Albuquerque evening citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1905-1907, 1907-05-30


the albuquerque Morning Journal,
which stands for the so-called good
government administration which he
originated. to publish the facts in
connection with Mr.. nagerman's re-
tirement from office.
Probably because they feared to
have the real state OF affairs known
both have steadfastly refrained from
any mention of the presidents letter
to the boy executive in which he
states clearly and concisely the truth
of the New Mexico political situation
and his reasons for summarily re-
questing Mr.. Hagerman to resign.
The letter is clso Of deep interest
to the people of New Mexico since it
places the new governor, Captain
George Curry, DIN the proper light, and
at the same time disproves the at
tempts of the Morning Journal and
other anti-republican papers, to
make IL appear that Captain Curry Is
not an honest upright, capable man.
The letter. which Mr.. Hagerman
and the Morning Journal feared to
show the light of day, is as follows.
1t needs no comment:
The Letter.
Washington, ID. c., May 1. 1907.
My Dear Mr.. Hagermsn:
Mr. clifford Pinchot has presented
you ask that it be brought to my per-
sonal attention, stating that hundreds
of people have sent kilograms to the
president protesting against my ac-
cepting your resignation, and stating
furthermore that IL my action in re-
questing your resignation is not re-
Voked 1t will be a calamity to the
territory, and that II l will reconsider
this action you are positive | will see
the injustice ar1r &Asisdom of It
from every point on e1few.
Wrote Plainly.
This renders it necessary for me to
write you very plainly. You made,
as | am informed, good secretary OF
legation at the court of st. Peters
burg. All that l have heard of your
private life Is to your credit. Fur
thermore, / believe that you have
done certain excellent things while
you were governor; and of course
will permit nothing good that you
have done to be undone. But L must
add that as a whole ] think you have
been an unsatisfactory governor and
that your removal rom the position
Is imperatively demanded. If it were
not for my knowledge of your pre-
vious career and of your standing In
private life, and my consequent re-
luctance to believe that your motives
were as improper as certain of your
acts would indicate, / should have re-
moved you instead Of requesting your
resignation. | have not thought 1t
necessary to go into any matters as
to which there was any chance OF
controversy, and the department of
Justice has been as anxious as l have
been to show you all consideration,
and to resolve every doubt in your
favor. Assistant Attorney General
Cooley in his report purposely omit
ted, as he informed me, the inference
which he believes ought legitimately
to be drawn from the facts that in
the land grant transactions, wherein
l believe your conduct was blame
worthy, you were actuated i'm your
improper and presumably unlawful
action by your desire to secure the
aid of certain democratic politicians
in the faction fight. l decided that In
this matter / would give you the
benefit of the doubt, and so as 10
your action in appointing six mem
bers of the legislative council TO
lucrative positions, although there
seemed to me no moral doubt that
this amounted to the bartering OF
offices by you i'm return for legislative
support AS for the hundreds of per-
sons who have telegraphed me on
your account, / cannot say that l
have seen all of the kilograms, but !
have seen a great many OF them. l
have received an even larger number
from persons in New Mexico VINO
protested against your retention In
office. | have also received numerous
statements to the effect that neither
set of kilograms was really spontane-
Gus. There has been no single IN
stance i'm which the appointment or
Mr.. Curry as your successor has not
received hearty commendation.
Facts sufficient.
found that II was not necessary 10
consider anything save Assistant At
torney General COOley's letter, from
the department of justice. This sets
forth a state of facts which your per-
sonal explanations, when before me-
i'm no way relieved, and which make
it impossible, in my judgment to re-
tain you I'm Office unless l am content
to abandon all idea Of holding public
officers in New Mexico, or indeed
elsewhere, to any proper standard of
official conduct. This report from
the department Of justice related 70
your delivery Of certain deeds to the
Pennsylvania Development company.
L. appears that the grant Of land,
which was agreed 10 before you be
came governor, was on its face gross
Is fraudulent. and that the transac-
ton could not be completed save by
your action, made with full kuOWl-