Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-09-16
Mr.. p1Y WOULD FURTHER Mrz'
zLE THE PnEss.

State Chairman Ralph c. Fly IL
quoted In Santa Fe az SAYING regard
ing the exposure Of y. c. Herman
aeg n am satisfied. however, that
they are malicious and defamatory.
expect Mr.. fernando, 20 arrive
here tonight believe he will imme-
dlaiely take steps In the courts TO
protect himself against assauIts of
this character He does not say they
are untrue.
Mr., Ely poses a. o pufisi IN poll
tics. He mas profesaed great indig-
nation At the shady methods follow
ed In the past by the leaders Of the
republican party. He made q few
speeches in 1911. but let 4 be known
that he was speaking for republican
principles. not word for Holm O.
Bursum. the candidate for governor
Now ar 10 Hernandez. Mr.. Ely
knows that the report Of the travel
ms auditor. as quoted by the jour
nal. ia on file in the state capitol lie
hnows the facin--knows that the
Innrhai aid not vary from the truth
in any particular.
lie knows that II was he who be.
gan 20 talk Of the splendid record
Hsrnandex had made In every posi-
lion Of trust held by him. II was Mr.
Ely who was urging that record as
reason why Hernandez should be
elected 10 represent the people Of
New Mexico in congress lie further
more knows that Il Is not only legal.
even under the New Mexico libel
lava 10 tell the record Of candidate
for office. but a public duty.
Mr.. Ely asked the public 10 Judge
Mr., Hernandez by his record but he
did not make known that record TO
the public. We did. lie did not deny
the record. but attacks the Journal
for printing II. The Journal is not n
candidate for office.
Mr. Hiy himself IL ambitious for
public preferment. He would like to
be governor. or United States aenator.
or a member OF congress. Yet al the
very outset Of his public career, he
serves notice on the newspaper men
Of New Mexico that ne believes in
muxzllng the freedom OF the presto
such an extent that Il would not be
permitted 10 print verified stories.
showing a candidates unfltncss for
the office sought
Under Mr.. Ely's construction OF the
libel law. the newspapers Of Kentucky
would not have dared print the fact.
that Senator paynter, while mem
Der 81 the Lorimer investigating
committee. was at the same time
heavily indebted 70 Lorimer's bank
nw the Kentucky newspapers did
print the charges, subsequently verI-
ed w a federal investigation, and
rayn,er was retired TO private life
~ an overwhelming public senti-
ment.
The newspaper men of the state.
without exception 40 far as we know.
favor modification OF the New Mex
leo libel law. Hut Mr.. Ely comes out
sausrely in favor Of an extension Of
il NO as 10 make Il more rigid here
than in any country III the world
even In Russia.
According TO Mr. Ely man may
be on incompetent or as dishonest as
he likes IN public office. and he
would have the law. when that man
seeks another public office. protect
him from the publication Of his rec-
ord
The Journal appeals TO every news
paper IN the state TO observe this at
tliude az the republican state chair
man REGARDING the freedom Of the
press. Nothing like Il ever has been
suggested before In any state In the
union since the very earliest days Of
the republic when the right OF free
speech ana free press. ~ guaran-