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

uujluIeuS OF were CnmDoIleT
to vote the Republican ticket under
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~ndisDuted record of the ceun-
ty of Valencia in election matters for
the past quarter of a century has been
a stigma and a repreach upon the fair
name of New Mexico. 1t is a proven
and established fact that it is not even
required that the voters hould go to
the polls in that county, but that the
officers of the election board cast 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 We're sub
stftuted 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 I-allots to be cast.
The foregoing instances are but a
few of the man. open and defiant vio-
Ia tIpiS u Jul SltCGtOu III -. anu IL Is
humiliating 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
ritorial, TO stop these abuses or to pun
ish the Offenders.
We demand, and if entrusted with
fl,1 -o1,-n va .INI,o
strict enforcement of the election laws
by the courts and prosecuting officers.
PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
We are heartily in favor of the nom
nation of all party candidates by a d.
rect vote of the people at primary
elections neld for hat purpose under
the sanction of the law. and hereby
pledge our representatives in the next
legislature to work and vote for such
q law.
SALARY SYSTEM.
We believe that all county off GERS
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: Such policy tends to in
1uTe 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 sheen and
cattle. The conservation of our TIM
her in such reserves and the wise reg
ulation of its use in order to prevent
its waste and destruction, is a COM
meDdable economic measure. but the
free use of the lands in such reserves
for he grazing Of live stock, under
suitable regulations, does not in any
manne interfere with the proper care
and protection of the tin her growing
therein, and we pledge the best effort
Of our candidate for delegate to con-
gress to secure the removal of pastur-
age charges.
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
We recognize that under an act Of
congress the interstate 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-
Att71 "hN ShOi IhiL DdI SIOoS
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
yestigate the facilities furnished, rates
and discrimination and where intus-
tire is being done any citizen or COM
Tnnnity. present such grievances to the
interstate commission for,
adjustment. The commission so to
be created hould be composed Of per-
sons identified with the principal com.
mercial and Industrial interests of the
territory, and funds should be pro-
vided so that every citizen or locality
may obtain just treatment from COM
mon carriers at public expense.
STATEHOOD.
We favor and demand the admis-
zion of New Mexico into the Union as
4 state. Fo- about twelve years the
president and both houses of congress
,f the United States have been domin-
ated by the Republican party. and dur
ing all that time the people of New
have beenE begging and pray
ng for statehood. All our appeals
been in vain. We therefore
that all declarations Of the ma.
-ional Republican paEty in favor of
statehood for New Mexico are not sim
,ere. but made for the purpose of in
1uencing territorial elections. and we
regretfully express it as our profound
conviction that New Mexico will never
statehood except at the hands
II 4 national Democratic administra.
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