El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-03-15

SO + Familiar
Legislative veterans who have been
in the thick of Legislative work for
decades and who nave studied the his
tory Of previous legislatures, declare
that the third Legislative state assembly
has been the most useful as well as the
most harmonious in the history OF the
state. That this was due to the leader
ship Of National Committeeman Charles
A. Spiess, Holm o. Bursum, Charles
Springer, w. c. Reid and Governor Lind
sey is also generally admitted, although
reluctantly by some. tx The legis.
Iation marks the biggest step forward
that has been taken In many years
Ss \ \ the submission OF a redistrict-
ing Of judicial districts, are all achieve
ments to the credit Of the legislature"
The foregoing appears in tneEAlbuquerqle|
Morning Journal of Sunday under a Santa
Fe date line, in the story Of the closing OF
the Legislature.
There is something strangely familiar
about 1t. 1t sort Of baffed us for a little
while until we had an idea anti went and
looked,up some OF the files ofthe old New
Mexican under its previous G. o. p. man
agement.
Away back in 1908 we found it, just at
the end Of the legislature.
Then we looked up March, 1905. and
found it again.
Then, curiosity still getting the better Of
us, we looked up 1907 and lol and behold
there it was again.
~-Gf course it didn't mention w. &. Reid
and Governor Lindsey; but the other names
were all there and the language was very
much the same. That the two latter names
are tackled on OF this occasion may be re-
garded as a concession and a compliment.
We did not have time to Investigate, bu
imagine that the complimentary resumes in
the years referred to and other previous
ones were d trif1e more accurate than that
part of this latest one which refers to the
passage Of d bill to submit the redtstrict-
ing of judicial districts to a vote. AS al
matter OF fact, the only bill Of this nature
was one to make a Democratic judicial dis
trict Republican-and it failed to become a
law.
That is a good old Old Guard habit which
it seems difficult to break-giving the
Messrs. Spiess. Springer and Bursllm credit
for all the work of all New Mexico legis
~latures, past, present and to come We be
lieve it will prove a refreshing novelty to
begin to give credit to members Of the legis
lature. Moreover, we further believe the
three gentlemen named have shown a dis
position to want to divide the honors. Dur
ing the last campaign. If we recall cor
rectly, MT. Bursum especially, seemed dis
posed to ,bnodestly disclaim credit for a great
deal of the Republican legislation and at
tempted legislation OF the past Ave or six
legislatures, listed by the New Mexican
In the present case we are sure that Mr..
Spiess, who was ill and In the east during
much of the session; MI. Springer, who was
unusually inconspituous, and even Mr.. Bur-
sum, who was left with a number OF house
laws on hts hands when the senate adj
journed. will be willing ID give some Of
the elected senator's and representatives
credit for whatever was passed during the
session.
AS to Captain Reid, we can't say; but
so far as the governor is concerned, his
name should have headed the list. Governor
Lindsey, by his firm stand for the redemp-
tion Of whatsoever was good in the platform
pledges and his equally firm stand against
such bills as the Larrazolo measure, whose
death he brought about, was a most inn
portant factor and the executive pressure
was responsible for quite a number OF the
best laws that were passed.
The good old formula--Spiess, Springer
and Burspm Did It's sadly out Of, date.
The attitude Of giving all credit for legis-
lation to party bosses who aren't members,
is not in as much favor as formerly. More
over, there may be some significance in the
fact that only one man out Of these three
this year spent the whole legislative ses-
sion In Santa re openly trying to dictate
and control legislatioh-and the success OF
this one man In acting as leeislator-in-chief
by divine right was iittle-more spectacular,
after all, than his attempt to be the execu-
tive department-which, between you and
us, was somewhat OF a fzzle.
M M lFfn-N4NMI