Las Vegas optic., 1914-09-07


forming a service for the public good.
This Is the record Of Benigno c.
Ilernandez.
His opponents are Harvey Fergus
son and Francis Wilson.
No blame can1eyer be attached to
man who has passed the age OF MS
usefulness in this life and who has
grown testy, and irritable and ineffi-
cient for that reason. We may adj
mire him. perhaps, for what he has
been and for what he has done. but
the demand is for the younger men,
and. no matter how ones sympathy
may be called, out for the man who
has gone by, yet the fact remains that
he cannot keep up with the process
sion. and must be relegated to the rear.
When he has passed the age of vigor
and real usefulness, he naturally neg
let's his extensive correspondence and
the solicitations of his friends and his
manifold public duties which require
an unceasing activity and attention.
| Thus, there is little wonder that our
people are now declaring that they
need. in the congress of the United
States, from New Mexico, younger
and more active man, and one who is
able and ready to attend to the small
err things which are required of a con-
gre ssman. as well as those that are
generally considered the more impor-
tant ones.
so, however the voters of the state
may look on the past work of Harvey
FERGUSON, and though they may re-
gard him in the light of an old and
tried friend who has done them favors
in the past and has had a hand in
the shaping of the affairs of days gone
hy. vet they realize that this is the
day of progress, with new issues be
ing presented and great public ques-
tons which reuire vigorous handling,
wherein the demand is for the men OF
the present generation, and not those
of years long past whose energy has
been depleted and vitality lessened by
the exhaustive labors given to the ev-
outs of a generation or two ago.
There is nothing of animosity to-
ward Harvey Ferguson. Only one
: feels a sympathy that he is no longer
fitted for the onerous duties which he
, longs stol to attempt to assume. He
, has done much in he past which is
good: he has labored hard in endeav
orlng to carry out the behest Of his
part which often, being good demo
cratic doctrine, was not entirely fol
New Mexico's best interest, and it il
S not fault of his tha he is no Longer
+ fitted to fill the important, laboriou'
t and harassing position as member o
: and to cope with. and facts are stub
/ born, but we have to face them, never
theless.
Thus. while we may feel sorry thai
Mr. Ferguson has passed the age OF
his usefulness as a member of con.
gress, yet the fact and the condition
are both here and the only thing is
10 accept the situation and turn to
the younger man whose vigor and
ability fit him so fully for the honor
able and important position.
OF the candidate of the progressive
parry but brief notice can be made. He
is the sacrifice of forlorn hope, and
there is but little about him person
ally or in a public way that is of in
terest.
His name is Francis Wilson, and
he is lawyer in Santa Fe. What
there is about him to qualify him for
the position of member of congress
of the United States will need to be
set forth by the political eulogists of
hts own party who are capable of a
vivid imagination and ready pen.
He will not be considered seriously
as a figure in the campaign. but his
alleged candidacy may add to the
humor of it. 1t is said. however, that
Wilson is an expert tennis player,
though this accomplishment is not
considered Of as great value as it
was in the days of the supremacy of
the tennis cabinet"