Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-03-24
Flat and Absolute Failure of the BrSum Machines Campaign
Of Personal and RetaIatoy Legislation Striking Example
of the Good Old Adage That the Plans Of MiCe Men and
Politicians Gang Aft Agee.
NOT ONE SUCCESSFUL MOVE IN
PLAN TO CRIPPLE ADMINISTRATION
From Gambling to School Legislation Governors Suggestions
Carried Out While Every Veto Is Sustained -AdminiStra-
ton Emerges From Fight Without Scratch and With Its
Hands ImmeaslTaby Strengthened by Bitter Contest

sage to the assembly, from gambling
legislation down.
The Organization Of the Assembly.
To the accomplishment of this re-
markable campaign of destructive and
retaliatory legislation, of which only
the bare details have been outlined, a
vigorous campaign had been conduct
ed throughout the territory from the
day following the election, to line up
the members of both houses against
the governor''--there was no desire to
accomplish anything, unless it be
against the governor" as the
session progressed and the strength of
the machine waned and waned, the
bitterness against the governor grew
more and more violent until at the
end of the session the defeated and
utterly discredited machine followers
were exploding in volleys of bitter
and wild dcnunciaton, so utterly un-
founded and unjustified as to cause
smile among the disntcrested and
contempt among those who cared.
The legislature was organized"
against the governor. and as the Bur-
sum men put on their armor for the
battle, they laughed jublantly and
bOasted of the impending destruction
of the young governor who had
dared to brave the machines dis
pleasure. But there is an old saying
that he who boasteth as he puts on
his armor. is likely to take it off in
tears. The legislature was organized
"against the goyernor'---there were
smiles of triumph as man after man
of the Bursum following was placed
i'm positions and to head committees
men deemed certain to stand out
against this governor who wanted to
do some legislating fer the people
Upon the day after the opening of
The session the machine. with the or
ganiZation in its hands, with all the
important committees deemed safely
under control fired its first gun. 1t
introduced the famous district attor-
ney bill designed to take the appoint
ment of district attorneys out of the
hands of the governor-it was the last
gun the machine fired. Some lurid
fireworks were exploded, but save for
the district attorney bill. the machine
until the hard-ridden house appro-
priation bill was introduced. never got
so far as to reload the gun. For sew
eral weeks the district attorney bill
waited in the council judiciary COM
mittee-tO the astonishment of the
machine there was majority In that
committee against the bill. Mr. De-
lies, the chairman, was for the bill.
He had been promised by the ma
chine that Willard should have the
county seat of Torrance county, and
Mr.. Dalies stood Loyalty to his word,
although the machine did not The
Torrance county bill failed, and in
this, as in many other cases in which
members of the house and council
were promised everything they de-
sired, the machine was wholly unable
to carry out its promises. In some
eases it desired to do so. In others
it did not, but in all cases it failed,
The hitch came on the district attor-
ney bill. and the rest of the proposed
legislation did not get past the men
who drew the bills. The hitch, too,
became more serious as the session
advanced. The situation in the coun-
ell crystallized until a two-thirds ma
iority stood against the machine $
campaign, although it was able up to
the last hours of the session to retain
its hold on the house majority. Mr
DennistOn of San Miguel was prom
ised by the machine that the san
Miguel county division bill should
pass the house He was calmly and
deliberately thrown down" although
he did not discover il until late in the
session. Mr.. Denniston is not a soli-
tary example, although he is one who
found out the facts and did not hesl-
tate to make them public.
At the beginning of the session
moreover ii was announced publicly
on the floor of the house by Mr., ABB
bolt OF Santa Fe that no man who
refused to get on the band wagon
should get anything. Mr.. Abbotts
saying became classic. But he did not
make good.
TO 90 into all the details of the ma
chimes campaign would be to write
again the history of the assembly, 1t
is merely interesting to note what the
machine accomplished out of its cam
paign.
The district attorneys have been
appointed by the governor and have
been duly confirmed.
The salaries of the territorial Off
GERS have remained the same.
The mounted police are still an
active force for law and order.
The fish and game warden is rest
ing securely In his office.
The penitentary commission has
been duly named and confirmed by
the governor, and the expert prison
man who was appointed to fill the
place vacated by II. o. Bursum has
been confirmed again in his position.
The coal oil inspection system re-
mains under the control Of the gov
ernor. and subject to the executive ap-
proval.
Special laws aimed TO relieve certain
members of the machine from prose-
cution. have been absolutely defeated.
In a word every one Of the things
proposed by the Bursum following
failed. and failed completely, flatly-
and in public, where all might see.
As the plain failure Of the cam