Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-10-29
HACERMAN SCORES
GANG CANDIDATE
FOR GOVERNOR
Stafford VINDlCATl0N
CAREFULLY OlSSECTED
Report of Friendly Referee
Quoted to Prove Conclusive
ly That Important Records of
Prison Were Destroyed,
I sr.cIaI pI.pateh 10 lhe Monlns seurnaI1

! tloOit NClO OCoklOJ
Especial Dispatch 10 the Morning. JournaIt
Deming. y. NJ. oct 2S.-FormCr
Governor llagermun here tonight re-
viewed the entire history OF the in
VeStigation of the Bursum regime In
the state penitentiary and merctless-
ly tore 10 pieces the alleged vindi-
cation of the Las Vegas candidate tor
governor. Governor Hagermans ad
dress was listened TO by a big audi
ence and his remarks were cheered
to the echo. Taking up the Stafford
report on which the alleged vlndica-
ton was made, the speaker dissected
the real history of the investigation
which resulted In Mr. Bursum turn
ing back 10 the territorial treasury
some tl.100. a large portion of which
had been In his possession for as
much as seven years, ana which Mt.
Bursum claimed had been retained
by him through error, Governor Ha-
german ventured the opinion thar
the penitentiary superintendent would
have never discovered the error at all
had his books not been under invests
cation. Governor Hagerman said IN
part:
The progressive republicans are
working for good government In tn /,
state OF New Mexico. We have tried
TO reform the republican party from
within. The mass of the voters Is
honest and wish only for the best in
terest of the new state. but the ma
chinery of the party has fallen into
the hands of "A band of political pi-
rates who use public patronage ana
official positions for private gain.
We wish Ia see the grand old party
rescued from this gang rule, a. 10
accomplish that end. no abuse, no
amount of Villificatlon, no degree Of
falsehood, weapons employed by the
opposition so lavishly and without
| scruple, shall deter us from eontinu-
ing the fight until the polls close on
the seventh day of November, be-
cause We. know we are right. We
know they are wrong, and We knoN
that they know they are wrong.
Bursums Challenge.
took occasion in Las Negas to ao-
cept the challenge made there by Wr.
| Holm q. Burruin. tl.3 gang candidate
for governor, 10 show that there had
been irregularities In his adninistra-
tion Of the territorial penitentiary;
that records OF that institution had
been destroyed, and that he, as SUI
perintendent, had been guilty Of ex-
travaganee and had shown nerfici-
ency not to use stronger term.
The next day the gang papers, in
stead Of printing what | said IN am
swer to that challenge. confined
themselves to vltuperation and abuse
directed toward me personally. They
knew they could not deny what | had
said; they knew | had told the truth,
and, like people caught with tha
goods, tried to befog the Issue.
Regarding the Books.
Mr.. Bursum says none OF the books
were destroyed, and refers for his
vindicatlon 10 the records Of Judge
Parker's court. Those very records,
copy Of which | hold in my hand.
state unequivocally that one OF tho
most Important books of original
entry was destroyed. True the re-.
port of the referee says the book could
be reproduced from other sources.
but to do SO would require six
months work,
Mr. Bufsum himself wrote letter
In which he said he had that book
DESTROYED. Stil he comes before the
people and SAYS none of the books
were destroyed lie also says his
record as superintendent OF the peni.
tentiary ls not an issue IN this cam.
paign. | say his record Is an issue.
II he was incompetent or dishonest
In thnt position Of trust how do we
know that he viii not be Incompetent
or dishonest II elected to higher
ana more responsible position? "By
their fruits We shan know them" by
his acts We shall Judge him.
Important History.
when appointed governor of the
territory, | soon became aware that
the peuitentiary was not being well
| secured the opinion
Of prison expert from another pare
OF the country ana In his Judgment
The physical and moral conditions
were bad
Mr. Bursums friends said he had
not the time to give personal atten-
ton to the management and had
left the direction Of the penitentiarv
affairs 10 subordinates.
when ! insisted that he should re-
tire IL he could not give proper at
iention to the duties, his friends In
sisted that he should remain there for
he purpose Of furthering the political
of the republican party
Mr.. Bursum did not retire for SOW
'ral months after requested his
.esgnatun, and during the interval,
recording to statement by MIR, New
'omb, the clerk Of the penllentiary,
Mr. Bursum instructed Mr.. Newcomb
o rewrite the Journal the cash book
md the ledger. two OF which books
7ad been IN use since 1889, and Mr..
3ursum. according 60 his own state
nent then had the old ledger de-
'troyed. As to the other books. Mr..