Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-01-10

q one that they are not being spofhed
Of smnothed by the present man q
campaign adopted by both sides Nin
the advocates of county division say
these differences can never De over
/ come, that they have become chrome
and that a change OF population. 4
complete making over Or the wv,
towns alone will bring harmony y
an understanding
East Las Vegas " a progressive GUY
Il Is made up Of progressive business
men. and successful ones d9 ="
each man individually and ne VIII pc
found an4faua 70 do What he can TOT
the benefit % his city az q whole. y
same N true Of the business men
across the river. But somehow ihes
gether now. Most reliable aud most
conservative mon are found on both
sides II the county division question.
n Ii i question Of policy, n q big
nna, into which every ma says per-
sonnI feeling shall not enter. but Il
would seem That here ana tHeIe -
ista a good deal ~ personal feellng.
The postoffice question stands our
AZ the result Of many causes leadlng
M IA the civic and cninfnefciai gu
fefences between the two towns Ihe
most ardent friends % county diNiHiva
will tell you that II differences could
be recognized. II would be the best
3 ilfiIE aIhi -
the two towns II they could get To-
gether. @But they can't get To-
eethef," gay these men.
The political eide Of the question
presents d good many phases. Ihelf
Il no doubt that among b advocates
If county division are 4 few men VINO
have IN view certain personal politi-
cal ambitions. Such men exist IN eV-
cry movement of This character. But
IN the county division camp are u
great many sincere people VINO ne
lieVe that only county division can re-
lieve the people Of East Las vegas
Of the dominating Influence IN county
affairs OF a political machine, which
rs f4ubably the most powerful nov
existing In New Mexico. The
Of this machine have long been cfltl-
cizcd. The criticism has never been
open. Definite charges Of offlelal ms.
conduct have never been maze, but
there has been restlessnesA espeglalF
among The people Of East Lag vegas
for a long time. The restlessness now
seems tending to break out into open
insurfeetion. in the form of this de-
mand for county division, Ihe inh-
chine In question Is headcd py the
Romero family. Of which Don Eugenio
| Romero. coal oil inspector tot the ter
ritnry and county treasurer. ~ me
head. indeed, II may be said win
some truth, that the Romero family
* the machine. for Don Eugeniu ana
his sons dominate county politics. II
not absolutely, then so nearly tiiat
The plans they make are seldom
ever disturbed. one or Don Eusenio
sons Is sheriff. and a good officer,
Another rs clerk of the dis
trift court. and also n good
officer. Don EuRtni0 himself ~
county treasurcr, ana has been for
quite d while. He shows no dispose
ton to let 20 the office. The people
Of East Las Vegas. or many Of them
say The county offices We're not Gre
ated for the special use and benetit
Of Mr.. Romero and his family thaf
The county offices should pass round
PaTtisans of the ltomef0s declare that
his Is political Jealousy, pure ana
simple, and that political jealousy anu
political ambition ~ all there Is behind
The county division movement hui u
isn'4. Dor I%augenio. through his con
troll Of the people In the county pre-
rlncts. has for Il long time been able
to dominate completely IN san Mtguel
county. The restlcssness, however, y
growing and IL the county division
does not come. This restlessness VIII
show Itself ia some other form,
o EuRcnio IS a clever politician
He has been "a busa absolute. He has.
moreover. associated With him several
clever men on both sides Of the river
who have said, md some Of whom
still SAY, that tho county affairs are
we'll enough Ia the present hands ana
that II Is We'll to lei wen enough alone.
But, 10 one on the outside. studying
the situation from an unprecedented
standnoint. the present movement Tor
county division owes rs birth elderly
not 10 petty differences and petty
iealousies between the people OF thn
two towns. not To the serious differ
,n.sAu s4f nnininn1 md hitter feelings
aroused by the pust0ffice fight, but
10 the restlessness Of the people utt-
der what appears to have been
one man rule. the dominance Of q
single Influence. Undoubtedly there
are people furthering the county div
ision movement because they would
like 10 step into Don Eugenio Ito-
mero's shoes. or one OF them, But
II Is also true that there are a great
many people VINO wan a change In
county administration who believe
that the dominance of the Romero fol-
lowing viii be eternal under present
conditions, ana who, therefore, want
. new county IN which there will he
a new deal.
What will be the result9
II Is difficult 10 tell just now the
Influences opposed to The division OF
the county seem 10 hold the upper
hand 50 FAR as legislative action IL
concerned.
When the legislature meets the sit
uatlon VIII develop very quickly II
viii at least be one OF the interesting
questions 20 come before the assembly.
An Interesting feature OF the situa-
tion Is that James S. Duncan. eoun-
Gilman from San Miguel, quay and
Guadalupe counties, Is leading the
fight fur he new county. while Charles
S. Spiess. councilman from the county
of san Miguel Don Eugcnio Romero
and Sceundino Romero ARE "a the
head of the opposition.