Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-11-11
CHANGE THE NAME OF
NEW MEXICO? h NO!

us a marked copy with an editorial
suggesting that 1--WE" lwho ever Eve"
are, change the name Of New Mexico
to that OF Roosevelt The Journal
gives as a reason the greatness Of the
latc Theodore Roosevelt and "distas'e-
full association of the name OF "Mexi-
CO." But let the Journal present its
own arguments:
"a great deal Is being said and done
now To honor the memory of our late
and beloved former president, Theo-
dore Roosevelt. and to erect memo
rial for him.
THE writer thinks OF no greater
memorial than 10 name a state after
him, and would suggest that we
change the name Of the state Of New
Mexico to that Of Roosevelt The
name OF Mexico has become distaSte-
full TO us anyway, and 1t should be
changed from association or title of
any OF our commonwealth. Further
more it was in that state, we believe,
that Mr.. Roosevelt went 10 secure
many Of his regiment at the outbreak
of the Spanish-American war. Any
state or city will he honoring itself by
thus honoring that great statesman
in adopting his name as its own.
Congressman Il. G. Humphreys Of
Mississippi said In his speech on De-
tober 18th: L shall say nothing of
Theodore Roosevelt dead that | have
not said OF him living. He was one of
the foremost men Of all the world
one OF the choice and master spirits
of his age. In my opinion he was the
most forceful personality in all the
earth during his stay upon It, and
that force was always a force for
righteousness
Who Is this bird that suggests We
change the name Of New Mexico. any
way? Why didn't he suggest the
change to Texas or Vermont or Geor-
gia or Virginia? The Graphic wouldn't
say anything about this guy living
that he would not say were he dead,
hut dead or alive, what we do think
would get us in Jail for the next cen
fury il we tried to get it through the
mails. Like most fasteners he is
about as familiar with the history and
geography OF New Mexico, as he
probably is with that OF Seychelles or
Negri Sembilan. He Is right In liae
with that postmaster OF the village Of
St Louis, Mo, who refused few
years ago 10 issue a money order Go
Deming because of the unsettled state
of the country, or those dcnizens of
the cultured east who ever and anon
persist in paying duty when shipping
TO New Mexico points, or. worse yet,
the representatives in congress who
Matched the idea that we ought 10
neutralize district along the border
which would be pOliced by Mexicans
and Americans alike. Imagine FL
Paso with a detachment OF the"Death
Troop" at police headquarters.
He has forgotten, perhaps that
Santa Fe was a capital Of culture AMI
wealth before the Pilgrims landed at
Plymouth. He doesn't know, possibly,
that the conquistadores Of Spain, and
later the padres, brought the christian
faith TO New Mexico while La Sale,
Marquette and Joliet were sucking ba-
by pacifiers. And the ancient ciyili-
zatiOn has never passed from New
Mexico, the ruder but more verlle An
glo-Saxon having been builded on its
broad and strong foundation. Still
half the population of New Mexico
carry the proudest blood OF Spain and
no more loyal Americans live under
the sun. At every crisis they have
stood for the Union and shed their
blood in every war for its defense. To-
day. when the cultured bohunks
OF the east are trying TO undermine
the constitution. we find the Ameri-
cans and Spanish-Americans In New
Mexico dwelling together in peace with
never the voice Of the l. w. w. heard
I'm the land. And another thing:
While we have some Of the widest
mountain country In America, there is
no community, that the Graphic knows
of, however remote, that does not Of
fer educational advantages to the
young where the American flag flies
and Americanism is taught. Can the
mountain districts OF the east, AMI
particularly Of the south. boast OF anv
such advantagesg There Is no prob
lem OF racial assimilation in New Mex
leo and as long os the mountain tor
rents pour through the canyons 10
water the little farms of the valleys
there will be peace and plenty for
those that care to work.
Who IN this upstart who would
change the name Of New Mexico, be-
cause Mexico Is distasteful to him, not
knowing its glorious traditions that
bark back TO the days OF Columbus
and the Spanish eonquests? New Mex
leo knows Roosevelt better perhaps
than the editor Of the Journal. for
Roosevelt was first of all a clean,
hardy pioneer delighting In the plain
Tut honest society Of pathfinders. Was
It not TO them he turned when he
wanted loyal fighting men? II was
in their society he wished 10 spend
his leisure far from the jungles Ct
high finance and corrupt politics. New
Mexico Is proud Of It's past, delighted
with its present and optimistic OF the
future. Any man who tires Of the skin
game as played In the east can come
out here and enjoy an honest game
Of poker. Roosevelt knew the strength
Of New Mexico. because he had more
than a superficial understanding OF lis
history and ideals. He would be the
very last man 20 call the associations
-distasteful" OF 10 wish the traditions
OF the land Of Montezuma forgotten.
II a state must be named for his