The National tribune., 1907-04-25
THE GOVERNORSHIP OF NEW
MEXICO.
Why Gov. Hagerman Was RemOved-An
taEonism with the New Mexicans-Th'
New Governor.


The following announcement was
made at the White House last Thurs
day:
Gov Hagerman has informed the
President that he will send in his resig-
nation. The President announces the
appointment of Capt. George Curry,
Governor of Samar Province, Philippine
Islands, as Governor of New Mexico in
Mr.. Hagerman's place.
This is a polite way OF saying that
after considering the case OF Mr.. Hager-
man his dismissal was decided upon.
In this connection it is said that this is
the first of the wealthy personal friends
of President Roosevelt who has been
intrusted with responsible position
under the Government who has failed
to carry out the trust to the complete
satisfaction of the President, and has
silenced ever-ready criticism of men of
this class. Mr.. Hagerman is rich man
and comes from family of wealth. He
is type, SO the President thought, of
wealthy, finely-educated men who have
had every possible advantage and who
decided to devote themselves, in part
at least to the public service. The
Hagermans own thousands of acres of
land in the West and in New Mexico.
Alone they have orchards of sufficient
area which gave them an income last
year of between $4,000 and $4,000.
Gov. Hagerman's resignation Is &C.
cepted because he could not get along
well with the people of the Territory of
New Mexico, and because, IN The judg-
ment of the President he appeared to be
temperamentally unfit for the position
TO which he was appointed. The Terri
torial Legislature demanded Hager-
mans removal or his resignation, and
charges were made against him in con-
nection with the transfer of 1000 acres
of land to the Pennsylvania Develop
ment Company.
1t can be asserted on highest authori-
ty of these charges alone that Mr.. Ha-
german resigned. These charges We're
investigated by the Interior Department,
and he was cleared of blame. More
recently they were Investigated further
by the Department of Justice, and 1t
was reported to the President that
nothing in connection with the transac-
ton reflected upon the personal integ-
rity or honesty of Mr.. Haserman.
The fact of the matter is that the
President criticizes the method of the
transfer more than he criticiZes the
transfer itself. The agreement was
made between the Territory and the
Development Company and Gov. Otero,
the predecessor of Gov. Hagerman The
land was needed by the company to fur
nish timber for the railroad which Dele
gate "BulP' Andrews and his associates
were building. The company. when the
deal was made, paid half cash and gave
its notes for the other half The law
forbade the Territory to transfer more
than 160 acres to any one person or
company, but Secretary Hitchcock APP
proved the DEAL and authorized it to be
made. When Gov. Hagerman came in
to office he decided to carry out the
deal. He had been Secretary to Mr.
Hitchcock when the latter was Minister
| to st. Petersburg, and naturally Hager-
man followed his advice absolutely.
The Land Commissioner of New Mex
leo never approved of the deal, and he
refused to do anything toward its con-
! summation. While he waS away from
the office, so 1t appears, Gov. Hagermar
compelled his clerk to affix the Com
| missioner's seal. This act, it is said
caused the resignation as much as the
deal itself. That way of getting a trans
action completed did not appeal to New
Mexicans, and they complained about
it to such an extent that the President
| became dissatisfied with the Governor
! Another cause of the Presidents dis.
satisfaction was Hagerman's reversal OF
position with respect to a statute passed
| by the Territorial Legislature during
| Gov. Otero's term. That statute for.
I Ddue HONeIltT LOT Two years aItel
| a man quits the Legislature to appoint
| him to Office. Hagerman approved tina
act before he went into office, but after
he got in he appointed nine of the Il
| Republican members of the Territorial
Senate to offices, and gave an office Il
a relative of the tenth. President Roose
welt did not like that at all. The Law
was disapproved by Secretary Hitch
| cock, and his act also contributed t.
dissatisfaction of the New Mexicans.
i Capt. Curry, who is to become the new
Governor of New Mexico, is one of thu
i Rough Riders who did nci get to Cuba
i He was left behind with the horses an,
extra equipment, while Gen. Wood ant
II Col. Roosevelt went to the front an,
got glory. Curry chafed so much undc
his enforced inaction that he wol
j Roosevelt's admiration. After the Wa
with Spain Curry became an officer il
the new 18th u. S. Cav. In that organ
4 iZation he made fine record. One o
I his common stunts was to lose himsel
; on a long hike and come back loade'
with information as to the enemy an,
evidences of successful fights with him
i A year ago Capt. Curry came back L
the United States and tried to resigl
t the Governorship of Samar. Presiden
} Roosevelt persuaded him that his worl
was not completed, and that if he woul,
: promise to go back and finish it he, tn
Z President, would promise him job II
!. the United States in year. Last Thurs
day the President made good his prom
. Use.