Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-04-27
Executive Declares Thas There
Was No Basis for Contest
Against Senator From Four
teenth District.
SAYS HE CAUSED AN
INQUIRY TO BE MADE
Attended Session of Senate
When Contest Was Decided
in Order to Get First Hand
Impression Of Proceeding.
tsEeeiai TsIsgsnna % Evensna neraIdD

AAAPASaoAVA VI TTOCeeOlnS,
tsEecial TeIsgFnna a. EVensng neraIdD
Santa Re. y. ~. April 2Y.--Gover-
nor william e. Mcdonald, in a state
ment made public to-day. declares that
the action OF the Republican major
lty In the state senate Wednesday in
unscatlng Abelino Romero. and seat
ing a. C. Abcytia as senator from the
i4th senatorial district vas unjust:
that nG basis existed for the contest
against Romero; that an Investigation
which he caused % be made showed
Romero 20 have been elected beyond
question or doubt; and that his uu-
seating WAS an arbitrary and danger
Gus abuse OF power, Governor Me-
Donald was present in the senate
chamber during the debate which pre-
ceded the unseating OF Romero. The
executive reached the chamber short
~ after the matter came up and 0c-
cupied Il seat on the presiding ofn-
GERS platform during The prOceeding.
II has been freely charged ny oppon-
ents OF the unseated senator that the
governors presessce In the senats
chamber during the proceeding was
intended TO influence the action OF
members OF the senate on the contest.
Governor Mcdonald states that he
knew TIE contest matter was up when
he entered the senate chamber, and
that he attended an session not With
any idea that his presence would have
any beneficial Influence upon the re-
suit or change the caucus decision:
but because he desired 10 witness the
conclusion Of a matter with which he
had been familiar from the itrst, and
In which he had taken a personal in
tereat because OF friendship for Mr..
Romero; and mainly because he de-
sired 90 have clear first hand Inn
precision OF the inal action IN the
contest which .ould enable him 20
speak authoritatively upon The mat
ter should occasion require.
Governor Mcdonald said:
II am surprised at the action taken
In this case. / believe everyone has
been surprised at IL. / am inclined 70
believe that even some OF tho mcm-
bers OF the senate who voted 20 un-
seat Mr.. Romero were surprised az II.
My impression has been that Mr.. Ro-
nero had been led to aolieve that
this contest mad been dropped for
lack Of grounds upon which 20 base
Il. Generally / have taker no active
personal interest In the contest eases
pending In the legislature beyond
famlllarizing myself with the general
details which ! have good and per-
feet right to do.
''But in this particular case 4 was
advised Immediately after the election
been made In the election returns
from various precincts in this district
OF Socorro county. Also / have known /
Mr.. Romero personally for many I
years. As far back as 1855. ! used 10 |
meet him when he crossed the coun- /
try and when he came 20 the ieglsla- {
ture he came 20 see me and our sc-
quainiance was renewed. / took a /
special interest IN the contest and re- /
ouosted a prominent lawyer Of Socor- /
70 county Mr.. Harry Al. Dougherty, 4
20 Investigate the case and give me- I
tho grounds upon which the contest /
was based, II any existed. SIR, /
Doughorty inVestiEatod the matter /
carefully and reported 60 me- that no /
grounds for contest existed and that /
Mr. Romero was legally elected be-
Nvhu any NoNetloh'
After the legislature met. Mr.. Ro- !
nero camo 90 see me q number OF |
times and told me on dimerene occa-
slons OF attempts made 20 mislead /
him. aud Of statements made 10 him /
10 the effect that u he voted right !
he would be allowed 10 retain his seat. I
but that otherwise he might be un-
seated This interested me further IN
the case. aud / told AIR. Romero that /
IN 80 far as I could, 4 would stand BY /
him. But az no time did / ask him I
how he would vote or suggest how be 1
ought 20 vote. ! always told him % 4
vote az he believed 20 be right. 4 |
asked Senator Barth. who ia a rnem-
Ger OF the senate committee on priv-
ilegos and elections, 90 inform me /
when meeting Of that committee /
would be held 20 consider this con-
test and on receiving notice OF a meet /
ing Of that committee. I went 10 the /
meeting The law requires that q
specific time and place be named for /
hearing teatiEiony on amy notice of
contest. Al this meeting senator Barth /
read tho notice Of contest la this /
case. and no such lime Or place was
specified. ] recall tlNa clearly. be- /
cause senator Crampion asked II the |
time or place were nce specified /
and upon being told that they |
were not he expressed himself aS sur.
prlscd. ar Romero was not present
Cconlinued on pRee =, column 80 I