Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-01-20

mhslnttorf upon inc BOARD OF com
miaHioncrs TO appoint the men so rec
commended.
Il believe also that maifcasancc 4
office on the part OF an election off
: ciai should be punished by lmprison
: ment IN tho territorial p%cnitcntiary
: ana that "A like punishment should b
melted out to any person who seeks b
intimidation. reward, OF the use O
money to corrupt the ballot. There /
; nothing SO vital TO the continuance .
a republican form Of government a
an honest election and q fair count
and the legislature should throw ever,
safeguard around the ballot.
= think also that YOU should MAKE
II a pcpitcntiary offcnsc for any ont
10 exclude or attempt TO exclude an,
resident Of a county from a voting
place "a election day. that Is TO say
any citizen should have "A right on
election day to attend a voting place
IN n precinct whore an election il
boing held, and TO work for the party
or candidate he desires. so long, Of
''N'"'t AN ~ 1biuu'iN nlNlnfll prop
crly and does not approach nearer the
polls than the distance limited by
law"
Refefring ia thr same connection to
suggestions that have been made in
favor Of the adoption OF the AustrnI-
J ian law in this territory. he says:
Il am not sure that the people Of
the territory are yet prepared for
what II known as the Australian bal
lot law. In many Of the Older states.
IN fact, In all of them, where this ssy-
tenn OF voting IL In use. many thou
sands Of ballots In each state are not
counted by reason OF lrregulnrity In
the preparation Of the ballot, and
while the great majority Of our voters
would probably be able to comply
with he law IN the preparation Of
their ballots. vet | feel that we should
not by law practically disfranchiae d
portion Of our voting population. In
q few years our people. in my iudg.
mcnt, viii be ready for this system of
voting"
Upon thnt point We are unable to
agree with the governor. The AUS
tralian law is one Of the best safe
guards that can be placed about the
ballot. and TO admit. officially, that a /
large number OF our poopl would not
be BILE 10 mark their ballots, even
with all the assistance which the law
provides for them, is an admission
Tint might affect very lniuriously our
present aspirations for statehood.
However. 1t Is a question upon which
there are many honest differences of
opinion.
lpoi the question Of the regulation
Of the liquor traffic. which IL d mat
tor that Is Just now attracting a very
share of public attention, his
cNcclleney says:
Tho liquor question viii undoubt
be placed before you by repre-
seniativos of our best citizens for your
careful consideration and effective leg
A large number of people
favor absolute prohibition. while 9TH
are opposed TO any further lcgls-
N'''h VI wv FhhJNti Ut DitHtHI.
II recommend, however. that you
q local option law, which VIII al
each community IN the territory
o decide for itself whether or not
liquor shall be sold within It's pre- 1
'lncts ! consider this plan In har-
nony with the fundamental principle
American government.
y further recommend. IA event of
he passage OF Il local option law, that
iquor licenses be substantially raised.
| suggest the creation of u terri
orial board whose duty " shall be to
sHuc these licenses, and have com.
jurisdiction over the liquor traf- {
ic Of the territory. This bonrd should I
Pc non partisan IN character. III cx- I
lcnHcs would amount TO u sum much !
than IL now paid to The various d
.ounty officers for the collection Of q
liquor licenses. and | believe that la !
hus centrallzing the authority u bet q
en- enforcement Of the laws may be !
.ttaincd." IS
In our opinion. all the foregoing I
communications viii be endorsed by =
very large majority OF the people OF e
Mexico, IL such a law be passed. !
~ the governor recommends. proyid-
ng Tor a substantial Increase of the
crrltoriai license We would advise
in Incorporated cities and towns.
V u thousand inhabitants or more, h
license tax should be paid into the /
municipal Treasury, Instead OF the ter i
itorial treasury, because Il Is the mu- 7
llclpalty, rather han the territory. 8
hat has 20 bear the burden of the ii
on%srqucnces. Ana whether a local i
piion law be passed or not. tho ter n
itorial license should be increased.
Increased radically. and there a
houid further be a provision that no q
nrritorial license should be issued for d
he sale OF liquor within a mile. at "a
OF any incorporated town or Il
ity. II Is only simple Justice to tho
sen who pay a high license for the a
fivilege Of selling liquor within the p
ity limits. hat they should be all 8
owed 30 get tho trade which they pay 81
Dr. ana not have Il diverted to "a
tring OF disrcpntahle holes la tho q
.al,' Just outside the tow line. 1t "a
ou lienCse men 10 do business !.
neither IN liquor. or In any other n