Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-03-30
FIGHT FOR CONTROL
OF LEGISLATURE
BY DEMOCRATS
IS NOW ON
Believed Bitterness Involved in
Senatorial Contest May Re-
suit in Revolution in House
Overturning Majority.
ADJOURNMENT TAKEN
UNTIL NEXT THURSDAY

y :
itaI Until Presence Alarmed
Majority; important Bills anc
Memorials Presented.
Especial Dispatch 10 the Morning sournaI.l
Santa Fe, N. NJ, March 29.-Befort
noon today both branches of the leg
islature had adjourned until Thursday
afternoon at Q o'clock. and many ol
the members were fastening through
the corridors in an effort to catch the
noon train for their homes, where
they will rest and recuperate in the
bosom of their families from the
, arduous labors of the recent sena-
torial campaign.
Although most of the members will
be away for the next few days, II need
not be inferred that this ancient city
will be Il dead one, politically, during
that time. As matter of fact one of
the most desperate struggles in the his
tory of state politics is now going on
here and will probably reach a crisis
by the time the legislature reconvenes.
This struggle is nothing less than a
desperate effort of the democrats,
with the assistance of number of
dissatisfied republicans, to wrest the
control of the legislature from the
regular republicans, and the result of
the struggle is as yet uncertain. The
prize for which the contest is waged
is not only the control of the manner
of bills that shall be passed during
the present session. but be 1t known
same legislature. when 1t meets In
January, may elect a United States
senator to succeed one of the gentle
men just elected.
Should one of the New. Mexico sem
ators draw the 1913 term at Wash
ington the Legislature. as now con-
stituted. would be called upon to elect
his successor. So ii may be seen that
the senatorial question is at present
only half settled in reality.
A partial test of the strength of the
two factions will, in all probability,
be shown when the committee of in
vestigation in the house reports on
the charges of bribery preferred
against the four members. 1t can be
easily seen that an exoneration of the
men means practically a condemna-
ton of the republican executive COM
mittee, which prepared and carried
out the coup. and this would un-
doubtedly deal serious blow at the
party throughout the state.
Realizing this, the leaders of the or
SANITATION are bending every effort to-
ward securing the ousting of thefour
members from their seats. But not
all of the regular republican leaders
are in harmony on this proposition.
Speaker Baca and his friends are out
spoken in their belief that the evil
denee produced before the investiga-
ton committee was not sufficient TO
warrant conviction. and they VIII
oppose any effort to deal harshly with
the men.
Holm O. Bursum and the friends of
W. II. Andrews in the late senatorial
contest are said to take the position
that politics should not enter into the
matter and that the legislators should
vote according to their convictions
without regard to party affiliation.
This is what the Andrews leaders say.
and as to what are their personal con-
victions as to the guilt or innocence
of the men, they are most chary of
expressing themselves. and 1t is haro
to tell just where the majority of the
Andrews men will be when the matter
is put to vote.
Friends of Colonel Jaramiilo. Sena-
tor-elect Fail and Solomon Luna. ma
tional committeeman. IL Is believed
are generally of the firm opinion that
the men are guilty and should not be
allow ed to remain in the house. These
men declare that to exonerate the
men would give New Mexico bad
name throughout the union and cause
a storm of adverse criticism from out
side newspapers.
On the contrary, the friends OF
Speaker Baoa and many of the Span
members of the house. |
say that this consideration should not |
enter into the question and that the
effort is being made to use the iour
accused men as scapegoats 10 save
the reputation of certain political
leaders.
What the result of the struggle VIII
be appears doubtful. IL seems certain
now that the two-thirds majority
Necessary to expei the men cannot DC
obtained. but the principal effort VIII
be made TO secure majority. wnleh
ran refuse TO lift the suspension under
which the men now are. ana ihis
would result In preventing the Tour
men from taking any part In the
legislative proceedings. but would
leave their seats vacant without the
Chance OF a special election
Should the action of the house IN
me bribery matter be such as :"
erouse the anfagonism Of the Spanish
the republican leaders
rear that they may be driven 10 the
sktrene measure Of forming coaii-
nor with the democrats and taking
c-arse of the legislature This would