The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-01-25

49, WV " 49,
bail q h h favor.te pastime
Of an claases. and viewed from all
SIDES Il probably has no more OF dan
ser than any other very popular
amusement In which the wits Of men.
good and bad. little and bis. are
brought into sharp contest for SUI
Dremacy. There are phases or the
political game. however. In which
there IL no amuaement and nothing
but danger. One o. these seems to
have arisen IN the state legislature
IN connection with the unfortunate
affair Of the failed First state bank
o. Las Cruces, In which erratically
conducted institution a large sun os
the mcney Of the state Agricultural
college was on deposit. That this
money should NJ have been in ouch
a bank under the conditions exiAting
l. not disputed by anyone. That
playing politics had something 20 do
with getting the college money into
the hands % this weak financial sis
ter. aud keeping Il there. seems 60
ne rus. II Ia true. however. that two
wronE do n o make a right. espe-
cially when in both operations the
innocent bystander il made TO sufer.
IN this case New Mssico's utate
Agricultural college IL the innocent
bysfandsr. We ere all interested In
this institution, ana its welfare and
efficiency are vital factors in the de,
velopment Of this state The college.
az an institution. was net and IL not
60 blame In any way for the fact that
the financial management OF the First
state hank OF Las Cruces was OF a
character not generally approved by
the American Bankers association or
the United states treasury depart
ment. Yet the college has suffered
a lot Of extremely undesirable, not TO
say luxurious. publicity from its en-
forced connection with the busted
bank. and II Is certain 10 suffer n lot
more OF the same kind OF thing.
Certain political interests at santa
Fe see In the explosion Of this bank
aud IL Inducements an opportunity
10 make political capital" II -
proposed by means Of legislative ae-
ton looking 20 Legislative inquiry, to
charge the travelling auditors Office
With carelessness In connection with
the Las Cruces bank, and through
the travelling auditors office to de-
liver a blow Of the same character
At the governor OF the state.
Neither the governor nor his APP
polntee, the travelling auditor. can be
hurt by this course. Political cap
itai and persistent political use viii
be made Of the fact that the gov
eno appointed the board OF regents
In charge o. the state college when
this bank blew w. The governor
undoubtedly expects 20 shoulder such
responsibility as may be contained
therein. II IL part OF the routine OF
responsibility and burden that mus,
be assumed by every man who as
sumes large responsibilities. espe-
ciaily IN a public and an executive
public capacity. In the same way the
president Of a great corporation IL
responsible for a general anage on
a superintendent or a department
head who makes q bad or AN unfor-
tunate Investment. or who is indis-
erect or incapable.
Il IL the determination % the ma
jority IN the assembly, or al least OF
some Of rs leaders. TO abolish the
office Of travelling auditor. aud the
use Of this Incident ~ a further cS-
cuss for the wiping out Of a useful
and efficient public office viii mo-
strengthen the case against 10. u b
likely to go. just az the memhers o.
the members ~ the minority part,
we're Kicked Dat o. the Gus las
~ek
nat what OF The Innocent bystand'
er 1.-THE state Agricultural college
which through an Of this game o.
politics viii De kept IN the iimeligh'
~ an institution In trouble. with 10
finances complicated and hs nnairi
IN turmoil?
The OBJECT upon the state college
cannot hut he hsFmui. aud extreme
Is harmful II u h made y pawn in .
same 81 politics
The president Of the state colieg'
said in q recent conversation with
newspaper men that. given the hnan'
oIai support necessary 20 carry on
the college extension work efficiently
h. would undertake 10 bring return
nye-foid upon the investment ia lh'
state sssry year. We believe 'h''