Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-11-29
Declares His Fellow Members
of Convention Were Same
Old Gang Which Has Long
Ruled New Mexico,
DAMNS CONSTITUTION FOR
SINS OF PAST LEGISLATORS
MetcaIf, for Socialists, Joins
Former Democratic Leader
in Haraague Against Ratifi-
cation of Organic Law,


Passing his opposition to the New
Mexico constitution on his assertion
that It was made by the bosses for
the benefit of special interests and
does not contain what the people
want il to contain, II r. FERGUSON
n the Elks theatcr last night told the
small crowd assembled 10 hear nm
fhat he expected TO continue fighting
the constitution in the hope that it
would be dcafeated by the voters in
January. Aside from pointing out
one alle2ed Joker in the document.
Mr.. Ferguson did not 90 into de-
tails to show how the constitution
provides for the interests, leaving the
explanation to some future time.
His speech was the principal one
o. the program at meeting ar
ranged by the Non-partisan Voters
league and the Citizens Progressive
parA. to welcome him home from
santa Fe and which was attended DN
about 150 people, many OF whom
came out to hear him tell why nv
opposed the constitution. The meet
ing was presided over hy Thomas j.
passmore president OF the progress
/
organization of the two leagues. Mrs.
s G. Nutter. president OF the New
Mexico " G. T. T., was one u INC
speakers and deplored the tact thAi
statewide prohibition had not been
Included in tho constitution. she
said. however that representatives OF
Tho league had been afforded every
courtesy and facility Tor presenting
their arguments and took comfort IN
the fact that they had made y good
beainning IN their fight to make New
Mexico dry w, 7. Metcalt also
snake briefly referring TO the consti-
tuition az an infamous docuhlen, ~,
which should he defeated at the polls
ue could not see any good in It,
while Rev Hugh A. Cooper, who tol-
lowed him, found much to approve
tbouch he was disappointed because
nrohibition. or at least local option
he'd not been included in the docu-
ment.
u am fighting that constitution
because know the crowd tnat
framed it, said Mr.. Ferguson in be
ginning his speech. u am opposing
ii because the men who made II are
the same bosses who control county
a,fia1s in New Mexico ana nave ap-
solutelv ruled the legislatures OF the
past am opposing 1t because l
does not contain the initiative ana
reforcndum. II contains nothing that
will enable the people 60 say any
thing about the government OF New
Mexico. True. they did put III a rei-
ereadum, but they we've iaughlhs
when they did It," -
Voting against the constitution Is
not working against statehood, MI.
FERGUSON assured his hearers II
She constitution is defeated, he sald'
the enabling act provides that the
governor must cali the constitution
together again. There would De nc
expensive election, but the delesa'ts
would meet again and correct sue"
de.ccts i'm the document as the Peo-
Die Indicate bv their votes they waG'
corrected. 1t would not take the
delegates ten days TO put in the Things
that Tho peoule want, he said, ahu
some of the things he declared they
want are the initiative, referendum
recall and currupt practices act
While giving the people the
Chcncc to elect their Officers ne ue-
clarod that most OF the terms oI oi
flee had been made long polh,lhE u
the terms of supreme court Judges
eight Years. as an example ana Nv
claring that a great deal OF wrohE
can be done in eight years ny
there is no recall by which an ile'iu-
ing olIicc holder can be remover.
Nh. Ferguson pointed out what Nc
declared 10 he a Joker" i'm the sec
ton on public lands objectlng 10 VI,
wording provided that such "l
school sections two. thirty-two' SIX
teen and thirty-six as are not con
liguous to other state lands shan no'
Doe sold within the period OF Ten Eeal
next after the admission OF New Mex
leo rs n state for less than ten dol
lars per acre" He was opposed h'
said to selling any school lanus, pu'
favored holding them until IN iutuI'
years they increased IN Naiue SUI
tient to afford sufficient iunds loi a.
school purposes without taxing NV
people
The sale OF million acres giver
hv the United states to pay the dtpl'
OF santa Pc and Grant counties no
also opposes. II this land Is lo
Gated in eastern New Mexico Whet,
relinuuishments are selling Tor 81
and SO an acre IL would fflui
only q part of this tract 4" pay 'hts'
debts. DE spid. and the balance c"ul'
hc given 10 the schools az the e"
ahiing act provides.
To show the iniQuity OF the p"ss'
and the government they have con
Quoted for Years ia New Mexico n
referred to the act of q Legislature
ian fafsinc the salaries oI count,
school superintendenis after the su
pcIinteudcnts had raised fund 10y
subscriptions among themselves q
pay the expenses of securing tn
passa ge OF the bill
As another instance OF misgovern
ment he declared legislature ha,