Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-03-03
SpaniSh-AmeriCanS Take Up
Measure and Criticize Atti-
tude of Roswell Toward Ma
tive People,
SHARP DEBATE OCCURS
OVER PROPOSITION
Suffrage Bill Put to Sleep; Sen
ate Passes Measure for Re-
lief of Mrs, {. C, de Baca;
May Create New County.
i(By II. l.. ID. McAuister. Staff Core.
SDondpnt.)


Santa Fe, March 2.-The attempt
of an organization of negroes in Albu-
querque to secure legislation to com
pei proprietors of hotels, restaurants,
saloons and places of amusement to
grant them full privileges with white
people, this afternoon caused the only
outbreak of race feeling that has oc-
CURED during the present session of
the Legislature.
House bill 237, introduced by MI.
Barnes, making it a penal offense for
the keeper of any hotel, restaurant,
saloon or place of amusement to dis
criminate against any person on ac-
count of race or nationality, came
from the committee to which it was
referred with two reports. The major
ity report was favorable. The minor
ity report, signed by Mr.. Lewis of
Chaves and Mr.. Stroud of Roosevelt,
was unfavorable.
Strangely enough, many of the
Spanish American members of the
house took the measures as personal
to themselves. Mr.. Gonzales moved
TO adopt the majority and table the
minority report, and in advocating his
motion declared the Spanish-Ameri-
cans had been Disseminated against
in certain hotels, restaurants and bar
ber shops in Roswell.
Lewis Explains.
Mr.. Lewis replied to Mr.. Gonzales,
denying that any prejudice against
Spanish Americans exists in Roswell
AMI declaring that tf& same treatment
is accorded 70 naive eitfzens as to
Anglo o-Americans in that city. His
reason for signing the minority report.
he explained, was that the bill woulG
place the negro on a social equality
,r,ith ho hifn oil the state
and would lead to endless strife and
trouble. Mr.. stroud also denied that
there was any feeling against Span
ish Am ericans back of his signing the
minority report and declared that he
knew of no such instances of discrmi-
nation against them as had been cited
by Mr Gonzales.
Mr.. Pardue declared that the bill
had been introduced at the instance
of Albuquerque negroes, and eX-
pressed astonishment that the Span
ish-American members of the house
should take it as personal to them
selves.
Respect for any race of people
said Mr.. Pardue, cannot be secured
by legislation"
Dills Expresses Himself.
The inimitable Judge Dills of ChaV-
es county made one of his character
istic talks on the subject. He, too,
denied that there was any feeling |
against Spanish Americans in his sec
ton, but showed plainly that there
was decided feeling on his own part
against the negro. He referred to
Noahs curse on Ham and decla red
that that curse had followed him |
through all the ages.
The bill was finally recommitted to
the committee on judiciary with the
understanding that it is to be the
special order for 3 o'clock tomorrow
afternoon.
Alas for Suffrage.
Despite the fact that both the dom |
inant political parties are bound by |
platform pledges to submit to the |
voters of the state a Woman's suffrage |
amendment to the constitution, no
such amendment will be submitted.
Feeling against suffrage in the
house was so strong, especially among
Spanish American members of both
parties, that it was practically certain |
that the resolution would have been
killed if it had been put on it's pas
sage. Neither party wanted record
vote on the question, and it was de-
cided better to let the bill expire pain
lesslv in the pigeon hole of a commit
tee than to hack it to pieces on the
floor of the house. H. j. r. was re-
committed to the committee on privi-
leges and elections. 1t will never be
heard from again.
Mr.. Roy of Mora got his bill for the
creation of the county AlVarado
through the house today but 1t was
by the narrowest sort of margin and
over the determined opposition of his
colleague. Mr. Arellano The new
county, if created, will be formed OF
portions of Mora, Union and Colfax
counties. The bill was passed by a !
vote of 23 to %, Speaker Llewellyn
casting the deciding vote. Incident
ally, the speaker was accused of using
"steam roller methods" in putting the
bill through, but such charges have
ceased to be a novelty
Compromise Relief Bill.
The senate today passed substi
tute for II. B, 265 making an appro-
priation for the relief of Mrs Mar
gurito c. de Baca, widow of Governor
de Baca. The senate measure is a
compromise between the original SEN
ate bill, which appropriated $4,000,
and the house BILL which appropriat-
ed $4,000 cash and $4,000 on quarterly
installments of $3.50 each
The substitute bill appropriated
total of 5000, payable in fifty month
ly installments of $10O each. In the
event of the death of Mrs. de Baca
before the full amount is paid the re-
naming installments are to be paid
to those of her children under 16
years of age, or to their guardian.
Inasmuch as the senate has already
passed a bill appropriating something
over $1,000 to defray the funeral ex