Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-08-09

seems to remain some slight confusion
as to the real significance of the re-
publican primary election to be held
tomorrow in this county. The impor
tance of the primary election to the
welfare of the republican party and
to the business interests of the tax
payers is so great that it is well worth
reviewing up to the appointment of
the primary commission which has
charge of the election tomorrow and
which is the acting republican central
committee of the county until new
one shall have been created by the
convention to be made up of the dele
gates elected tomorrow in the several
precincts.
The movement eliminating in this
election really began in 1903. when
the fight against the graft-ridden ring
rule of Hubbell and his crowd began
in this county. At that time Frank
A. Hubbell was chairman of the ter
ritorial republican committee the
highest political Office in the territory.
He was boss of the legislature and he
owned this county so completely that
the taxes of merchant who did not
obey his orders could be raised and
in more cases than one were raised
so high that the merchant was forced
to "be good" or get out of business
1t was one of the most perfect polit-
ical machines ever organized and its
perfection Is evidenced by the fact
that after five years it is still able to
make the desperate fight it is now
engaged in making to restore tseld
to power in the party and the county.
The next step In the fight on Hub
bell following the division of Berna-
Ia.
elncts where Hubbell ruled, was the
removal of Hubbell and his followers
from county offices for malfeasance,
misuse of public money and other
equally grave causes This removal
was made by Governor Otero Hub
bell, however, still retained the party
organization. He was chairman of
the county central committee. and
when the primaries of 1905 were held
the old-tifne mass primaries, he ramed
his own men for nreclnct chairmen.
ran the primaries by mob rule and
elected his own convention. From this
convention walked out more than half
of the members who could not stand
the Hubhell methods any longer. The
Independent republicans of the county
held their own convention and sent
delegation to the territorial conven-
tion at Las Vegas 1t was refused
seats and Hubbels delegation was
seated The Independents came back
to Bernalillo county. organized the
Independent. or peoples party and
carried the county by enormous ma
torities but through the support Of
the territorial organization Hubbell
still retained his place as head of the
so-called Regular Republican organl-
zation in the county.
Two gearr gttnnpd nv and another
election came or rhe territorial or
ganzation. after repeatedly refusing
to take any action for the aid Of the
majority of the Republicans Of the
county, saw at last that to carr Per-
nalillo county the party mu be
united ard behind leaders who he
people will follow The committee
saw that the people would no lop9er
follow Hubhell. and the committee
was asked by the loyal Republicans
of Albuquerque to act for the good Of.
the party
HubbelI had frequently promised
members of the territorial organiza-
tion to resign. He mad as repeatedly
broken his promise. Men had even
been selected to take his place: men
of character and standing whom the
neople of the county would probably
have arreed to- Pu Hubh"li clunp 10
his position as chairman Of the coun-
ty committee, supported in this by the
natlv Tftif-er ~~ W owners and by
the remnant of the ring.
Finally, on July lUl,., the territorial
committee in session here, after Hub
bell had refused to accede to a plan
by which the committee should take
charge of the primaries here adopted
a plan by which Hubbell should ap-
point one man, the Independent Re-
publicans one man and a third to be
named by Governor Curry. the three
tn constitute the regular central cow
mittee of the party in this county for
the holding of the primary election
TO elect delegates to the county con-
ventlon on this commission Hubbell
selected Mr. p. w. Dobson. The In
dependent Republicans selected Mr..
Alfred Grunsfeld and Governor Curry
named Mr.. Otto Dieckmann. The
commission was satisfactory 10 the
people and the only criticism that has
been heard of the commission has
come from HubbelFs newspaper. the
Daily Citizen--and this criticism Gu
riously enough. Is entirely based upon
the ground that the commission has
declared itself In favor of Delegate
Andrews
II was necessary to create this COM
mission IN order TO get the Republic
ans of this county to come into the
primaries. II was necessary TO get
rid of Hubbell The territorial com.
mlttee created the commission after
trying every other means 10 get rid
Of Huhbeli There was no other way
And SO the committee put the mat
her up to the Republican voters OF
this county. The opportunity hat
been given plainly and without con.
fusing issues II Is simply a question
Of whether or not the voters Of thi'
county will eliminate Hubbell from
the party management and the coun
ty government.
The convention to which delegates
will be elected tomorrow has but two
duties-tone to elect sixteen delegates
to Santa Fe The other 10 elect {
county central committee which shal