Arizona republican., 1905-02-22
PHOENIX, ARIZONA. FEB. p, 1905.
The Question of the Rangers.

The legislature Of New Mexico is considering a bill which provides for a ranger service in that territory. The measure is supported by . strong pub lie sentiment, and the good accom- plished by the rangers in Arizona and Texas is cited as one of the reasons why New Mexico also should establish a semi military organization for the purpose of dealing effectively with out laws and criminals,
 The chief argument used in New Mexico, however, for a force of rangers is the fact that the rangers of Arizona have made it so uncomfortable for criminals that they have largely taken LID their residence in New Mexico. The advocates of the bill at Santa Fe are pointing out that New Mexico has more than her share of law-breakers because this class has been chased out of Arizona by the rangers. and that New Mexico should protect herself by enacting a law similar to ours.
 It ought not to escape the attention of our legislature that the movement for force of rangers in New Mexico constitutes an additional and strong argument in favor of continuing the ranger law in this territory. Indeed. there is no valid reason why the law should be repealed, and it is scarcely to be expected that the pending bill to that end will receive favorable cOnsid- eration. Our force of rangers was es- tablished several years ago, after care full considero tiOn, and the experiment has Eeen amply justified by the record already made. Train robberies and stage holdups are a thing of the past. Depredations upon livestock have been reduced to 9 minimum. Since the ranger force was created there have been more tban four hundred convic- tions of cattle thieves in the territory, and most of these arrests and convic- lions have been due directly to the en- ergy and efficiency of the rangers. Some bad men have been killed, and a large number have been sent to the penitentiary.
 One of the most notable feats of the rangers was the capture of the mur- derer and bandit, Augustin Chacon, one of the fost notorious Mexican cut throats that ever invested the terri tory Convicted of murder and sen fenced to be hanged, Chacon escaped from the jail of Graham county, and roamed at large for three years. add ing to his list of fiendish murders. At last finding Arizona too hot for him, he fled to Mexico, but was finally enticed across the line into Arizona by Captain Mossman of the rangers. and captured He was turned owed to the authorities of Graham county, and was duly exc cuted.
 It is notorious, also, that before the rangers were established the murder oi lonely country storekeepers and own CTS of remote stage stations was alarmingly frequent. These murders were committed by outlaws from So- nora, as a rule. They would smuggle mescaI across the line from Mexico and after disposing of their cOntraband goods would roam through the terri tory until they could commit a rob- bery Then they would flee to Sonora again. And these robberies were all most invariably preceded by wantor murder. the victims being given nc show for their lives.
 It is different now, and the imprOv- ed situation Is largely on account Oi the vigilance of the rangers.