Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-08-10
ADDRESS BY
Mr.. GARFIELD
Discusses Questions
of Public Interest
Here
EXPONENT OF SQUARE DEAL
Believes New Mexico Will
Soon Have Statehood. Cab
met Official Welcomed.

Notwithstanding the short notice
and the hasty preparations several
hundred people listened to the ad-
dress delivered by Hon. James R.
Garfield, secretary Of the Department
of the Interior, last evening in the
chamber Of the House of Representa-
tives. 1t was a representative audience
almost half of it being composed OF
women, who took as deep an interest
in what the speaker had to say as the
men. ....
Mr.. Garfield in his speech dis
cussed the policy Of the national ad-
ministration with reference to his
particular department and which be-
cause of the present Territorial form
of government here is of vital inter
est to New Mexcans He touched
upon the statehood question in the
course of his remarks and stated that
in his opinion New Mexico would be
admitted to the sisterhood of states
at not far distant date.
Hon. T. B. Catron as mayor OF the
city, was called upon to introduce
the secretary, and in his Introductory
speech put in some good words for
New Mexico He called the attention
of the secretary to the fact that the
impression prevails abroad that New
Mexico people are not as good as the
citizens of other commonw ealths. He
referred to the present investigation
being made by special agents OF the
government into certain land trans
actions. There may have been frauds
committed here he did not deny but
he stated emphatically that there was
less than in any other state or ter
ritory under similar circumstances
He said that the present investiga
tion was welcomed and the federal
officials would be given every assist
ance in their work. He also told
with evident pride of the rapid strides
New Mexico has been making within
the past few years in the develop
ment of its resources.
Has Faith in New Mexico People.
Mr. Garfield when he arose to
speak said that he had not intended
saying anything about the land inves
tgation now going on but since Mr.
Catron had broached the subject he
would talk briefly about it. He said
that there never was any doubt so
far as the national administration was
concerned as to the honesty and in
tegrity of the people of New Mexico
He assured his auditors that in deal
ing with the problems with which it
was confronted the government would
treat the people of this Territory as
fairly and with as much considera-
tion as in any other state or territory
II there has been any wrong doing
here the people here would have them
righted.
The secretary said that the prin-
cipal object of his present tour of the
Southwest was to study irrigation
with view to reclaiming the arid and
semi-arid lands. incidentally he is
also visiting the various Indian agen-
cies and institutions along the route.
He spent over an hour yesterday af-
ternoon in inspecting the U. S. Indian
Industrial School near this city. In
his speech he referred to this visit
and paid a well deserved compliment
to Superintendent Clinton J. Crandall
for it's efficient management.
Mr.. Garfield's frankness made a
favorable impression upon the audi.
ence and his address was frequently
uninterrupted by applause. When he
had concluded speaking the secretary
shook hands with those who wished
to meet him. His speech in part fol-
lows:
Secretary GarfieId's Address.
'1t is indeed with great deal OF
pleasure that | have been able tc
come here and have the opportunity
of meeting the people of New Mexico
and discussing with them those mat
tiers that are of interest to them af
fecting as they do their lives and
their property. AS the mayor has
said the people of New Mexico are
of no different type than those of any
other portion Of the country.
Il am glad to say as I have said
not only here but in the East where
men have talked to me about the
West that SO many people there dc
not understand the West at all. / dc
not pretend to understand much about
the West myself but l have beer
here for many years, coming through
your Territory nearly twenty years
ago and | have kept in touch with
many of your men, and I know what
they have done, and I know thai
what your mayor has said regarding