Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-10-05
TO WATCH VOTES
AT ELECTION
Governor Haeerman Urges That Joint
Statehood and Anti-Jointure
Men Be at Polls.

Governor Hagerman, who returned
yesterday from Albuquerque said this
morning that he had received a copy
of the letter sent to Governor Kibby
urging that joint statehood represen-
tatiyes be placed at the polls as well
as antijointure men, to watch the
ballots cast for and against the meas.
ure at the coming election. In keep
ing with the Presidents desires as
expressed in the letter, the Governor
this morning began sending out the
following letter to county commission.
ers and other county officials of the
Territory:
Gentlemen:-lnasmuch as the ques.
tion OF joint statehood for New Mex.
leo and Arizona is not only local, but
national in its import and because of
the fact that the official returns of
the vote upon this question must be
certified to the authorities at Wash
ington, there to come before them for
official action, it is especially incum
bent uron all the officia S of the Ter
ritory of New eXico who will be con-
cerned In any manner with the can
vassing Of the returns in the fortncom-
ing election to uae every effort within
their power TO see that the returns of
such election are counted openly and
with absolute fairness. ...
The statehood question which is to
be voted upon at the coming election
is one of such supreme Importance
to the whole country and to the nat
ional administration that any irregu-
larities in the counting of the votes,
which could in any way bring into
question the validity of the election
would be a national disaster. While
there is no reason to believe that the
election on the statehood question will
not be carried on absolutely fairly in
all parts of New Mexico, it is our
duty, in order to avoid all possible fut-
ure criticism, to see that every per-
caution looking towards fair count.
ing of the votes should be adopted.
Section 1927, of the Compiled Laws
of 1897, provides. THAT it shall be
the duty of the county commissioners
eight days previous to an election to
appoint three judges for each precinct
who shall be persons of discretion and
good character"
In conformity with this provision of
law and with the above considerations
it appears to me advisable to suggest
that in making the appointments of
judges and clerks for the Forthcoming
election, the county commissioners
should appoint persons who will rep
resent both side" Of public opinion up
on the Joint statehood question; that
is to say, some who are known to favor
the proposition and others who are
known to oppose, the same. Further
more, ! would deem II advisable that
the official proclamation for the elec-
tion should contain not only an invi-
tation, but also an urgent request to
the voters in the several precincts
that persons of opposite opinions upon
this subject be present at the time and
place where the votes are canyassed
in the several precincts, and Also
that citizens of different opinions be
present at the session of the commits
soners at which the returns for the
county are canvassed and certified.
1t will be by means such as this that
we will convey to the people OF this
Territory, to those Of Arizona, to the
authorities at Washington, and to the
nation at large, the fact that the peo-
pie of New Mexico believe in an hon
est ballot and fair count upon all
public questions.
Respectfully yours,
Fl. J. HAGERMAN.
Governor of New Mexico.