Albuquerque morning journal., 1918-01-21
WAL TON REFUTES
CHARGES AGAINST
CAMP At DEM|NC
People Not Discriminating in
Rents; Health Records Of
War Department Show Cody
Among the Best,

ESPECIAL coRRsspoHosHcs 70 ;'oES''o JOURNAL
Washington, Jan. 20.--That in Con-
gresham w. B. Walton, New Mexico
has a ready defender of the state and
it's people, is proven in a speech de-
livered by him in the house of rep
resentatives the past week, in reply
to an address made by Representative
Harold Knutson, of Minnesota, in
which the latter bitterly criticized
conditions a Camp Cody, Deming, and
termed it "a deserted valley of sage
brush rattlesnakes, jackrabbits, yuc-
cas- and cactus, situated in the middle
of NOTTINGHAM annex of hades OF
which his Satanic Majesty is evidently
ashamed.
Walton Makes Reply.
Congressman Walton replied to his
colleague in a speech in which he dis
proved every charge made by the
gentleman from Minnesota, including
one in which Representative Knutson
stated he has been informed that it
cost Deming $15, OO0 to land the army
cantonment." Congressman Waltons
remarks are quoted in full as follows:
Mr.. Walton. Mr.. Speaker, l wish to
apologize to the gentlemen of the
house for taking their time at this
particular moment, but | would not
be doing my duty toward myself or
toward the people whom l represent
if l did not at least make some reply
to the unjust charges, the unfounded
accusations, the unwarranted criti-
cisms just made upon a community in
my state-7one of the most progressive
cities in New MeXico-by the gentle
man from Minnesota (Mr Knuston).
l am compelled most earnestly to take
issue with the gentleman as to the ac-
curacy of the information upon which
his remarks are based and upon the
conclusion which he has reached as
a result of that information. The gem
tleman's visit to Deming and Camp
Cody-Camp Cody being located close
to the city of Deming-must neces-
sarily have been a very brief one. The
impressions which he gained were un-
questionably the result of hasty in
formation, obtained from those who
had recently left their comfortable
homes and taken up the inevitable
rigors of camp life and who had not
yet accustomed themselves to their
new surroundings. l do not deem
that to be a reflection upon the pa
triotism and loyalty of those boys. To
use a slang expression, to kick, to
register complaints, is only human ma
ture, and the gentleman from Mime
sofa (Mr. knuston) has apparently
paid attention only to the registered
kicks and has not looked for the
benefits and advantages mantfestly
apparent from the location of that
camp.
In Hcalthful Climate.
Camp Cody was selected for can
tonment only after an exhaustive and
careful investigation by the officials
of the war department. Not only did
the natural advantages of the place
commend it to favorable considera-
ton but past experience has demon
strated its availability and its advant-
ages as a site for a cantonment or a
military camp. With an abundant sup
ply of pure water-99.99 per cent
pure, by government analysls-with a
climate that is mild both in summer
and in winter, with excellent railroad
facilities, Deming possesses the ad-
ditional advantages of being located
within a short distance of the Mex
ican border, where past experience
has demonstrated that troops In large
numbers are liable to be needed at
almost any moment. There was, as the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hardly
indicated in his inquiry, a national
guard cantonment at Deming in the
spring and summer of 1916, and the
experience of that time demonstrated
to the war department that the site
was an admirable one, both from a
stretegc and a practical standpoint
The camp has received high praise
from such real -blooded American
soldiers as Major General Tasker Fl
Bliss, Chief of Staff; Major General
Fl. A. Green; and Major General f. F.
Glenn, who was in command there in
1916.
Figures Arc Quoted.
Depressing for a moment, and
while | think abopt it, to answer the
statement made by the gentleman
from Minnesota that some one told
some person. and some person told
somebody else, and so on and so forth
that $4,000 had been expended to Sc
cure the location of the camp in Dem
ing want to say to you, Mr.. Speaker
mat / was present in Washington
when the committee came from Dem
ing to present the availability of tina
section; that the committee consste,
of the president of the Chamber O
commerce and the mayor Of the vii
lage OF Deming; that they were her
absolutely at their own expense; tha
trey did not wine; that they did no
give dinners; and all that they di,
"fs to go to the war department.
because | accompanied them and wa
present and know whereof I sneak
enc present written statement o
the advantages of the camp and offe
the donation Of the land necasstt, 70
the camp.
II know that of my own knowledge
The particular advantage of the Ioca
ton of Camp Cody is the mild an
equitable climate. permitting of out
door work every day of the year. Th
average yearly temperature in tina
section--and I live, within forty-eigh
miles of Deming; have lived ther
twenty-seven years and certainly kno,
something about conditions: also hav