Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-29

or anywhere else to participate In
their local elections, | refused to do
so for the reason that my first vote
was cast in this territory of New Mex
leo and it is my ambition to cast my
last vote in the state of New Mexico.
During the time I was absent from
this territory | never once forgot my
good friends of childhood days, many
of whom l see before me today.
"Twenty-seven years ago | passed
through your city and many of those
that | see among you today are those
who extended to me aid and comfort
when | was a poor boy struggling for
existence without wealth or without
education.
II have lived practically all of my
life in the neighboring county of Lin
coin, with the exception of two years
and when | went to that county there
were very few settlers except the old
timers and the natives of the terri
tory of New Mexico.
"ThOse people took me in at once
and treated me as though was one
of them. They have continued to do
so, and nothing / can do in the posi-
ton / now hold or any other position
that ! may be placed in can repay
the good people of New Mexico for
the kindness they have shown to me.
When your mayor and my friend,
Mr.. Martin (who interpreted for the
governor in Spanish, of which he is
naster) asked me to come here to-
day and open your fair, felt that
/ could not refuse. although | have
an important engagement at St. Louis.
with the president of the United
States on business Of great interest
to the people of this territory
Il have let that wait one day in or
der to come here, and / will therefore
Join the presidential. party at st.
Louis instead of at Keokuk as was
at first arranged in order to be able
to spend this day with you. And
fellow citizens, It gives me pleasure to
be able to do 1t.
Il know that you did not invite
me here because l am an orator,
because all of you know that George
Curry is not a speaker and he knows
it, But nevertheless, IL is one of the
greatest pleasures that | have had
since my return to my native home
TO meet the good citizens of Socorro
county and to renew old friendships
on familiar ground.
"Now, In regard to what my friend.
Mr. Bursum, said about our right to
participate to a greater extent in
the management of our own af-
fairs, During the short time that
have been governor of New Mexico,
it has been made very plain to me
that the only thing for lis all to do,
regardless of politics. is to unite and
to demand from the congress of the
United States, the right to be admit
ted as n state.
Some of my friends have said to
me that it might not be policy to ask
this Of congress at the present time,
but | say to you all that 1t Is a mat
ter of right According TO the treaty
between the United States and Mex
leo, the government of the United
States promised the people of this
territory that II would give them the
full rights of citizenship. a promise
which | am sorry to say, that this
government has not kept.
'It Is up to us to remind the gov
ernment of that sacred promise, and
we must arouse sentiment in the
United States, not by begging for
statehood, but by demanding 1t as
a matter Of right we have the
wealth, and we have the intelligence.
"Our honOred president. whom
have had the honor to serve under
and know to be an honorable and
brave man--and a man who never
speaks except earnestly--said In his
speech at Las Vegas nine years ago
at the first annual reunion of the
Rough Riders, that he would favor
the admission OF New Mexico as a
state: that New Mexico had furnish
ed more soldiers in proportion to her
population during the civil war to
maintain and perpetuate this union,
and during the recent war with Spain,
that she furnished more troops than
any other state or territory.
mot one OF the sons OF New Mex
leo I'M either one Of these wars failed
to perform his duty. Then why have
we not the right of admission to the
union? Is.
Some people will raise the argu-
ment that the majority Of the people
of New Mexico are not Americans No
man. who knows anything about the
/ people Of New Mexico and IL an hon
est man. would make that statement.
The descendants Of Spain in the ter
ritory OF New Mexico are the very
best Americans that we have In the
+ territory.
'They showed IL on the battlefield.
4 They have shown II everywhere. and
F Il Is up TO us newcomers who stand
here shoulder TO shoulder with you
people, 10 demand from the American
! people what Is our right.
Now. my friends. | know that yog
+ did not come here TO listen 10
/ speeches FOR you are all Interested IN
i baseball games and other amuse-
ments but VIII detaln you long
enough 70 declare on behalf Of the
Efair association that thls--lhe first
annnnl fair of the county 30 sneorro,
! X DECLARED officially opened hope