The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-10-26
Mr.. S~eligman's Reply

IN ANOTHER column today is published a letter
from Arthur Scligman, chairman of the dem
ocratic state committee. replying to the letter
recently addressed TO him by Judge George IL
Craig. chairman of the republican state committee
i'm which Judge Craig directed the attention of the
democratic chairman to various inaccurate state.
mcnts in democratic campaign publicity, attacking
the work e the State Council of Defense.
Judge Craig'S .cttc, was published 10y the
Herald without comment. 1t needed none. Judge
Craig definitely charged the democratic campaign
press bureau with having issued five false state.
iuonts. intended 10 mislead and deceive he voters
of New Mexico, suitiug the statements and giving
the facts which proved the statements 10 be- ana"
curatc. The inaccurate statements were not only
untrue, but they tended To diS"rcdit and hamper
the most important department of the state $ war
efforts. At the same time they aSNaiied the efforts,
the personal integrity and the patriotism of a mum
Der of leading citizens of New Mexico who have
been giving their time, effort and ability 10 The
country service: among them beng judge I. IL.
Brice. dishurslng agent ut the Council of Defense,
an honorable and patriotic citizen, and a. present a
democratic candidate for the i~udgcship OF the PccoN
valley district.
Mr.. Scligman doe, not reply 10 judge Oraiy $
letter. He does not deny that the democrat" cam
paign press bureau has caused talSchood, 20 be
nut out broadcast for publication to the voter, Nh.
Seligman undertakes 20 side>tcp the WhuI. thing
10y making AN attack ON the New Mexico Wa News,
official publication of the State Council of D.,rlsc,
II will be- recalled that it was the New Mex" War
News which opened and led the fight IN New Mexico
against the Hearst newspapers. a fight which arouS-
ed the resentment of a number uf %prumIucu' demo
rrat>. among them Judge Richard II. Hanna. demo-
cratic candidate for reelection to the state supreme
court, whose Incorporate statements al ES'turia
and clscwhcrc in connection with the Hearst urrI-
dent caused general surprise. as coming from d
member of the states highest judicial body.
The incident j, recalled merely as indicating
y lack of Mr.. Scligmau's customary and well known
rcsourcctulucss In extracting himself from difficult
situations, by sidc~jcpping the real issue DOB his
reply TO Judge Craig letter which issue wa.
whether or not the democratic campaign press
bdrcau had deliberately undertaken to deceive Oh,
voters of New Mexico ia connection with lmpor
taut matters relating 10 our part IN the winning
of the war;-aud by rcNortug to an attack on .u,
New Mexico War News to ,dcStcp that issue, Mn
Srligman has simply recalled To the public mind
the whole Hearst incident. with all H. relations II
inevitably recall, Judge Hanna : EStaucia spccyu
and il ~, inevitably recalls the fact that Congr',,
man Walton. the democratic nominee for the senate
was one of Mr.. Hearst guest, on that Fourth o
July ~all-stccl train journey to New York whcr.
fcasting and entertainment followed at Hearst
expense. The fact that he permitted himself t'
become Hearst : guest has not caused any one "h'
knows him to question Tor a minute Mr.. Walton
patriotism. II has caused many people Ia 'I,.o,
tion his Judgment.
There was. however. a general disposition I,
dismiss Hearst. llcarStiNm and related matters iron
this campaign. By undertaking 10 Ndcstcp Judg'
Craig straightforward questions by an attack up
on the New Mexico War News, Mr.. ~Scligmau ha
stepped INTO the middle of that unfortunate mes
and inevitably has stirred il up again.
In fact, 10y permitting his campaign press bu
rcau 10 resort to inaccurate statements and 10 hrui
It's mfomded, mpatriotic and even vicious charge
against u group OF men who have given tins stat
a striking example of unsclfish, competent, patrI
otic public service, Mr.. Scligman let himself into
situation from which even his ingenuity canno
extract him.