The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1918-10-15

WYE ARE in the midst of grave times. Our war
w with Germany is not yet won. We are
committed by the united desire of this ma
tion and by the word of our commandcr-in-chic 10
fight the war to a finish TO an unconditional sur.
render 10y Germany. Even if we regard the out
comes a. certain aud the finish as near. we have
still directly before us the staggering problems of
a world rcadJustincn; upon which this nation must
bring TO bear its best and Saucst thought, its great.
est effort and its maximum Of united strength II we
are TO escape those dangers which threaten in the
after-war period. We have become an united peo-
pie in war. II is as vital to our safety and welfare
that we continue an united people in the after-war
period. Under our form of government we must
divide along party lines. But if We fight out our
political differences fairly and with clean and
abovcboard methods, we will emerge from the
party fight still united. governed by the majority,
which ever party wins and all working to the
common end, the peace and prosperity of The
United States and the advancement of freedom aud
good will among men.
Tho people are thinking profoundly about pub
lie affairs. The war and it's trials have broadcned
the minds of men, Informed those minds, brought
them close to the bedrock of essential things. Trial
and sorrow clear men'S minds of uncsscntialS and
create a hunger for clean truth and trial and Sor-
row are near ~neighbors of all of us in these times.
This is not u time when pickering and trickery
faultinding and deceit will find tolerance among
the people. Men want iactS about party policies and
party pledges, and about the essential qualiiica-
tions Of men who stand for public offices, just rs
they want only facts about the conduct aud the
progress Of the war.
What is true nationally is true of the attitude
of the people of this state. There have been tunes
in New Mexico when AN Indifferent public senti-
mcnt tolerated violent political campaigns. featured
by misrepresentation. outright falSehood aud vii
lanouS abuse. II we gauge public feeling accurate
~, from expressions uf hundreds of mcn of both
political parties. this il not a time when such a
campaign will he tolerated. For their information.
that they may vote intclligcntly. the people want
essential facts and rlean-cut argument. They do
not want deceit. abuse. mudslinging. Whatever
party, candidate or campaign management resorts
10 those weapons in this brief campaign ahead OF
as, will feel the weight Of an angcrcd public senti-
ment az the polls.
Temporary victories can bc secured 10y deceit
and villiiication when the people are not watching.
They cannot Succeed when the people are wide
awake and thinking, with their whole attention
conferred upon public affairs, as is now the con
dition.
Occasionally men are sent TO iail who steal
elections in election booths. But how about the
vote stolen by a campaign licg Is il any less a
crime 10 obtain office for this candidate or that bv
dccciving voters during the campaign. than to mis-.
count or falsfy the voters ballot ON election day.
The effect is the same.
We should keep in mind that misTeprcSenta-
ilon is more dangerous now than ever before; and
especially when il has to do with the LOYALTY. the
Amcricanism, the patriotism Of candidate or party.
The party, the candidate, the party manager that
IN tins campaign seeks 10 set American agains,
American and that seeks 10 ride patriotism 10 a
selfish end is plainly criminal.