The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-02-27

WHICH the governor has pursues
throughout his administration upo'
this vexins question. The eovctnol
from the basinnIng has stood stead
ny and strengly for what he believes
20 BE- a square deal for the taxpayer
Of this state. as well - a square dea
for rs county ofncc holders In TN
matter Of county salaries; and from
that position he has refused 10 b
moved ~ enlrcatss by influence
pressure and threat: even when yer,
strong Influence At times IN the past
has been brought TO bear pon him
from within tho political party q
which ne belongs
New Mexico has a right to Be
proud 81 Governor Mcdonald: and
the Democratic narty IN this state has
a right "a be proud that ne h a Dem
ocrht; for IN the end. ms 10 the us-
innate concluslon OF the Ions and
bitter contest over this issue: an issue
which IN the end resolved itself lntr
a nght between The county officers OF
the state. and the Republican state
machine on the one side. as against
the taxpayers Of the state oa, ths
other. Governor Mcdonald has taken
no sides; has stood uninfiuenced BY
political considerations. and has
commended consistently and VIGOROUS
~ tor practical justice alike to tbs
taxpayer who pays the salary and "a
the county officer who receives IL.
The message In which the govern
or expresses his disapprovai OF the
county salary bin passed by the ma
yority in the legislature. and by their
forced upon the taxpayers Of New
Mexico. states with dignity and ths
utmost restraint and conservatism
reasons for his action which viii
commend themselves 70 every tax.
payer and 70 everyone familiar with
the whole situation. and without
prejudice. = message Of this kind
need not be urged upon the attention
or thoughtful citizens. They will read
81 with care and they will remembei
Il. II would have been possible fol
the governor TO have gone much
further in stating objections to THU
county salary law. He might have
turned his message into n powerful
political document by n comparison
OF the salaries forced upon the PEG
pie ny the majority bill and the sal
aries proposed for enactment by tn
Democrats members OF the lcgisla
ture: no might have called attention
TO the promise o. the Repubiica'
party Go the people 10 give this stat
reasonable county salaries. and 90 IN,
fragrant violation of hat promise Il
this measure. The governor. how
ever las based his objections upoI
the foundation OF justice 20 the tax
payers Of the several counties. ant
the rights Of the county officers. an'
upon that basis these objections com
mend themselves 10 every fair
minded man as absolutely conclusive
Tho governor has said and ma
provod that this salary measure
wrong, Just a. tho other measure
passed by the legislative majoriti
have been wrong. II IL not fair ant
just TO the taxpayers OF New Mexico
who as the message points out. Ger
tainiy are entitled TO a square dea
and to an equal show with the eoun
~ officials. They have not had al
equal show with the county officials
In the hands Of the Republican .wo
thirds majority In this Legislature
They have not bee given a sluar
deal IN this Republican majorit'
measure. All other argument
against this salary bin are supple
mcntary 10 this one
The RECORD Of Governor McDonal
IN this salary legislation question
that OF a courageous public ofhcia
stsnding nat-footed for what Is righI
Although there have been varyin
opinions within the Democratic part
in and out Of the legislature az {
phases Of this and other attempte.
county salary legislation. the end q
the long fight finds the Democrat
members Of the legislature united Il
opposition to the injustlees Of thl
Republican salary grab, and strongl
supporting the governor. The minor
itY members ana the party they rep
resent are d be- congratulated upoI
this stand bnt We feel that the Dem
ocrhtic party Is especially 10 be con
graduated Ia the aot that the soy
ernor la a Democrat and that j
maintaining his own consistent an
courageous position for the squar
deal he has established his politiea