The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-12-28

t f1uelce; and, therefore, Mr.. Hinkle
sought to defeat Mr.. Hedgcoxe, and
with that end in view, attended the
Democratic meeting held in the third
wafd, the results of which are well
known. 1 am advised that the so
called saloon element that espoused
the candidacy of Mr.. Hedgcoxe and
aided in the defeat of Mr.. Hinkle
had attended the previous ward meet
ing, a1d had largely to do with put
ting Mr.. Hinkle in as mayor. l was
glad to have the support of that ele
ment of the Democratic party, who
aided temporarily, at least, in over
throwing the "one-man power that
had heretofore prevailed in the city
of Roswell
1t was suggested that l become a
candidate for mayor. 1 did not care
told some of the saloon men that
t if l were mayor that 1 would not be
III favor of the repeal of what is
known as the anti-gambling ordi-
nance. After the meeting at the school
house, 1 was urged to take a proxy
and attend the city convention.
was on the platform committee, and
made inquiry of some of the other
members as to whether or not we
should say anything about the anti
gested such a thing, and no mention
thereof, as l recall, was made in the
committees report. On the making of
the report, Mr.. Scott, who also had
obtained a proxy from a member of
the third ward, introduced the reso-
luton endorsing the anti4gambling
ordinance and endorsing the policies
of high license for saloons. When the
resolution was being discussed, 1 said
in substance that our side had not
ture. 1t had been thought by some
that the adoption of the high license
had been brought about for the pur-
pose of giving certain person a mo-
nopoly of the saloon business, and
was not brought about solely because
of the desire to regulate in the best
way the liquor traffic. 1 then said
that l was opposed to monopolies as
such, and 1 am yet.
After the nominations were made.
it was charged by some that the nom
inees did not intend to keep their
pledge, or carry out their party plat
form. l stated that 1 thought they
intended so to do, and pledged my
word to some that l would exercise
whatever influence l had in that di-
rection, if it became necessary so
to do.
After the election, 1 had considera-
BILE to do, l think, in having Mr.. Scott
retained as city attorney and Mr.. Ras-
coe retained as marshal. The above
mentioned facts constitute practically
all that l have had to do with the
present administration.
II.
When the city council passed the
ordinance reducing the license on sa-
looms, it violated the pledge made in
the Democratic city convention.
did not approve of the act, and so
stated at the meeting held at the Ma
jestic. If the council had not rescind
ed its action, would have voted for
prohibition. 1 signed the resolution
adopted at that meeting. In the first
place, in my judgment, it was impol
itic on the part of the saloons to in
duce the passage of the ordinance. 1t
is only three months until the next
election. They could have submitted
the matter to the Democratic voters.
There are many Democrats, as well
those outside OF as those within the
so-called saloon element, who believe
that any business not prohibited by
law is legitimate; and therefore be
lieve that the saloon business is le-
gitimate and is entitled to the pro-
lection of the Democratic principle of
Equal rights to all and special priv
ileges to none" There are others who
believe that the saloon business is
not entitled to be classed as legiti
mate business; that it does not ex-
ist as matter of right, but as mat
ter of sufferance. The members of
the city council that voted for the
reduction must have felt that the sa-