The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1906-03-12
EoTERoiTES Wilt FIGHT
GOVERNOR HAGERMAN

~
Albuquerque Advertiser.
The indications are that Governoi
H&german will have a strenuous tim.
in his first official position, if he doe.
not Immediately surrender to- the ole
guard of the gang. and It will prob
ably be forced upon him to come t.
some sudden decision.
A few<days ago Innocent little not
ices in the personal columns of the
local papers ~nounc h presence
in the city of former Governor Otero
and Secretary J.. w. Reynolds, to-
gether with members of the old polit
ical gang of less importance. Several
district leaders were also here by ap-
pointment and a great secret confab
was had. The Information given to
The Advertiser can be relied upon in
connection with that meeting.
1t appears hat the members of the
old gang have had an understanding
all the time, and that they intended
to stand together-that is the leaders
ldid-but recent developments have
1 stICLl ~ SHo lIlc1I HdIIuS IlllC1
earlier in the game than they had
intended. When Governor Hagerman
caused it to become known that he
~disapproved of the practice of one
politician holding down several off
ces, a general howl went UP from the
county bosses now enjoying two or
more positions, and the pressure upon
the chairman of the territorial com
mittee became more than he could
stand.
Nothing could be done while the
confirmation of Reynolds was pend
ing, as it would never do to AXE any
unnecessary chances on losing him.
as he is their only salvation in case
the past is disclosed by an investiga-
rtion. but as soon as that matter was
the leaders, and that meeting was ap-
pointed for this city. as the place of
fering the most secrecy.
Otero was at the meeting, but more
as a matter of courtesy than anything
else, as all the remaining leaders real
ize that he isfo no value to- them now
but as he knows all the details of the
fight to be made Upon Hagerman and
his administration, he is called in for
the safety of the others. Reynolds
is now the leader of the old guard.
and he will expect to be fully ~recogniz
ed as such when the gang takes
charge of the new state, if they fail
in their efforts to defeat statehood
lin any form.
Bursum, as chairman of the terri
torial committee, naturally belongs to
the old gang, and will probably be
faithful, but he is not enthusiastically
in favor of the plan to support one an
other in the coming fight, n take
in the smaller fry. Bursum is willing
to give up his office, as it is of no par
.ticular use to him under this admin
istration, but he is just stubborn en-
ough to stay with it, even at a per
sonal fnancial. loss, until the new exc
cutive asks for his resignation, as he
likes to make records.
Reynolds is a little sore on the new
proposition, too, as he had expected
tina the fight would be waged against
the new executive without his active
participation. as it will be just a lit
tie embarrassing to him if Hagerman
catches on and fights back. Reynolds
is safe in his place, and he wants
things to be made uncomfortable for
tile new executive without trouble for
himself He believes he should now
be the governor, and above all, he re-
sents any disclosures of past methods
in New Mexico, which will surely fol
low any removals and appointments
by Hagerman-unless made by the ad-
vice of himself and members of the
gang. He must assist those in trou-
BILE, however, if he has to show his
hand doing it.
Now to get down to the secret polit
ical junta in this city: 1t was the
direct result of the understanding
among the old leaders to secretly op-
pose Hagerman. and his statehood
ideas, as long as there was any chance
of discrediting his administration, or
forcing him into their organization.
together with a general demand from
the different county leaders for pro
lection against the ideas of h e
governor as to office holding.
At the conference here it was de-
termined TO oppose the demand for
designations, and if there was any pos
sible way to do it to prevent all pro
posed removals. An effort will be
made TO have Attorney General
Prichard retained in Office, and they