The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-07-09
\ BI sINESs MATTER

Zoe the lower house Vt he %iogisla-
urr The majority of ug who live
10 Nibuqnorquc and VIVA pay any at
iention at pl Co public Affairs have
critichted tho membership and the
acts at Sew Mexico legislatures for
years past. particularly With regard
"a the tower house. There has been
ground for this criticism; plenty Of
consider for a little just how much of
tho fault for the low grade of ability
which has characterized the mem
bership of tho lower house of the
legislature is our own; the fault 81
the rank and file OF the men who
have the power Go choose candidates,
IL they rare TO exercise u.
iiernaliilo county has had some
men of exceptional ability In the
lower house u the legislature during
the past ten years. 1t has had more
men Of no ability at all The men
of ability who have gone to Santa
Re have been hanpercd by condi-
lions which they could not overcome.
The men without abilit". generally
boas-chosen creatures. simply have
bcen voting pawns In the Legislative
game. Generally speaking We have
lett the choice of candidates To a
boss. or 4 little group OF bosses. We
have said. whats the use ?" before
the primaries and "Oh. very we'll, F"
after the nominations have been
handed out, As "A result. aside from
"a few men who political accident or
combination. or both. have literally
dumped into the legislature. this
county has been sadly lacking in rep
resentation ut Santa Fo Of any kind.
good OF bad.
This county, normally, still is re-
publican and with a united Repub-
lican party can be counted on TO
send Republicans To the legislature.
10 years past this prcpondernncc Of
Republican votes has caused the
Democratic party to he more or less
careless In making ita legislative
nominations, although its nominees
generally have been stronger men
than those who the majority party
has sen To Santa Re.
The Republican party has been
rent under In this county Tor sew
crnl years the temporary peace
patched up a few months ago rests
ON a Foundation that now wnbbles
hadiy. The strons prospect is That
between now and the time for coun-
~ conventions that foundation viii
AVE been kicked from under and
the split In tho Republican party
Bernaiillo roupty very costly max
seud Demoar rats g. The lower house
II hchooves the party therefore Q.
be- very careful IN choosing lts lcrls.
lati,e candidates, not alone for marty
strength. but FOR the effectiveness Of
these men sh uld they be elected.
Everything points % a grcal
awakening iu this matter of selec.
uou Of legislative candidates in New
Mexico this year. The people arr
thoroushly aroused to tho necessity
Of a strong, clean, able legislature
quars enough, and stronl
enough and able enough 20 deal Gear.
lcssly and effectively with the prob
SEEMS ct our taXation our county sal.
aries. our election regulation an,
uthor very vital questions which mus
be- settled without further delay. TIT
Democrats throughout the state az,
alert IN "a concerted effort a. choosr
the stronse.t men who can be foun,
for legislative candidates There IS
very strong probability thai u safe
not u large majority of the mel
elected will Doe Democrats. for "a.
people. having tried Republican con
troll persistently but fruitiessl,
through many years are ripe for
comlpote change in legislative ns wei
as administrative control in th
state. Ia this event lt is certain ina
the membership of the next house q
representatives viii No Of highc
character md greater ability am
force than any lower housc In an
record gf stale or territory. Thi
being the caso, Il is g. be hoped tina
B.fnaIiiio counw's representative
whatever their politics, may be me
who can moasur up "a a new stan
dard IN legislative matters. men VIII
can be- Of use 10 Us and Ia the stat
ana 81 whom We need mol b
ashamed.
This Il a business matter a mat
ter 81 dOllan ana cents. ana q