Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-02
WILLIAM ]. MILLS
TAKES OATH AS
GOVERNOR

tNV q ftfit ~
do the major portion OF the work OF
transportation. but u country roads,
the short roads botWeen the several
towns, need Improvement.
since the advent Of the automo.
bile, the cry for good roads is heard
from mi end of the land to the other.
| believe in good roads. and favor the
Improvement OF the highways In the
territory as FAR as 1t can possibly be
done. The greater part of the work.
however, must be done by the several
counties, as there are not enough con-
victs to answer the demand Tor this
class of labor. viii, however,
promise that the territory will assist
IN the work, so FAR as ii properly can.
"A great deal of credit should be
given to the citizens of Las Vegas and
santa Fe. who. in a period of hard
times, conceived the idea of building
the scenic highway between those two
prosperous towns with The assistance
of convict labor. II was a rood idea
and has spread. and today several OF
the states are employing their prison
ers IN this way.
"The building Of roads is a class Of
work which to my mind does not en-
ter into competition with honest Ia
Dor, while ut The same time It helps
the convict by giving him h%calthful
VNAttRA Ntihs ~ SiANlAtliS tit ltli
Of his Imprisonment, If he conducts
himself properly.
THE act of the legislature passed
in 1908, projecting and establishing
the Canine Real to he an extension
of the scenic highway, through New
Mexico along the general route OF the
historic Santa Fe trail and designed
ultimately TO be q grand and perman-I
ent highway for rural and tourist
~ xrA aud frn ,at.nVtat4A ...sII
branch roads extending into every
county. initiated Il work OF great mer-
it which will he OF lasting benefit toll
all our people.
Il believe this work should be-
pushed to completion by the use OF
convict labor where possible. and byI
the united cooperation Of all the
counties.
I'm carrying on this work. and i'm
proving and constructing roads tol
nne the outlying mining, agricui-l
tural and grazing districts with the
railroad stations. to and from which
they may transport their products and
supplies, / think some definite plan
should be adopted to secure uniform
ity and permanence Of construction.
The work should not be undertaken
.sporadically here and there. but each
section or division should be worked
Systematically until completed. Itl
viii be one OF my aims TO secure the
perfection of such a plan and begln
work upon it.
The great question, however. which
New Mexico as a whole. and
m which the people from n end Of
territory to the other are inter-
asted, is our admission to the sister
hood Of states.
Statehood for New Mexico.
For many years we have been ask
.ng for statehood. claiming that It
" the treaty Of Guadalupe-Hidalgo,
which article contained the provision
hat the territories shall be incorDo-
into the Union Of the Unit
ID States, and be admitted at the pref
ser time, Ito be Judged by the con-
yress Of the United States) to the en-
oyment of al the rights Of citizens oil
he United States
Up to the present session the law,
power has never judged that
he proper time had arrived, although
or many years New Mexico. in pop-
ilation. wealth and development, has
ar exceeded the standard accepted
" the in the admission OIL
AMY Of the older states.
Ever since It's organization as q
the people of New Mexico
ave in every possible way. both in
of war and in times Of peace.
hown their devotion to the flag and
heir loyalty to the government of the /,
'nited States. and they have earned
right to participate in the benefits ,
{ full citizenship. :
Notwithstanding the handicap Of a :
arritorial form OF government. howl I
yer, we have steadily progressed in
eveloping our resources, in extend-
our system OF education, n new y
lilroads and new irrigation enterprise =
s are opening up millions upon mill- y
Of acres Of Il fertile lands to I
ana cultivation. i
To-day / believe the congress recOg- +,
that we are fully qualified to +
sumo the responsibilities Of stated =
God and hat the enabling act which !
passed the house OF repre- /
antatives without a dissenting vote 4
i'll soon pass the senate, possibly n
18th some notifications and receive !,
he approval of the president. /
we have. the wealth ana the ener- =
atic, gO-ahead people among us who &
i'll develop our vast natural o Q
as and make New Mexico in a few i
ears. one of the greatest in the gall q
Xy Of states. z
while We are ready and willing to
ssume the burdens and responsibility r.
y " III VIII Nt &c ANFiAA Us AtAA m
e become a state. we ought 70 real
e that ii is a step upon which wei 1
lould not enter lightly nor without
deliberation. for when nee wei
re taken into the Union, these burd- *
rs and responsibilities cannot be set -
side 50 long as the United states eN- 2
Is as n nation. j
president Taft was absolutely right 4
the address which he delivered at .
lbuQuerque last October. in caution >
K us to be very careful i'm all the 4
steps which We must take y
fore our admission to the union. a
\ sane Constitution. =
I'VE must elect our best men- +,
of experience and affairs, as dele .,
ties TO the convention which is to 4
anne the act under which The ne~ +
ate OF New Mexico shall i've, 80 -
our constitution may be as ne1r- "
perfect as The falli5ilitJ of man y
i'll permit it 20 be. Let US make n 4,
fe and sane constitution, q consti-
tion which Will insure US good gov ~.
nmcnt at the start, but which is also N
sxibie enough to answer our needs n,
we grow in wealth and population, (.
lich is certain to come 10 US quickly 4,
For nc. | 10 not tfvor q ccnstitu- 4,
IN which contains much legislation. 81,
1t care must be exercised 10 so frame III
as to secure an absolutely fair ju- =,
ciary, for after all is said ana done. a,
the Judiciary is tho weakest -,
the great coordinate branches Of ~
vernment. still it is the shield and "
0ckler which protects the popr and i,
G well to do. the strong and the