Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1910-12-24
ARGUMENTS THAT
ARE CONVINCING
Vote Against Constitution Is
Vote Against Peoples
Best Interest
ADDRESS BY COL. PRICHARD
Spoke to Mass Meeting at Es.
tancia as Did Hon. 0. A.
LarrazoIo.


hear Hon. George W. Prichard and
Hon. o. A. Larrazolo on the constitu-
ton. The meeting was an enthusias
tic one and indicated that the voters
of Torrance county will approve the
constitution by a good majority. The
New Mexican has already published
the speech of Mr. Larrazolo delivered
in Santa Fe and below gives a synop-
sis of Colonel Prichards remarks at
Estancia, which furnishes some points
not before brought out, in favor of
the constitution, and it should be read
by every voter He said:
There is no logical reason for turn
ing down the constitution by the peo-
pie of this territory, to be followed
by long train of abuses and oppres-
sion, felt only by those who are de-
MED the right of self-government. 1t
cannot be said that conditions would
be improved by rejecting an opportu-
nifty of home government so longed
for, and so unreasonably delayed. The
constitution that we are called to rat.
ify or reject is a composite document,
in the preparation of which a hun
dred minds participated, the most of
whom sought to accomplish some.
thing for the benefit of the people
There was not a single member Of
the convention that created this in
strument that was entirely satisfied
with it when it was finished; but that
was to be expected. The Progress
sives were not satisfied, not so much
because of things included as of some
things omitted. The Stand Patters
We're not satisfied because they
thought it entirely too liberal in some
Of its provisions. There were others
dissatisfied because they were anti
constitutionalists, anti-statehood men
and at heart were not on sympathy
with the objects of the convention.
We are prepared for the criticism
that has beef leveled against this con.
stitution, for we know that a book
was never written, nor a public docu-
ment was ever signed, that did not
have its critics. There are those who
even doubt the authenticity of the BIZ
BILE, who refuse the theory of it's in.
spiration, who would amend it by
leaving out whole chapters and add
ing others. Others would reject it al
together. The constitution of the
United States did not receive the
sanction of the entire membership of
of these objections are sound and
Tories of that day fought it.
The recent Democratic convention
at Santa Fe offered just thirteen OBJ
jections to this constitution. This is
an unlucky and a fatal number. None
of these objections are sound and the
most of them are frivolous.
The Bosses.
One of the objections advanced by
one of the prominent anti-constitu'
tonalists is that there are political
bosses in the territory. This objec-
ton goes. not to the constitution, but
to the alleged bosses themselves. Par
ties, like other organizations, have
/ leaders. but the leadership Of men
continues no longer than the people
wish it. If there are bosses in this
! territory, under what system of gov
ernment have they arisen? Would
! the rejection of the constitution re-
move the difficulty complained of?
| If there is any bossism in politics
! here the way to remedy the evil is by
the ratification of the constitution
and thus give to the people larger
measure of political and civil liberty
The more enlarged the rights of the
jeople the more Independent they be
come and the less are they under the
control of the so-called bosses. Boss
ism may find a place where a small
coterie Of men can dictate the ap
pointments of officials, bur not sc
when these officials are to be select
ed by the people themselves.
The judiciary.
Another objection made by the :
ti-constitutionalists is that we vii
have eight district judges, whereas
now we only have seven. Yet they
are aware that there is bill pendins
before congress to6give us the eight
Judge. 1t can be demonstrated tha
eight judges would be less expensive
to the people than four or six, be
cause the fewer the judges the great
er the distance the people will hav
to travel to ct to them for the tran
saction of court business. Travelin!
expenses of litigants and witnesse
are thereby increased. Each of tn
seven district courts of this territor,
is today behind with its business
with more business yearyly accumul
ating, which will be further Yncrease'
by a growing population under stat
government.
The article relating to taxes is ais
objected to by some who are oppos
ing the constitution. Tney persistent
! ly assume that taxes will be in
creased, but such will not be tn
case. Let us review this article fo
, moment. Under it only four mill
are to be levied for purely state pul