Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-06-26
PLEA FOR JUSTICE.
The American Politician Scored
and the Spanish American vi
gOriOusly Defended.
THE REAL SLAM D Err Err S

| The Rev. Norman Skinner, who re-
turned last night from California, in
forms The Optic that his address de
livered in Immanuel church. Los An
geles, was misrepresented by the
Times of that city. In the first place
only brief extract Of the address
was given, an extract which, garbeled
as it was, served to give meaning
quite different from what the gentle
| man intended. Mr. Skinner says that
his address dealt with the Presby-
terian work among the native people
of New Mexico, especially referring
70 what was being accomplished
through the medium of schools. He
| dwelt particularly upon the fine quail
tiles of the native people, upon their
! eagerness to receive education, upon
| their courtesy. their acuteness AMI
their honestyIe described a number of
jury trials to prove this last conten-
ton, in which every natural periudice
| seemed called into play, and yet the
native juror gave the most intelligent
and independent verdict He made
strong plea for fair play TO the native
people among whom he had done
much work and with whose good quail
ties he was acquainted. Unacquaint-
ed with American ways, ignorant Of
American laws, thousands became the
prey to INSCRIPTIONS politicians and
were sold out and betrayed by sharp
ers 1t was the American as listing
uished from the Spanish-American
that Mr.. Skinner scored and he urged
educationas the only means by which
the native could hold his own. Mr..
Skinner said that no one who knew
him was so big fool as to think he
said New Mexico had no schools
worthy Of the name and its school sys-
temwas farce, He had said repeat
edly. publically and privately, and still
believed the schools Of the towns and
cities of New Mexico quite equal to
those of corresponding size east or
west. He referred in the plainest
terms to those schools in the remote
districts for which he was pleading
The case was similar when he refer.
red 10 the per centage Of illiteracy
The gentleman urged the mission
board to whom his remarks were di.
rected to place within the reach OF
those who has been denied by remote
ness and environment, advantages
equal to those enjoyed in more favored
regions. Before the return OF Mr..
Skinner to the city, The Optic had
been informed through people who
had listened to the address In Los An.
geles, that Mr.. Skinner had been
grossly misrepresented by the Times
and that he had not only said single
pie, but that his address was full Of
words Of the very warmest praise and
appreciation Of their qualities. II was
a strong appeal for justice and fair
play to those In this land Of sunshine
who are to the manner born. How
yer, this paper preferred to say moth.
ing further regarding the matter IN
til the return Of the gentleman him
self.
The Optic said at the outset that
| Mr.. Skinner was u man esteemed
Throughout New Mexico, not only for
his honesty and high character, but
also for his intelligence, and that it
wasn't conceivable that he uttered any
Isuch absurd words as the Los Angeles
Times, an enemy TO New Mexico, put
in his mouth. A part Of the press
|of the territory took the same view.
A few cheap politicians Of Albuquer-
que, with the aid of disreputable pa
per- took up the matter and spread
broadcast the libelous statements of
the Times, not that they cared par
ticle for the matter in question, but
because they hoped to stir up a race
issue that would bring them votes. Al
more thoroughly contemplate course
has never been resorted to in any
country. II is just this class OF people
and this sort Of method that Mr.. Skin.