Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-09-26

In your issue Of September 9th, in
an editorial entitled Ferguson and
Hernandez" you comment upon tho
editorial appearing In the las Vegas
Optic" which you say bears The ear
marks OF the republican state chair
man. This editorial IN not mine. but
In so far as II suggests the failing ef-
ficieney Of Mr. Harvey u. FERGUSON,
because Of his increasing years, | am
perfectly willing to assume RESPONSE
billiy for II. and take up the cudgel
which you throw down.
Nearly twenty years ago Mr. Fer
gusson was member Of congress. He
was younger then than he IL now and
was yirile and active. You credit him
with having done much for New Mex
leo and state that during the time
OF his former service as a delegate.
he secured millions Of acres OF the
most valuable lands for the educa-
|tionai institutions OF the territory
That IL true, but II is also true that
except for The original thirteen colo
MES, and the state OF Texas, every
state in the union has. during the PEE
rlod of It's territorial organization. re-
ceivedl by grant from congress. ut
least one section In every township
and often two sections In every town.
ship for public school purposes, and
additional grants have been given
older states for their universities,
penIientiaries and other public inst-
tntions and to provide for drainage or
other works Of development. The
grants 10 which you refer were made
TO New Mexico IN 1898, at which time
we had republican congress. They
were largely the result of the activity
OF Mr.. Fergusson's predecessor in
office. Mr.. Catron, and they came to
New Mexico In the natural course OF
events, like the gentle dews from
heaven. | would not withdraw from
him one iota of the credit that is his
due, but no great glory should follow
the grant which came as a matter of
course. The inefficiency of the man
oven then, Is shown In the fact that he
made no provision whatever for lieu
lands. for the state, when the sections
granted had already been en-
tered or were included within Indian
reservations, railroad grants, or had
been otherwise withdrawn from pub
lie entry and 1t remained to Mr.. An
drews. years afterwards. in what has
been known always as the lieu land
grant TO. procure for New Mexico.
grant of 100000 acres Of land, which
slipped tkrough Mr. Tergusson's fin
gers, even in ths days of his greatest
ictivity.
You say That since Ne Mas been in
'ongress as representative, Ma. has
occurred the passage Of acts making Al
ar easier for the homestead entry |
nan TO secure title 10 his entry" III
presume that YOU refer to the So
'alled new homestead act, which is
ess exaeting as to.the period of resi-
lence. covers a shorter term, but
which requires that at least one -eighth
4 the land shall be placed In actual
cultivation by the entrymar, each
ear, This bill was not introduced by |
ir. Ferguson. although Il may be I
'osslblc that Il received his vote. mi
10 he can hardly claim any credit for
from the citizens of New Mexico,
lpon the ground that il makes II
asler to procure title. In large
PORTION of this state. actual irrigation
= essential 10 cultivation and sue I
essful cropping of our lands. All OF
hat land can be entered under the
o.calied desert land entry act. which
equircs that al least one-elghth of
he land shall be placed in cultivation
efore patent shall issue. This new
bill, 20 which you undouht-
dly refer, requires that one eighth of
he land shall be placed IN cultivation
ach year for three years, and where
rrigation Is necessary the burden i'm
osed upon the homesteader is greater
ven than the desert land act imposes. !
nd is UNNECESSARILY greater than was ,
imposed under the old homestead law. (,
the law Is good. no credit flows |
, Mr. Fereusson and so far as New !
lexieo Is concerned. the law does moi ,
ossess the qualities which you ascrlbe !
} IL Of making Il far easier for the !
entrymDn TO secure title Ia {
Is entry. The fact must be that tho (
Id gentleman lost sight of the condl- 1
ons which obtain in his hailiwick. II
nd permitted a democratic congress 1