Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1911-11-06
To the People of New Mexico:

4
i On tomorrow, those of you who ar
citizens of lawful age and legal resi-
dence, will be called upon to perform
the greatest duty of citizenship il
this great republic, part of which
from November z. we forever shall
form part, as citizens entitled to al
the blessings and sacredly charged
with all the responsibilities incum
bent upon free citizenship of gov
ernment of the people. by the people
and for the people.
Throughout the campaign that has
been waged, you have heard much OF
measures and of men. Of parties and
OF theories.
AS final word before you deposit
your ballot on the day of election,
we want to discuss frankly with you
the reasons why this great new state,
whose people are for the first time
entering upon their duties of full aiti-
zenshfp, should organize its govern
ment under the republican party; and
why, likewise, the constitution which
you have already ratified by a ma
jority of $4,000 votes. should be kept
intact, in order that the state shall
at once be launched upon prosper
GUS career for all of its people and
industries and that its government
from the first day it is inaugurated,
may be stable, honest, economical,
inspiring of the fullest confidence in
all men and that it may be, by its
very stability, guarantee to us. one
and all alike, that the sacred rights
given us under the greatest political
document ever written, the constitu-
ion of the United States of America,
7hall be ours from this date hence.
The republican party in this terri
tory of New Mexico can well stand
upon its record. 1t has already built |
a foundation upon which the first
state government can rest securely.
You have been told in the course
of this campaign, through the press
and by the republican candidates and
speakers, that the republican party in
New Mexico assumed control of af-
fairs at the close of the last demc-
cratic administration, with the terri
tory practically bankrupt.
The democrats inless than four
years had emptied the treasury, ac-
quired deficit of 127,S39.91, ruined
our credit, depleted the finances Of
our educational and charitable insIi-
tutions, and by their incompetency
and disregard for the common veal,
brought upon us the worst era of
hard times and business stagnation
in our territory.
A democratic administration in
Washington had ruined our great
wool industry. 1t had likewise so
stagnated business in the natienI
that for our lumber, coal, gold, silver,
and valuable ores, there was so poor
a market that operations were all
most entirely suspended and the Ia
Dor employed thereat was idle. Like
wise our railroads, having lost the
transportation of our products from
within and our decreased purchases
from without, were cutting down
their forces and those men were
seeking other avenues of employ
ment in vain.
Our ranges were overrun with cat
tie, horses, mules and sheep, but for
want of a protective tariff, compefi-
ton from foreign lands had crept in,
and we could not sell for sufficient
to pay the freight to market.
Building was at a standstill. Our
mechanics, carpenters and skilled
workmen were in need of work.
Those were dark days in New Mex
ico Those of you who were with
in our borders at the time recall
them with a shudder. Those Of you
who have cast your lot with Us since
those days can not afford now to-
vote for return to such conditions.
In the brief span of few years,
since that democratic fiasco the re-
publican party in New Mexico has
brought order out of chaos, prosper
ity out of ruin, progress out of retro
gression and employment for labor