The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-09-23

threats of discharge. We call atten-
ton to the fact that these arbitrary
acts have been continuously practiced
in ColfaX county for the past eight
years until they have ripened into an
established system.
The u~nd.sputed record of the coun
ty of Valencia in election matters for
thep past quarter of Il century has been
a stigma and a reproach upon the fair
name of New Mexico. 1t is a proven
and established fact that it is not even
required that the voters should go to
the polls in that county, II that the
officers of the election board east the
ballots for all the ~absentees. while in
some instances the registration lists
are copied into the poll books in strict
alphabetical order. At the last cleo
ton IN this county and in Torrance
county, Republican ballots were sub
Stituted in place of Democratic bal
lots actually cast, and in one precinct
in the latter county the judges of cleo
ton openly refused to permit any
Democratic hallots to be cast.
The foregoing instances are but a I
few of the many open and defiant vio-
latfOns of our election laws. and it is
humiliatfng to be compelled to ac-
knowledge that with the single eXcep-
ton of Mr.. Frank w. Clancy. district
attorney of the second judicial dis
trict, no action has ever been taken by
any Republican official. national or ter
r%itorial. to stop these abuses or to pun
ish the offenders.
We demand, and if entrusted with
the power. we pledge ourselves to a
strict enforcement of the election laws
by the courts and prosecuting officers.
PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
We are heartily in favor Of the nom-
ination of all party candidates by a di-
rect vote of the people at primary
elections neld for that purpose under
the sanction of the law. and hereby
pledge our representatives in the next
legislature to work and vote for such
a law.
SALARY SYSTEM.
We believe that all county officers
should be paid fixed salaries. instead
of fees or commissions, for all services
required Of them by the government.
FOREST RESERVES.
We condemn the policy of the fed
eral government in prohibiting the free
grazing of live stock in the forest re-
serves of the territory, as unwarranted
and arbitrary; UGH policy tends to in
jure and destroy the interests of many
small live stock raisers and may Gre
ate a monopoly Of that industry by the
very few wealthy owners of sheep and
cattle. The conservation Of our tim
Der in sue reserves and the wise reg
ulation of its use in order to prevent
fits waste and destruction. is a COM
mendable economic measure. but the
free use of the lands in such reserves
for the grazing of live stock. under
suitable regulations. does not in any
manner interfere with the proper care
and protection of the tin Der growing
therein, and we pledge the best effort
Of our candidate for delegate to con-
gress to secure the removal of pastur-
e charges.
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
We recognize that under an act of
congress the interstate m COM
mission has complete jurisdiction to
regulate rates to be charged by COM
mon carriers doing business in New
Mexico. We charge that in numerous
instances such rates are not only ex-
elusive and exorbitant, but gross In
Justice is lone through discrimina-
ton. We therefore favor the creation
of a commission by legislative enact
ment whose duty it shall be to in
vestigate the facilities furnished, rates
n discrimination and where inius-
tice is being done any citizen or com
munity. present such grievances to the
m commission for
adjustment. The commission so to
be created should be composed of per-
sons identified with the principal COM
mercial and Industrial interests of the
territory, and funds should be pro-
so that every citizen or locality
may obtain just treatment from COM
mon carriers at public expense.
STATEHOOD.
We favor and demand the admis-
sion of New Mexico into the Union as
a state. For about twelve years the
president and both houses of congress
Of the United States have been domin-
ated by the Republican party, and dur
all that time the people Of New
have been begging and pray
ing for statehood. All our appeals
have been in vain. We therefore
charge that all declarations Of the ma.
tional Republican party in favor of
statehood for New Mexico are not sin
cere. but made for the purpose of In
fuencing territorial elections. and we
express it as our profound
that New Mexico will never
statehood except at the hands
Of a national Democratic administra-