Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-21
HOT INTERVIEW
IS GIVEN OUT BY
SP|EsS ON ELY
Black Eagle Of San Miguel
Pays His Respects to Re-
publican State Chairman in
Reply to Statement,

Charles A. sIlIssss. athe black eagle
q san Miguel, member for New
Mexico Of the national republican
executive committee and old-time re-
publican leader. yesterday gave out
somewhat cai0rie interview in re-
ply 10 the recent statement made BY
Republican State Chairman Ralph G.
Ely regarding the unseatlng Of DEM
ocratic members Of the house Of rep
resentatiyes In order 10 make a two
thirds republican majority In that
body.
Perhaps the most striking feature
Of Mr.. Spices Interview Is his frank
avOwal Of a desire TO obtain the de-
sired two-thirds Of the membership
Of the house If IL can be done by
pursuing strictly honest means. He
wants an the responsibility for what
is done in Santa Fe during the next
sixty days placed on the republican
mem bers Of the senate and house. and
apparently would leave nothing for
the democrats to do but answer roll
call and draw their pay.
Mr.. Spices interview was given be-
fore news had been received in Albu
querque Of the unseating OF Repre-
sentatiyes Smith and Miera. Of Union
county. in favor of o. T. Toornbs and
candelario Vigil.
unfortunate for Mr.. Ely"
Il regard the interview Of Mr.. Ely.
printed for the first time in the two
most influential opposition papers. as
peculiarly unfortunate" said Nh.
Spiess-not unfortunate for the re-
publican party. but for Air. Ely him
self. II is inconceiyable that our re-
publican chairman should have cast
so groundless a slur upon the repub-
lican members Of the house Of rep
resentatives.
Mr.. Ely b. his interview is made
to say: My protest isn't so much
against the filing Of contests. but 1t is
against the proposal to jam 'em
through the legislature without a
hearing and for no other purpose
than to secure a two-thirds majority
In the lower house The most paTti-
san Of the opposition to the republic
can membership Of the house have
never had the temerity TO lodge so
grave a charge against the republic
cans Of the house. | hope Mr.. Ely
will be able to show that he was not
responsible for the statement quoted
as having come from him.
why should Mr.. Ely anticipate
that the republican majority would
jam 'em through without a hear
ing2' Why did he not at least give his
republican friends the benefit of the
doubt and withhold his judgment I'M
IN the republican members had act
ed on the contests
why should Mr.. Ely assume that
the republican members were going
to do a dishonest thing in the mat
ter? The statement that the republic
cans were going to jam 'em through
without a hearing is utterly false. as
is proved by the fact that the COM
mittee on privileges and elections
did hear evidence upon the contests
and afterwards did submit such eYi-
dence to the republican caucus.
Republicans Are Fearless.
~ do not know what the outcome
Of the hearing Of the contests will be.
but l do know that fair and honest
hearing will be accorded the demo-
cratic contestees and that the re-
publican majority will act fearlessly
in the premises. / have read the al
legations contained in the contest no.
tice of Messrs Toombs and Vigil, and
II the allegations are proved it would
be pusillanimous on the part of the
majority not to right the wrong done
by democratic election officials.
MIR. Ely is also made to say: 4
am also satisfied in my own mind
that this feyerish desire to secure
two thirds majority of both houses is
prompted by anything but motives OF
the purest patriotism
Let me suggest that the attempts
TO prevent a two-thirds majority in
the house do not flow from purely
patriotic motives. R. l.. Baca. when
he was speaker of the last house. by
the combination with the democrats
which resulted in blocking practical
ly all constructive legislation initiated
by the republicans, put forward the
same high-sounding phrases that Mr.
Ely employs.
Wants Two-thirds Majority.
"Our good friend the governor nat
urally has no desire for two thirds
republican majority in the house. Mr..
Ely assures us that the bugaboo of
the governors veto is a myth An
other statement absolutely proven to
the state legislature the governors
veto was unsparingly used; but his
policies have been in unmistakable
terms repudiated by the people.
This is no time for political hypo-
crisy. The people are looking to the
republicans for relief and for sub
tantial legislation; and I do not hes
itate to say that |, for one, hope that
the facts are such that we, the repub-
licans, may. by pursuing strictly hon.
est means, secure a two-thirds ma
Jority in the house. l. as a republican,
do not desire to be put in a position
where we must divide responsibility
for good legislation with the demo-
Gratis.
II have the highest confidence in
both the integrity and efficiency of
the republican members of the house.
and sincerely hope that our present
legislature will be able to legislate
without interference. If the republ-
cans fail, the democrats will not be