Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-04-25
rnn uNsEATINa oF noMnno.

The manner 81 the unscatinR Of
Abeliuo Romero state senator from
the foprtconth district, and the seat
ing Of A. e. Abeytia by the Repubii-
can majority In the senate yesterday
afternoon brinss forward WITH coss-
polling force what appears to be a.
inherent defect IN the American sys-
tenn OF government, the placing %
power In legislative bodies to abso-
Iuteiy control their own membership.
thus comforting upon majorities pow
or that is little short Of despotic.
The occurrence In ssnta Fe also
calls attention with painful cmpf
sis TO the fact that New Mexico has
not advanced and brosdened political
~ as bur people had hoped and had
almost begun TO believe.
In bygone year.it was common
event in every Legislature for the ma
iority, no matter OF what party, to
calmly unseat objectionaBle members
OF the minority. without regard 70
the merits Of the case and WITH no
further justification Of the astion
than possession Of the power to do u,
In the old rough and tumble poli'i-
cal days the Democrats employees
these methods just as the Republic
cans did It was in accord with this
rules of the game as It was then
played.
Il had been hoped. however. that
these days were gone and that, as
New Mexico has advanced Industrial
". socially and morally. the rules had
been changed to conform 20 more en-
lightened methods.
The Evening EseraId II not in
formed as 10 the merits OF the contest
between Mr.. Romero and Mr.. Abeytla.
No one il, or Il there Is anyone who
knows the facts he has shus far failed
to come forward and make them
knows. senatov = eAa69sssn fsaRe
been elected viii ffaiidulent votes,
as il charged; there may have been
frauds on both sides as IL likewise
charged. but the fact remains that
the public Is left in entire Ignorance
concerning the merits Of the contest,
and Il appears that the members o.
the senate even do not know the facts
or have taken a course which makes
II impossible for the public 20 sel
them.
1t Is asserted that Romero was
served Win notice OF the contest
ana failed TO respond.
The public Is not greatly interested
In the manner Of conducting contests.
The senate, however. has a commits
tee on rriyileees and elections %
which such matters are generally re-
ferrod rms committee 80 far as q
known held no meeting on this con-
test.
There have been very serious unof-
fetal charges on beth sides OF eiec-
ton frauds in the Fourteenth sena-
torial district and in socorro county.
The pnblic Is entitled 10 TIE faask
concefning thesc charges' and ai-
though the eenkte d the master n
its own membership.. and although
few con,esis hi any Legislative bods
are Decided ON the merits OF the case
81 was the plain duty q the SENATE
70 investigate this matter and give
the facts 10 the public.
The arbitrary action Of the major
ity. unsupported save by votes d
bound 10 leave the impression %
abuse % power. As one Democratic
senator stated Ia his protest agalns
the action. 4 Il methods OF this kant
which are creating the demand 70
the recall In the United States. Tn
Republicans In the senate could jus
~ easily have unseated Romero afte
public hearing al which the fact
would have been brought out n the,
were rlght the action would hav
strengthened the Republican party
II they were wrong. and sull chos
aroiirarily to aEseat the man. the Inn
preston created upon the public mini
would not have been much worse. tn
course taken IN this case Is d Fever
sion "a the old-time methods whicl
we had fondiy hoped had been dis
carded ia the state OF New Mexico.
But regardless Of the merits Of ia
present case, "a seems inherently
wrong that any body of ieaiglator
should have the power arbitrarily q
deprive one Of Ice members OF ia
seat leaving him no appeal without
giving him his Gay 10 court and a
OPPORTUNITY 20 prove hts lille 20 hi
sea- before the people OF the state.