months. and It believes
It would prove unhappy should the
session be postponed much longer.
A few believers In home rule might
think something Of this argument did
not the New Mexican proceed to urge
that II Judge Smith should decline,
another outsider would be appointed
anyway.
II is unlike the New Mexican to
declare itself In favor Of . certain
principle and sthen decline to sup
port the principle for fear Of some
bad results that possibly might fol.
low. II the people Of New Mexico
really want home rule. II they believe
In the principle Of home rule, Il will
well repay the residents Of the Fifth
district to walt another six months
for = term OF court. II by that means
they can secure 30 notable and decis-
i've I victory ~ the refusal Of an out
slider - accept = position because Of
TIE ksong support Of the people Of
the principles Of self-sovcrnment.
Neither Ii Il likely that President
Roosevelt would appoint another out
alder. He In an advocate OF nome
rule. TO Delegate Rudey he said that
he regretted that be had promised
20 appoint Judge Smith more than .
wear before. Neither IL II TO be be-
Ileved that the national administra'
ton will decline 10 appoint = home
man. No more severe ~arraignment OF
an adminisn OSx - be made than
that IL fails 10 keep its party pledges,
The n-1alonai Administrata6n Ms beer
pledged by the republican platform
70 houe rnlsstoS Ne7 Mexlcos y =
probable thst the fact has never been
brought caearsy-se ~ attsntioa thai
the appointment Of n outside judge
ii In dirsrs sy1eiation Of the platform
and the pledges, made " two national
convyg1ons.s e.6 IN
The Optic does not believe In yield
ing an inch, The question Is one OK
principle. and a principle as sacred as
anything that has influenced Amerl'
can government. Better do AWAY with
our curt for = time than tamely
submit 10 the sort OF tyranny that led
20 the establishment Of the American
republic.
The trouble 10 that our people have
never united In opposition to such VIC
lstions n our liberties and rights
carpctbaggers sent here have been
accepted unquestioningIy. Congress
men having political debts 70 pay have
pushed their fayorites, and there be-
ing little objection, the faforites have
tes ~stss ~ ~ Nov Mexico. Dol