Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-21
SMITHS ATTACK
ON RE|NBURG IS
To Be ACTED ON
BY UPPER HOUSE
Senator From Union County
Probably Will Have to E.X-
plain to Senate Charges
Made in His Paper,
COMMITTEE NAMED TO
REPORT THIS MORNING
lntinatiOn That Dona Ana
County Mans Naval Com
mission Was Obtained by
Unfair Means Is Resented,
ESPECIAL urspArc4 TO MORNING JOURNAL

| ESPECIAL ulsPArcH MORNING JOURNAL
i Santa Fe, Feb. 20.-Just what ac-
ton will be taken by the senate in
regard to an alleged slanderous article
published by Senator e. c. Smith re-
garding Senator j. e. Reinburg. is to
be decided by committee appointed
by republican caucus held this after
noon. Senator Reinburg threw a
bomb into the senate when he arose
to a question OF personal privilege and
read the article complained of. 1t
was published in Senator Smiths
paper, the Clayton News, and Rein
burg displayed a copy of the paper
in which the article was~marked, and
had blue pencil circle around the
name of the editor. The passage
complained of follows:
Considering the whole, there are
not many people in New Mexico who
know that j. f. Reinburg is a mem
Der of the state senate. But such is
! the lamentable fact. BY some uneX-
! planned hook-or otherwise-he is
also an officer in the United States
navy, and instead of being state SEN
ator in New Mexico he should HE
himself with his trusty carpet bag to
Michigan and essay debauchery of
the electorate of that state for the
| United States senate via the golden
| ducat route"
Then followed a lengthy statement
charging that the republicans have
gerrymandered the senatorial districts
until the people have been dispossess-
ed of the right to choose their sena-
tors This charge is brought forth
following a statement that Senator
Reinburg was declared to have made
in regard to the Barth- -Chrisman con-
test that "the people elect their sena-
tors
Resents Reflection on Uniform.
Senator Reinburg said that the ner-
sonal attack on himself bothered him
no more than the bite of cootie, but
that he would resent the reflection on
his uniform and the charge that his
commission had been obtained by
| other than regular means. lie de-
| clared that he had handled "ruffians'
and "braggarts" before and he could
still do so if necessary.
| Senator Smith was present during
the entire speech of Senator Reinburg,
| and when the member from Dona Ana
| county resumed his seat every eye in
! the senate turned upon Smith, expect
ing him to reply. Lieutenant Governor
Pankey looked toward the senator
from Union county. ready to recog-
nize him if he should wish to reply,
but Senator Smith made no attempt to
obtain the floor.
The republican members of the sem
ate went into caucus Immediately
after the senate adjourned and were
in session until late. 1t is understood
that what action will be taken was
discussed, and the matter was placed
| it, ha Of
will report at caucus to be held to-
morrow morning. The matter was set
down for hearing on the floor of the
senate tomorrow afternoon.
Republicans Condemn Attack.
| The republicans are unanimous in
condemning the action of Senator
Smith, and his democratic colleagues
are silent One democratic member
said that the incident was ito be re-
gretted," and that Smith had dis
played poor. taste" That some ac-
ton will be taken is assured. State
| Chairman Craig was here and was
consulted in regard to the matter.
! Asked in regard to his naval rec
ord, Senator Reinburg said that he
had twenty eight years service to his
credit as an officer in the navy. He
was retired a few years ago with the
rank of lieutenant commander. and
was called into active duty at the
| outbreak of the war with Germany.
i He is now on the retired list.
Stuff Amendment Before House.
/ The woman suffrage amendment
won halfway victory in the house
today. The Hull resolution was saved
from execution by Judge Barnes, who
supported the measure, declaring that
he thought it was illegally drawn. One
! test vote by which the resolution was
saved from being tabled indicates
that friends of equal suffrage control
the house by one vote. The vote on
| this motion was 27 to II, which is
! Just two more than necessary to pass
it, However, Wesley declared that he
voted against the motion to table be-
cause he wished an opportunity to
vote directly against the resolution
4 on final passage, and he did not want
| to see it tabled. This would make
twenty-six actual votes in favor of
| the resolution. But the margin was
| so slight that the friends of the mea-
/ sure probably feared for its life on
] final passage and consented to it be-
| ing recommitted by vote of 2S to
/ 8, and it weift to the judiciary com
mittee to he redrafted
| Judge Parnes said that the resolu-
| tlOn Included great zeal 'OI TldlIeC
already law. and he believed 1t would
prove very confusing and probably
| be held illegal.
HUI, Rrings on the Fight.
| J. Y. Hull, author Of the resolu-
| tion, brought on the fight when he
moved to suspend the rules and place
the measure on passage when it was
reported without recommendation by
! the committee. He declared that as
both parties had endorsed the prin-
ciples of equal suffrage he considered
| the passage of the measure an obli-
ration. The vote on this was 21 to
| IS.
| blanchard brought tho matter to a
climax by moving to table the mea-
sure indefinitely. This also shut off
1 debate. but the members took advan-
tage of the rule which permits MEM
/ bers to explain their vote
| Major Llewellyn in explaining his
vote, said that he believed every hui
man being should stand on an equal