Estancia news-herald. [volume] (Estancia, Torrance County, N.M.) 1912-19??, 1919-07-24
CHAPTER THE LAST.

the New Mexican published as q
news story of live interest, attempt.
ing without success at the same
time to get statement from the
land Office replying to Mr.. Hudspeth's
complaint.
Mr.. Hudspeth stated that he had
been advised by State Land Commits.
sioner Nels Field that certain area
of state land was to be sold in one
body. He has a letter from Mr.
Field to that effect. On this and
on sale publication, which he al
leges was made inthe Estancia Her
aid, corroborating the letter, he bas-
es a charge of favoritism to one of
the largest land holders and wealth.
est cattle growers of the state, B. F.
Pankey, and discrimination against
certain small holders, the Gerharts
of Stanley, N. M. He also states
that another United States official
was personally informed by an at.
tache of the land office that the
lands referred to were to be sold in
one parcel.
Mr.. Hudspeth, who is quite a re.
putable citizen, as are both Lieuten.
ant Governor Pankey and Commits
sioner Field, neither of whom we
imagine considers it necessary to
convince the public of his honesty
through advertising himself as "Hon.
est Ben" or Honest Nels" has made
specific charge based on alleged
official information, which has not
been denied. We are not concerned
with Mr.. Hudspeths motives or the
merits of the undoubtedly acrimoni.
GUS land controversy between Mr.
Pankey and the Gerharts. The point
is that the state land commissioner
has "refused to discuss" a matter
which has become of public interest
and involving policies in a state of.
flee established by the people of the
state, or to clear up by a simple
statement controversy over a legi.
innate and apparently well-founded
complaint, which controversy has
been carried into the political arena
We are entirely friendly to the land
commissioner and his staff and de-
precate such a mistake.
Charges of political motives are
flimsy if the facts are persistently
avoided, as they have been by the
newspapers publishing columns OF
gush over the land commissioner anc
lieutenant governor and denouncine
the complainant because he is g
democrat Mr.. Hudspeth's complaint
must stand as warranted and entitled
to a reply until it is denied that the
land commissioner wrote the Ger
harts the letter, the copy of which
he produces; nor can this newspaper
be charged with publishing demo
cratic propaganda when the lane
commissioner has declined to make
statement proving the falsity OF
Mr.. Hudspeth's allegations and Of
the alleged letter.
The New Mexican has the highes
personal respect for Mr. Hudspeth
Mr.. Field and Mr. Pankey. The lat
ter, however, and any legal land pur
chase he may make from the state
are beside the point. Mr.. Pankey i.
a shrewd and successful business
man and that is his business. AS &
servant of the people, elected b!
their votes, however, Mr.. Field viii
make a serious mistake in refusing
to discuss" a complaint based on {
letter signed with his name while
allowing over-eager friends to de
nounce the complaint as false ant
purely political. We assume that h,
is administering the office according
to his best Judgment and that h
should make a statement, in recogni
ton of the public's right to one, re
futing the charge made by Mr.. Hud
speth or justifying the action whicl
the latter alleges.
We haven't assumed that Mr.
Field could not do either Of thes
things. Meanwhile it is quite i'm
proper to charge the New Mexican
with publishing party propaganda, il
the absence of any explanation from
Mr.. Field.
The land office finally consente
today to give the New Mexican a
unsigned statement, setting forth tn
Offices undoubted right to use it
discretion in land sales, but whic
does not clear up the point at issue
1t says it was decided to sell thes
lands "section by section" and tina
the "records are clear and une
quivocal"- the face of Mr.. Field
letter, a part of the records, Stain
exactly the contrary Hence the i.
sue is still befogged and the Hud'
peth complaint is unanswered.
At the state land office the follow
ing statement was made today fc
publication:
at is the general policy of tt
state and land office to sell lands
such manner as to bring abol
competitive bidding and the highe
price. At the same time where tt
state has good and bad lands gre'
care is necessary to prevent sa
of the more valuable lands in SUE
manner as to leave the state wi
less valuable or non-salable lands
it's hands. In the letters which ha'
appeared in the press the fundame
tai idea upon which the policy of Il
state land office is based has be-
entirely overlooked.
"Right here it might be stat
that it is not the policy of the sta
land office to encourage sub-leasi
or of speculating in its lands t
profit. State lands are primar
disposed of for the purpose of g
tanning the greatest revenue posslb
The commissioner of public lands.
vested with considerable discreet
in the matter of the sale of lands
large or small tracts. In the part
ular instance referred to by lettt
and comments appearing in the pr
il was decided to sell the wh'
tract advertised but to offer it s.
ton by section. !,
"The records in the case are Gle
and unequivocal and the office
the commissioner of public lands
willing to stand upon the recol
and what they disclose" 80
Santa Fe, N. M, July 8, IL
Editor of the New Mexican,