El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-02-17

Replying to a question as to the
real prospects for the creation OF the
National Park OF the Cliff Cities
William Boone Douglass, general sec
+ rotary of the National Park Associat
ton Of New Mexico, said today
Yesterdays issue OF the New Mex
lean reminded me Of a certain Irish
man during the Civil War A battery
Of the enemy was playing havoc with
the entrenched troops, and the TAX
ing Of It seemed impossible, Finally
aBbig Irish boy jumped up and started
for it. Lie down, you fool!p yelled
the captain. you can't take that
battery; you'll be killed. The ans
wer came back. eThat's all right, Sor,
lIil lie down when I'm hit" Al lot
more Of the boys thought the idea a
good one, and they soon had the bat
terry.
Nothing has ever pleased me more
than to read the inscription nailed to
the head of the New Mexican, THE
CLIFF CITIES NATIONAL PARK is
WE'LL WORTH FIGHTING For.
DON'T LOSE TRACK OF THE Isl
SUE So It is. / have cut that out
and have pasted it on the wall over
my desk, Test I forget,
4The advice of First Assistant Sec
rotary Jones of the Interior Depart
ment, in his address at the Chamber
Of Commerce, was to Keep on fight
ing for 1t.
The proposed park Is too great to
be defeated, and its opponents are
merely wasting their time in the ef-
fort. Vt is true they may delay 1t by
Smelling us with shrapnel Of misstated
facts. But every year finds the park
project stronger 1t takes time to
get the facts properly before the peo-
pie,
THE Department Of the Interior
began the fight when on July 81, 1900,
they withdrew the area for a nation
al park, having had a field examina-
ton the year previous. There have
been two other field examinations, the
last by myself iii 1910. All examin-
'ers recommended national parks. 1t
should be borne in mind that these
examiners had absolutely no inter-
est IN the matter. other than the ma
tional good.
1.-THE first bill was introduced in
the seth Congress to create The Cliff
Dwellers' National Park Eight bills
have been introduced for this purpose.
which illustrates the Importance Of
the park, and the fact that 1t win not
down.
Why should we stop the fight now.
after waging it for seventeen years
That. too. just as we have succeeded
IN smoking out the enemy, and com
PEELED it to fight ia the open.
1T is said that 1000 settlers have
protested against this proposed park
on the ground that 1t takes away
their grazing lands. When you know
the facts, that protest is New Mex
ico's greatest joke. OF the one thou
said signers, if there be that many,
but IT'S have any grazing rights in
the area affected. They merely
loaned their names to obIige a wealthy
neighbor.
Against this protest, we offer the
fof the National Park Associa-
ton Of New Mexico, wherein one thou
prominent men and women from
all over the state have pledged their
support to the National Park Of the
Cliff CITIES. There are on the rolls
presidents Of universities and colleges.
mayors Of cities, presidents and sec.
retaries of chambers Of commerce. the
secretary Of the state chamber OIL
commerce, state senators, doctors.
lawyers, ministers. civil engineers,
ranchers, presidents and general man
ayers Of great mining companies, cat
lie companies and water companies.
stc. Yet the Park Association is but
.hree months old. But it is growing
Is rapidly as the fabulous babies who
i've on certain brands Of milk. So,
instead of quitting the fight. We are
ust beginning to mobilize.
Now as to our congressional sup
'ort. A vote Of thanks is due Senator
1atron for Introducing the bill to
.reate the park. and standing BY it
the hot shot Of the enemy.
senator FAN has repeatedly promised 4
lis support, and SO far as ! am IN
ormed. has never changed his mind.
"As for Representative Hernandez,
OF whom personally, I have the high
st regard. he has been most pnfor- {
unately placed He was one OF our /
trongest supporters, and personally a
arried the tentative bill to Senator s
lie would have given us his /
earty and enthusiastic support. but
the heavy protests from his own j
ounty. [
The thing to do is to get those
no oppose the bin. in its present $
70 meet us, and agree upon q ]
that will, a. Guarantee the CON y
nuaton Of grazing rights to the full Z