The Socorro chieftain. [volume] (Socorro, N.M.) 1902-1959, 1906-11-17

journal OF November II COntain-l
ed a communication from Socorro
which The Chieftain does not
consider wise to let pass unnotic-
ed. The communication bears
the signature of A Taxpayer"
1t is a remarkable production in
good many respects, chiefly,
perhaps, for the number of state
meuts it contains which are
either directly or indirectly mis-
leading
In the first place. there is in
"A Taxpayers" communication
an implied comparison between
the political conditions prevail
ing in Socorro county and those
that have prevailed during the
last regime in Bernalillo county.
Such a comparison is not compli-
mentary to either the intelligence
or the self respect of the people
of Socorro county. Bernaiillo
county politics have for several
years been notoriouSly the most
corrupt in all New Mexico. While
Socorro county politics as prac-
ticed by republicans and demo-
Gratis alike may not have been
without blemish, still nine-tenths
of the citizens OF the county will
properly resent any such COM
pariSon as that referred to.
Speaking of the last election
in this county "A Taxpayer"
says, The people had no way
in which to secure fair elections;
but they did have before them
the fear of oppression and punish
ment in the event of the failure
of the movement" Those two
assertions are almost too eXtraya-
giant to deserve comment. Does
"A Taxpayer" really mean to
assert that. the laws of New
Mexico provide no means by
which fair elections may be Sc
cured? The movement" failed
ignominiously. Has any body
been oppressed or punished for
having voted as he pleased?
1t is fully understood in
Socorro County that the old
alignment of democrats and re-
publicans no longer exists; that
it is now a fight for supremacy
between the people and the Bur
sum machine" says "A Tax
payer" AS there was straight
republican ticket in the field at
the recent election, as there was
no straight democratic ticket in
the field, and as the republican
ticket won over the So-called
peoples ticket by unprecedented
and overwhelming majorities, il
looks a little as though nearly
all the Socorro county democrats
had come over to the republican
party and as though, therefore,
the first part of the above state
ment might be true. The last
republicanticket wasasgooda tick
ct as was ever submitted to the
voters of Socorro county, SO
that if there is such a thing as a
Bursum machine and that
machine will continue to formu-
late as good tickets as that one,
the people" will have reason
to be mighty thankful that
Socorro county democracy is no
more.
But one of the brightest gems
III A TaXpayer's" communica-
tion is contained i'll these words.
1T is true that the election was
quiet and orderly, because, thanks
to the governors strong letter to
the district attorneys, there was
none of the usual money in sight"
If a quiet and orderly election
and no money in sight is accom-
panied by such overwhelming re-
publican victories, who in
heavens name has been using
money for election purposes
heretofore? Not the republicans
surely. "A Taxpayer" is a demo-
crat, in the peoples" clothing,
to be sure, but a democrat just
the same, and he should be care
full how he reveals his party's
secrets. Moreover, if the..govern-
or, by merely admonishing his
district attorneys to prosecute
all violators of election. laws
can thus contribute to such an
overwhelming republican VIC
tory in Socorro county it is
great pity that some such letters
had not been written long
before.