Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-03-07
A STATEMENT BY MR.. BARNES
The Morning Journal Buerau,
Santa Fe. N. NJ. March s.

On Saturday morning last the Morning Journal published
an authorized interview with Mr. viii Barnes of Las Vegas
IN which Mr. Barnes quoted interview which he had while
in Washington during the latter part of February with Hon.
James R. Garfield then commissioner OF corporations and
now secretary OF the interior. In this interview Mr.. Garfield
merely set at rest the numerous uOrS which had been per-
SStenty circulated by enemies of Governor Hagerman to the
effect that the governor would be removed as soon as
the new secretary OF the interior came into the office vacated
by Mr.. Hitchcock The statements OF Mr.. Garfield were
brief and to the point They settled effectively the rumOs
as to the governors alleged forthcoming removal which the
enemies OF the governor had been using to unSette C0nd
tons in the Legislature and their effort TO block legislation
They removed from under them the last peg upon which the
enemies OF the governor were resting their ght Since the
appearance OF this interview the effort to revive the umOS
OF the governors forthcoming removal have met only with
smiles The situation has become desperate for the men re-
SpOnSbe for these rumOS who know better than any other
men New Mexico how baSeeSS these ruorS are now and
always have been.
Today under hySeriCa headlines and with two columns
of gatOus COmen the Santa Fe New Mexican publishes an
alleged dispatch from Washington, as follows:
"Washngton, D. c., March 6-Secretay Garfield says
the Barnes interview was not authorized and that he gave
no such interview to Barnes or anyone else
This alleged telegram is not signed but given coming
from the New MeXiCanS special correspondent in Washing
on Its purpose evidently to counteraCt possible the
very healthy effect Of the Barnes interview which has served
to Sagge the opposition to Governor agerman which had,
up to the time Of the appearance OF this interview retained
sufficient strength to block legislation.
Mr.. Barnes who is still in Santa Fe, was shown the dis
patch in the New Mexican tonight puportng to come from
Washington.
q have absolutely no reason to consider unsigned dis
naoh Of he nature Of this One said Mr. Barnes. 9" do moi
believe that Mr.. Garfield has made any statement Of the
kind alleged to have been made in this telegram, nor will be-
ieVe until see such statement signed by him."
"n the meantime stand fIatly upon every word which
appeared in my interview in the Morning Journal of Saturday
as being literally true. While in Washington had three.in
efveWS with Mr.. Garfield who at that time had not yet en-
tered upon his duties as secretary Of the interior called
upon him twice at his request and the course of these in
ereWS he made to me the statements which made public
in my interview of last Saturday,
have absolutely reason to believe that Mr.. Garfield
has denied having granted me these interviews and AM
PERFECTLY WILLING THAT THE STATEMENTS | HAVE
MADE PUBLIC SHOULD REST AGAINST THIS UNSIGNED
DISPATCH FROM WASHINGTON"
It only necessary to add to this statement by Mr. Barnes
that he went to Washington as member Of the presidents
special commission upon the lease law matter that he is
recognized as one of the substantial citizens of New Mexico
whose honesty and integrity has never in all the years Of his
residence in this territory been brought into question. That
Of Mr.. Barnes standing should have made the state
mens which he made in his interview in the Morning Journal
of last Saturday without full authorization is too foolish to be
accepted for an instant even by the most CreduIouS.