Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-08-31
THE J%uDGEsHiP.

Many Ct the influential eastern pa
pers have given considerable atten-
ton 10 the action Of Judge Smith In
declining the appointment as Judge
or the Fifth judicial district. The
generally expressed opinion Is that the
Judge declined because Of the strong
feeling IN New Mexico in favor Of
home rule. What would these papers
say II they knew that many of inc pos
litical leaders and q part q The press
Of New Mexico, loud advocates of
home rule, and In this very instance
of the judgeship arc trying to sesnre
the place fer a man who has ro more
claim on ii than q man frsm IA ssatiri
or Michigan. And the result Will
quite likely be that We aha,i BET q
man from one DC these states rather
than 4 home q The position Of the
biz eastern dailies shows that the gen
eral sentiment Is in favor Of allowing
us I'd name our own Judges, but the
authorities have boon informed Of the
utter inconsistency of the position OF
our leaders and the people OF the Fifth
district may be made to suffer the con-
sequences. or If d man from some
other district should be appointed n
49,
response to the endorsement from the
territory. our recrnance to principle
may cost ,s dear In the future.
ny all The tenets Of American liberty
and fair play, the Fifth district has 4
right 10 her own Judge. That oppo.
sition should come from far away
fasteners IL not 50 surprising, bni
that The territory should attempt e
deny me simple justice g i of hei
districts for which she has % LOUDLY
elamored Ii outrageous
Following Il d expire sion 81 opIp
Ion from tha well informed Washing
ton Post:
I'VE arc inclined 10 the opinion tina
Judge Smith became convinced. aftel
making d tour OF the territory. tina
the sentiment against the appointment
Of d nonresident TO the best jndicia
Ipos'tlon In the territory was so stronI
that he would have dlflculty In over
coming Il and establishing himsel
firmly in the good graces Of the PEG
pie. The right OF home rule IL n 9
The iDtlstent demands Of the peopl'
OF all Of the territories. They wan
statehood at all times but II they can
not aecure that recognition they wan
their Judges. district attorneys. an
other federal officers chosen frnm th
residents OF the territory. They or
n hnspitable people, these residents {
tho territories. but they arc quick /
sescnt the appointment to judicial an
GtEer positions Of non who arc nc
familiar with peculiar conditions tnu
exist In their territories, just as Oh
south protested. and with as Tuc
warrant. against the carpntsba ss
rule after the close Of tile war. Oi
Iahoma 10 vigorously impressed thl
sentiment Of her citizens upon the at
ministration that only residents Of ID
territory have been selected for ~
cral appointments there for a humble
OF years past. New Mexico Is now q
mandIng the same recognition. Their
seems 10 be no good reason why Til
! sentiment OF the residents Of the te'
%rltorica should not be respected In I'll
selection Of federal oficials.'
Neither Is there any reason why IN
sentiment OF the Fifth district shout
not be respected by the territory.
another paragraph quoted today til
Carlsbad Argus admirably cSpresse
the fcelipg Of the people of that wea
thy district.