El Nuevo mexicano., 1916-08-31

whose political and Official record in New
Mexico absolutely ~diaquaIifies and unfta
him for the senatorship, is a case in Point.
Mr.. Hubbel has been tndustriouaIy spread
ling around the announcement that be Is
TO sue the New Mexican for libel because of
its publication Of certain matters pertainIng
to his official and political career IN Berna.
lilo county. a
Hare WI have the candidate of the Repub-
lican party Of the state Of New Mexico for
the highest Office the people can bestow
barely placed in nomination before he
raises a wall Of libel suit when the EXPOS,
ure Of his past record is begun.
If Mr.. Hubbell, who has not said a word
and whose hepchmen have not said q word
about his record, has any delusions to the
effect that the libel law is going to prevent
the publication Of his record, he might as
well wake Mp. When a mar comes before
the people Of New Mexico asking that they
make him a U. s. senator, he can't do it IN
tile dark. Mr.. HubbeH must stand for the
spotlight and he must stand for the fullest
publicity for all bis political and official ac-
tons. What he did as county superintend-
ent Of schools and county treasurer IN Bern.
aiiollo county is a matter of record, q mat
ter Of public knowledge, a matter which Mr..
Hubbell has not denied.
While Mr.. Hubbell apparently in some
manner has secured the silence OF the AL
buqueFque Morning Journal, whose columns
were filled for many years with denuncia.
ton and exposure Of MT. EuDbell and hts
public acts in Bernaiillo county, and which
was a leading factor in securing his elimi-
nation from power and Office in that county,
be should not raehly conclude that threats
of libel suits or other methods will put the
lid on the New Mexican or, we trust, the
free press generally In New Mexico. Despite
his reputed accumulation of considerable
wealth, Mr.. HubbelPs command that the
veil be has sought to draw over his political
and official past be not torn aside doesn't
feaze the New Mexican In the least. His
record is public property. He have the old
fashioned idea that it is the duty of a self
respecting newspaper to hold the record of
q candidate for high Office up where the peo-
pie can see 1t plainly. We copstfue 1t
against the public interest n welfare and
damaging to New Mexico's reputation to
have a man with the record Of Frank A.
Hubbell made a United States senator. TO
Justify that opinion 1t is necessary that Mr..
Hubbell's record be pointed Out. We have
been pointing it out and VIII continue to do
so until he is defeated in the coming cleo
ton.
Now. II Mr.. HubbelI brings a libel suit he
has two alternatives:
He must either be shown to be blufing or;
He must get the whole matter Of his OH.
eial record In BernalilIo county into the
courts.
II has been there before. If Mr.. HuBbeil
case to get it there again during his cam
paign for II. s. senator, we'll and good.
Moreover. if he thinks he is being maIigned,
If anything has happened to prove that he
do the things with which he Is charg
ed. he owes il to himself to secure a public
y4ndieatlon IN the courts.
The New Mexican therefore urges him.
II he has decided to bring a libel suit, to
bring It speedily so that full hearing will
be had during his campaign for u. s. sena-
tor.
In case he does not press for a hearing
before the election, we must conclude that
any libel suit which he brings is merely for
effect and with the hope, perchance, OF shut
ling up the New Mexican n soaring It out
Of performing its duty to the public
In the picturesque lingo Of the west, Mr..
Hubbefi is invited to hop to IT,