Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-01-04
THE POLITICS OF NEW MEXICO

This is an important year In the
history of New Mexico. siate and
county officers. a new legislature ant
United states senator are to b.
elected. Unfortunately, the states
prosperity and prestige depend great.
~ upon the management OF It's public
affairs and upon the laws under
which we must live and the manner
OF their enforcement
No one can question that condltlona
In New Mexico are UNNECESSARILY bet
ter than they would have been had
the whole republican ticket, nomin-
ated in 1911. been elected. There Is
higher idea Of civic responsibility
than obtained under territorial days
Things were done then with impunity
that arc not done now.
But, as IN every state. there are
two forces AT work here. one OF
them represents the idea that ~ pub
lie office Is public trust and the
other the old idea that public Of
flee Ia private snap.
Sometimes, the private snap takes
the form OF graft and sometimes 1t
merely represents holding office with
out dlseharging the duties involved
with any degree Of efficiency and
faithfulness,
Great importance attaches to the
representation we may have in con-
gress New Mexico needs much and
~ entitled TO much from the fed
eral government with moro than
five hundred senator's ana rcprcscnt-
atiNea struggling for their various pet
schemes. there is but one way TO get
any legislation through of special in
tcrcat to New Mexico: the senators
and representative from this state
must know what they want and then
concentrate their efforts to secure IT,
In the past, the policy has been 10
Introduce bill and then forget t.
We have had nothing during the four
years of statehood that would not
have come TO us hud we been ter
iitory. So far rs Hernandez rs con-
cernod. he has had no chance to show
whether he can and will work. He
has done what all new members do,
what Fall and catron each have
done introduced some bills. IN the
course Of time, he will do what each
81 them has further done, thus oqual-
ling their record he win mako one
or more speeches OF more or less
ability Whether he VIII beat their
record By actually getting something
worth while done, romalna to be
seen lie has Il chance
The governor OF New Mexico should
b. man Of force ana character who
has the confidence OF the people. lie
should be a man who has the vision
aud the tnc, 10 be The leader OF the
state on an upward course lie should
be a business man OF recognized
standing and conspicuous ability. and
Che less he has Identified himself
with machine politics the hrtter his
opportunity To- be Of service 10 the
people IS whole. Unfortunately.
tht politicians. who control the sclee-
ton Of county deloeauons t. the state
convention, are pot booking ion such
men What concerns them mo| is
81 man who viii provide and disiu-
butte pie"
Two offices of great Importance afe
those II land commissioner and audi-
tor II power lhes almost equal the
influence 80 puhlie affairs Welded hs
thu ruvefnur Both parties should
exercise the greatest care la the Sc.
lection Of candidates for thosc post.
tions The attorney generalshm al
80 should De filled hy man ~ ahll'
iiy and integrity.
The most important Of an offices
however. So fas - the immediate ia.
ture Of New Mexico is concerned is
that Of superintendent Of public n'
Nrueiiau The people Of The stat.
noM feeognl1e that lllteracy mus
b. hanlshtd What N more 10 ,h'
point. they must not De- satisfied witt
a public school system which fali'
short u preparing the pupil for cam
ina his way ln The world aa efllpicnla
ns his physical aud mental ability Nil
permit
u Is unfortunate that ihe ufiioe Fl
state superintendent iH politics
on0. bHt b. j. TOO much % eAiissl
both parties 20 aaHse upon some mat
~ ronsnleuons fsnara ss ihe boss o.