Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-08-27

Following are extracts from Judge
Longs speech delivered before the
meeting called by Margarito Romero !,
and reported for The Optic BY an ey-
pert stenographer:
"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the
ConYention:-
..As l read your call in the county
papers, it was broad and general, and
invited the presence, as understood
it, Of all persons residing within the
grant to be present for the purpose
Of consulting with each other ID to the
important questions relating to that
property. | believe in the assembling
together of the people and in consulta-
tions with reference to questions in
volving their interests, and | am only
sorry that every man on the Las We
gas grant, who had an interest iii this
question, for it Is a very important
one, is not present. Questions relat-
ing to the Las Vegas grant are not
only of interest to you alone. but ex-
tending TO the far west line ard
4 sweeping across the entire properly,
including men, women ana children OF
the old town Of Las Vegas, Of the
city of Las Vegas, of the various
towns and settlements along the riy-
ers, all are most deeply interested in
this question. Those who are present
here constitute a very small minor
ity of those who are interested in
this subject, and / imagine that if we
had another meeting in which people
who are just as deeply interested as
you are, assembled, we would have
two thirds more than find here to-
day. They should not have stayed
away; they ought to have come and
met with you as friends and neigh
borss, as people having common in
terest, to discuss these questions
OF general interest to us all.
II believed | would be welcome. |
have no higher respect for any man
within this grant than l have for the
honorable president of this meeting.
and for you all. have worked vita
Don Margarito Romero, and tried
TO advance his interests. believe him
an honest man (althongh / may not
agree with him in all that he wanta
to dol, but that does not change my
views with reference to the man as
citizen. Turning and addressing Mr..
Romero.l We can differ, Don Mar.
garlic. and still be friends.
The question Il as ID the resolu
tions reported by yonr committee. |
want all Of you 10 fully, clearly and
distinctly understand them. every
word and their full import: i do moi
want you 10 act In haste and In pas
sion. have NOT come here my friends
10 seek applause, but as i friend and
neighbor II try ~ make you soe where
your true interests lie. to Aid YOU IN
avoiding trouble and 70 help you Il
settle these questions III manner
that is Just TO all and fair 10 every
body.
Gentlemen, I have had something
TO do with the Las Vegas grant.
nave high respect for the gentlemen
who have addressed this convention
When was lying awake nights. burn
ing the midnight oil and trying tc
md way where by law as the Judge
OF this court the right thing could be
done about the title to the grant,
did not have your presence or assis
tance. From this very desk ftouch
Ing the desk In the court room behind
mimi. the decision was read which
gave You the Las Vegas grant. and
this hand fholding up his right hand,
wrote every line OF that decision. II
was the first one that was ever made
IN this territory along the lines upor
which Il was written. Therefore, ms
friends. I have performed for yon ar