El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-01-02
SUPREME court HOLDS


legged libel suit against the New Mex
can at Los Lunas, makes proper an
necessary the publication by thi
newspaper OF many details Of the cor
duct OF the Dreyfus case hitherto III
published. and especially relating 4
the presiding Judge.
THE New Mexican, since the re
turning OF indictments by the Socorr,
county grand jury against this news
paper, has never been under anytde
lusions as to what II was UP agains
in the campaign OF H. o. Bursum, alb
solute political dictator Of SocorrC
county, to put the New Mexican otii
OF business
The New Mexican has never beer
under any misapprehension ais TO what
would happen either in Eocorr0 or va,
lencia county: the former under the
sway OF Mr.. Bursum's political organ
ization, the latter as completely undef
the sway OF the allied Otero political
organization and 4 county which for
decades has been famous for the fact
that a Democratic vote on election
day was always about as scarce as
the dodo. Socorro and Valencia coun-
ties for many years have been the two
strongest strongholds of the old terri
torial Republican machine. II was in
a Valencia county precinct that the
celebrated alphabetical voting took
place and it wal from Valencia coun-
tys in answer to the Republican
query, How many votes have your
that the answer came back while the
returns were still pending, How many
do you need?'
ITO start with, the reader is asked
TO bear In mind the fact, a matter OF
general knowledge for many years,
that those two counties are as com
pletely under the political sway of H.
o. Bursum and the political associates
of the late Don Soloman Luna, who
ruled Valencia like a king, as Berha-
lilo county years ago was under the
absolute despotism Of Frank A. Hub
bell. In those two counties this com
bination is virtually the arbiter as to
who shall be named for public office.
In Socorro county, Bursum is czar;
men nominated by the Republicans
must have the D. X. OF the boss, tacit
or expressed; where you find a Re
publican office holder you find a Bur
sum man, by choice or necessity. Es-
p~ecialiy in the town of Socorro is the
Big Boss supreme; he has been mayor
there for years, as the condi-
ton Of the town a~ttests; Henry ORGY
fus, the city marshal. is Absolutely
typical of the class of men selected
by Bursum as his ~lieutenants; the
methods followed in county affairs,
which have been completely aired by
this newspaper, are typical Of Bur
sum.
Mechem Strong Bursum Man.
Judge M. C. Mechem Of the seventh
district is and has been a strong sup
of H. o. Bursum. He con
tributed heavily to the Bursum cam.
paign fund at the last election; he is
a business associate Of H. o. Bursum;
i strong personal friend Of Bursum,
identified with the Bursum
political faction and became Judge
through the Bursum influence.
All OF which of course, is the privil-
age Of Judge NJ. c. Mechem and his
personal right. The New Mexican
lpecifically sets forth Judge Mechem's I
political affiliations merely for the /
purpose of informing the people of the
tate who may be uniformed. This !
$ not an attack upon the politics of J
Judge Mechem but the statement of
pertinent facts which for many rea- !
ions the public should know 2
The Meehern Affidavit. .
"The New Mexican has realized
rom the beginning of the Bursum 4
ibel suit that II must try its case be- !
ore the people. {
Despite that knowledge, as a re- I
lew bf the case shows out OF q {
icrupuious respect for the court 1t has
consistently suppressed various de- =
ails of the proceedings, several times
It the particular request OF the pre- :
iding Judge and to prevent any no.
oriety for the court which might be !
Undesirable or unpleasant !
The Information further alleges that !,
n said both day Of March, 1917, the !
aid New Mexican Printing Company, Z
he said Bronson M. Cutting and the =
aid u, Dana johnson caused to be \
and published the said news =
containing the foregoing article
nd caused the same to be circi ated 4
nd given general publicity in al the
0unties composing the seventh udi Z
ial district of the state Of New ! lex Z,
20 of and concerning said causes so n
ending in this court and 81 and &C ! d
this court and its supposed 4
ction with reference to said causes. &,
The Information further alleges that a,
he printing, publishing and circsla-
ion Of the aforesaid matter In. said Il
ewspaper as aforesaid was and is a c,
ontempt Of court IN this, that said Il
utilization attacked the integrity OF
ie court generally and particularly Ct
/ relation 10 said pending cases; that pi
lid publication tended to embarrass ii
ie due administration OF justice In II
iid pending cases and that the EVIL =
ent purpose and intent OF said pub &c
was to Influence public opin- (.
n against the court and to bring the 81
burt into contempt and disrepute: lpl
said publication was SO made for a
10 purpose Of influencing, intimidat- Il
lg and eoercing the court in It's de- Y
'rmination Of the issues in said pend \
Is causes. n
TTrcu tha q;tthp - aota f~for,,, r