Estancia news-herald. [volume] (Estancia, Torrance County, N.M.) 1912-19??, 1916-10-26
NOTHING
BUT A NAME


committee some alleged argu-
ments in the form of political ad.
vertisements, almost all of which
are directed against the Demo-
cratic candidates, and practically
nothing is said in favor of the
Republican candidates. The prin-
cipal effort seems to be to direct
attention away from the Repub-
lican candidates.
Some of it is pretty raw stuff.
Some of it is obviously unfair.
1t is reasonable to assume that
more Of it is unfair if all the facts
were candidly stated and taken
into consideration.
Nothing, heretofore, has been
said in these columns on the 9TH
er side.
Readers of this paper are
aware that its news space is sci
dom occupied with political mat
ter.
But it is not fair to the readers
that all the talk should be on
one side. There is much to be
said on the other side, and in JUS
tice some of it, at least, should
be said.
Following are a few outstand-
ing facts:
To begin with, the Republican
party was originally organized to
promote government by the peo-
pie, for the people-to put in op-
GRAFTON principles of government
which would result in the great
est good to the greatest number,
The holding Of political power
as a sacred trust to be honestly
and faithfully administered for
the good of all the people is at
the very foundation Of Republic
anism.
The so-called Republican party
of New Mexico as now and for
some years past organized and
controlled, has not lived up to
Republican principles.
1t is not entitled to the Repub.
lican name.
1t is merely an organized appe-
tite for office and the emolu-
ments and spoil thereof.
1t is not entitled to the vote of
any man who believes in Repub-
lican principles.
There are good men in it, of
course; both as candidates in
state and county and as voters in
the ranks; some clinging to it
from real or fancied self-interest,
but more merely from tradition
and association with the name,
in spite of the fact that the spir-
it of Republicanism has long
since passed from it.
The men who are now in con-
troll of this 50 called Republican
party in state and county have
been in control of it for some
years. They have directed its
course and are responsible for
what it has done and for what it
has failed to do.
Here are few things it has
done:
1t has made laws under which
mining property-big mining
property-is taxed on its output
in many cases very small
fraction of its real value, while
the homesteader, the stockman,
the merchant, the professional
man and the laborer are taxed
on every cents worth of proper
ty they possess, whether pro-
ductive or not. The whole taxa
tion scheme is a tumble and for
the most part places the heaviest
burdens on the smaller taxpay-
ers.
1t has piled upon the taxpay-
ers exhorbitant salaries, in state,
district and county.
In order to do this in the coun-
ty salary matter it struck at the
foundations of representative
government by turning out OF
office four members elected to
the legislature and seating in
their places four men not elected
by the voters, so that it would
have a two-thirds majority tc
pass an exhorbitant county sal
arv bill over the governors veto
This thing alone is sufficient tc
forever condemn the men re-
sponsible for it. No man who