The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1910-01-22
A GOULD, IDIOT

revolver and the general run OF are.
arms. In those days IL was often n
case Of killing somebody before break.
fast, or spending the rest Of the day
pulling arrows out Of ones hide. IL
IL was not n case Of removing such
a~dornments, IL was one Of increasing
the assay Of mineral In the carcas
OF some scoundrel who had an un.
holy lust for your saddle horses, or
a desire to appropriate your cattle
to start u little herd Of his own. In
those days 1t was the duty Of every
man to study the mechanism Of his
sis.shootor as faithfully rs his Sun.
day school lesson, IL not a little more
20, and most Of them did. Men were
quick on toe trigger and sure of aim.
They had to be in the game of chance
which was commonly called life on the
frontier. Those days are long passed
however. The redskin and the cattle
r~ustler, along with the white ~renegades
who were infinitely worse than either,
have yamoosed over the range into the
sweet subsequently,, and there is now
little use for the Winchester, the dou.
b%le.barreled shotgun aud practically
none for the revolver. The first two
have certain legitimate Offices to ill
in open seasons, but the latter is the
outlaw OF firearms and does a thousand
times more harm than good. The kill.
ing ut III Paso the other day, all over
the price II a case OF bile. producer, is
u proof point. Ii the shootist in this
case had not had II gun planted in his
bottle pocket there would have been no
blood.shed, with its resultant penalty
and sorrow in two families. lie was nj.
ways an in~otfensive fellow here, aud
no one believes that he would have even
thought of murder If be had not had
the means on his person. All of which
goes to show the pernicious side Of
pistol totins. No good ever comes Of
il. In one case where IL serves q just
purpose in protecting life, it destroys
u dozen without fair excuse. II is
the right hand agent Of the devil, aud
the best friend Of the coroner. 1t fills
the jails, and makes vacant places at
the Preside. IL puts a premium on
manslaughter, aud gives the man who
uses It q stain which can not be washed
out, even II the courts hold him justi.
fed. There may come a time when the
practice will be abolished, but 1t will
not be soon, II the numerous cases where
the concealed weapon Is brought into
use is any criterion. The fact that
it is absolutely inexcusable, seems to
have nothing to do with its prevalence.
Nor is it apparent that it can be legis'
lated out of existence. Undoubtedly
such methods as followed by the officers
Of the Pecos Valley, inaugurated by
Frank II. Lea, the laughing magistrate,
were TO a degree eticaeious, embrac'
ing as they did the frequent search.
ing of suspects in all stations of life,
and then a heavy fine and con6stication,
but even that did not eradicate the
evil. II seems TO be a form Of savagery
that maintains In spite Of the general
enlightenment of the people, and in the
face Of the fac: that il has no valid OK.
cuse. II may be that more strenuous
punishments may decrease the practice,
but this has yet TO DO demonstrated
In these counties there have been some
terrible illustrations OF the evils Of car,
rying a gun, and most towards do. I'm.
able 10 face a possible strenuous situa.
tion without the false courage that
such possession gives them, they 90
around carrying the engine Of death in
the pocket that was never intended
for anything more harmful than a
plug Of tobacco. IL the occasion never
arises for its use, all well and good IL
on the other hand II does, the fool who
carries it shoots some other fool who
has failed 10 learn that u firm respect
able attitude will head of the most
. 1iAnlIN UNIV VIM Va VI va u
plays are absolutely without warrant,
and the same number Of quarrels are
Of the same order. There Is a class
that goes around with n chip on their
shoulder all Of the time, and TO them
the hidden revolver is Il friend in need
There should be q heavier penalty for
sneh paNnla A ,naytrtfnp aho,lA MAS
a year in Jail, without bail or posi-
! bility Of appeal, and back and beyond
/ that there should be a provoke law IL
! the southwestern states, which makel
! the man who uses the hrst cross wore
1 AS liable TO discipline as though he hat
made a gun play. Apparently II Il
> only by such methods that the prac
} tiee Of pistol toting can be %lessene,
, II il can not be eradieted. Goo,
/ sense and the progress Of civilization
has failed 10 stamp II out, and 1
! would seem tina, the best and about tn,
, only shot Of prohibiting the sale OF
! revolvers altogether would be to in
crease the penalty TO a point that woul'
1 make the man Who wants 10 make Al
I arsenal out Of himself afraid TO follow
\ his bent.
A TAFT CONSTITUTION
: A brilliant thought has penetrated tn,
inner circle Of my think tank In reRar,
70 this state constitution hnnines.