Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-11-11
HONESTY VS.. RAscALITY.

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tracts from a remarkable letter which
appeared IN I'll independents and was
recopied into La Bandara Americana,
the Hubbell organ at Albuquerque.
W. were disposed to let Bernaliilo
county fight out its W fight but the
publication OF this letter In lei indie
peniente Is plainly an attempt 10 car
ry the fight into San Miguel county
and doubtless into the whole terri
tory. The Optic, therefore has en-
tered Che arena
The article in question, Il will be
remembered, made the charge that
those opposing the dishonest acts Of
republican officials in Bernalillo coun-
ty were striving to bring about condi.
tions that would eliminate the native
citizens from the political life Of the
territory In the face Of the facts,
a more unworthy appeal to h~oped-for
prejudice was never made. a more
fragrant insult to the native people OF
New Mexico was W offered, for
those In Albuquerque, know--none so
well--the fact OF the embezzlement Of
the school, and other funds. To ask
the native people to support fragrant
dishonesty, because some OF those
concerned IN II have some Spanish
blood In their veins, shows the low
and desperate depths to which those
unfortunately In power In Bernalillo
county, have descended. Let the fact
be known In every part OF the terri
tory. The native voters OF New Mex.
leo are honest. They cannot be cajol-
ed, threatened Or driven into support
of dishonesty.
The article In FL independents says
the charges have not been proven.
They have been proven 80 fully and
accurately that the men against whom
they are made will not eve attempt
an explanation. The records Of their
own Offices are against them. II they
have appropriated the peoples
money, who dare be SO base as to
ask an honest republican to support
them? II the officials have been mis-
represented and maligned, let the
people hear OF 1t and Attorney f.. w.
Clancy and the others who are sup
porting the charges will be cried out
.of the republican party as unworthy
to be called republicans. The Optic
republishes q circular letter from Dis.
trbst Attorney Clancy, calling upon
the good republicans Of the territory
to assist In driving dishonest officials
from the party and from places Of
power.
The columns OF The Optic are open
To the men against whom the charges
are made In the most direct manner
10 make explanation. We invite and
urge them to make explanation II any
explanation or paliatlon be possible.
WI know nothing about the men,
more than Is told In the letter. We
care nothing about them more than
that they are officials OF the repub.
lican party OF New Mexico. But be.
fore statehood. before irrigation, be.
fore all clge. we are for honesty IN
the republican party. II these men do
not make the explanation that Is due,
we shall oppose them to the utmost,
ana oppose those also who uphold
them. II the charges made by Dis
trlct Attorney Clancy be true and
there are no courts In Bernalillo coun-
ty that will de justice, then let the
republicans o. the territory induce
the president 10 give the courts the
necessary o%ver-hauling. Presi-
dent Roosevelt has struck at rascality
wherever IL could be found The re.
publicans OF the territory a AFFORD
% do no less.
The letter follows:
October 20. 1908
Dear SIR
On October I. 1908. l published a
statement as 10 irregularities and
worse than irregularities In the con.
duct OF the Official business OF Bcrna.
illlo county. ! did this becamc there
was no other way To make the facts
public. unless | would leave u 70 the
| democrats To do 80. Such revela.
tiuns made by democrats would have
struck the republican party with
crushing force In this community
where dissatisfaction with local party
leaders is leepseated and wide
spread Tho objects of this civic re.
sentiment have not. themselves. ap.
parcntly. any idea Of the strength
~ the feeling against them. and they