Albuquerque citizen., 1907-12-05

time to private life, all because of
the action of the special agent of
the department of justice who
usurped the puerogatives of the gov
ernor and, in his absence, gaves or
ders TO his subordinates. The orders
in question distributed a fund of
$4,000 in the territorial treasury
Foreign to His Policy.
The governor has decided upon a
definite policy. with relation to the
amount of money, and the contro-
versy relative to it. The distribu-
tion was about, as foreign to this
policy as 1t was possible to be. He
said things direct and pointed. He
did not wait to couch them in for
mat official language, but burned a
telegraph wire or two, between the
arid stretches of New Mexico and
the capital of the United States. He
said, in effect. that he was either
governor of New Mexico or he was
not; that If he was governor, he ac-
cepted all responsibility for the job
and relegated TO himself the right
to do all the minor jobs of govern
ing that went with the big job of
governor, including the issuances of
orders TO the subordinates whom he
had appointed.
The president of the United States
knew Curry well, so well that in
spite Of the atmosphere of the des-
ert in his language, the president
told him to board the train and
come TO Washington and talk IL
over. Gov. Curry did as directed, but
his emphasis was not the less pro-
nounced when he arrived here. The
president took charge of the matter
personally. He fought It out with
Curry and sent for other folks, who
might not agreew ith the governor,
ana whose opinions were juhcial and
impartial and not affected one jot
or title by friendship for the COVER
nor of New Mexico. In the end the
president of the United States took
Gov. Curry's side of The argument
and II all ended by the governor
getting his way about things in the
territory retaining his very fine gov
ernment place and returning 10 the
territory in triumph.
A Former Rough Rider.
Since all this has happened there
have been some who have said, with
an air Of conviction. 1T was a fore
gone conclusion that Curry would
Win out and get anything and every
thing he wanted. Wasn't he a mem
ber OF the Rough Riders?"
That looks ike IL was final and
Vor vincing, bur IL IS not AS a mat
ter Of fact. the joining Of his fortunes
with the Rough Riders had about as
much 10 do with Gov. Curry becom-
ing the head of the territorial gov
eminent in New Mexico as it did with
getting the present sultan of Sulu
his job. It's such a general practice,
among those who seek ground for
criticislng the present administration
to stick the tongue in the cheek and
roll the eyes in a knowing way and
say, "Weil, OF course, wasn't he a
Rough Rider2" thai it-s worth while
looking into the career Of Gov. Cur
~ and his relations with the presi-
dent Of the United States before
either Of them got their present jobs.
To begin with, just bear In mind
that before GOV. Curry was mem-
Der of the Rough Riders he had fill
ed all sorts of places under the ter
rltorial government, TO most Of which
he was elected IN a contest before
the people who vote I'm the territory
He was a democrat, but he was the
sort of democrat that won with re-
publican He was the only demo
cratic president of the upper body
OF the territorial assembly that was
ever chosen for the place. Before
he entered the territorial legislature
he had an sorts OF county and dis
trict places both elective and ap
pointlye.
Wen Known in New Mexico.
When he went into the Rougl
Riders Gov. Curry was known 10 al
most every grown person IN the ter
ritory. BY some he was held in poo
repute. He says so himself BY 9th
ers he was loved and admired Whei
the Rough Riders entered the ser
vice OF the United States and iu
commanding officers came alOnl
from the east TO take charge OF 1t