The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-10-12

~ this brief statement of the
party's attitude the Democratic
platform upon which candidates
Tor the legislature are now running,
voices an inslstent demand OF the
people OF Sew Mckee REGARDLESS OF
political afhliauon or belief
lf there is one feature of
our election system more rotten than
another IL is thc system OF uomma-
ton Of public officers. It seems all
most useless 20 go outside OF
Berualnlo county for horrible cx-
amples. and. indeed We DO not have
20 go beyond this county the present
election and the Republican party TO
find vivid illustration Of the states
need for the direct primary.
We have IN this county as candi-
date on the Republican county ticket
for the Legislature one Modesto c..
ortiz. an attorney at law Of old Al
%buquerque. Personality We have
nothing against Mr.. ortiz: for that
matter no Democrat has any quarrel
with his nomination But every Re
publican seems 20 find hin rather a
cross. and whatever the reasons may
be, he was not nominated on the Re
publican ticket by Republicans. He
vac put on the ticket hy the will Of
q single near-boss. and against the
viii OF the most recent ~stand-pat
bosses to gain a~scendency in this
county, who are SIN too fearful Of
the security Of their footing to risk
turning down the man responsible
Tor ortiz on their ticket. No more
striking Example OF the need for the
direct primary in adequate form
could De cited.
Tie direct primary. az Us enemies
sre quick 20 point out. is not a cure
an for election evils. II will not turn
out bosses and corruption OF us own
unaided power. In Pennsylvania We
still HAYS Boss Penrosc. a stand-pat
nominee for the senate by "A direct
primary vote in which less than 80
per cent Of the Republicans voted
and In Illinois We have Roger sulli-
van as a Democratic nominee under
almost identical condition. whether
these men Eve get 90 the senate or
not remains TO be seen.
But their nomination does not
prove a single thing against the d.
rect primary and The right Of the
psople 20 IT, The direct primary
when the people do choose to invoke
their power and use heir nominating
privilege makes It possible 20 break
down the cotrupt boss and the cor
rupt machine with a speei and eff
cheney utterly Impossible under the
convention system which now pre-
walls In this state and un0er which
Republican gang control has 30 long
dominated.
How can the people expect decent
representation ia the legislature
when candidates for the positions
which should be in their sift are
picked by ignorant or corrupt POI
iitlcal bosses or their s~ieutenants?
New Mexico needs the direct pri-
mary Especially do New Mexico
Republicans need IL. IN many OF
our strongly Democratic counties the
direct primary has been put in force
by the simple VIII Of the rank and
Me OF the party n in al counties
Democrats have an opportunity "a
express their VIII AZ 10 party noml-
nees. But the intelligence Of the
rank and file OF Republican voters
10 continually insulted by the selec-
lions made FOR them BY their party
bosses not only N this county. but
iR every county In ne state. The Re-
publican bosses have flatly refu1ed
the direct primary in any form.
The Democrats in the brief. com
~prehensive, ciean-eut statement gwen
above, pledge 10 give IL 10 the PEG.
pie OF this state n they have the leg
Alatise votes 20 do 80. Republicans
9f Rernaliiio y Cor their own
4cif respect. SHOULD vote for the three
candidates nov rnpnine for the lesis-
1,tnre on this pledge.