The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-10-11
Try to Be Fair to
Public, Is Craig's
Advice TO Magee

entitled to exercise the elective fran.
chinc but this franchise must be OK
erclscd at their qiacc OF residencc,
which l take IL. 40 TO most Of them,
10 In statca other than Now Mexico
and under tho laws OF tho states Of
their residence. Some Of the stntes
have laws under which their citizens
IN the military service are given op-
portunity to exercise the -clcctlye
ffanchisc at their atatlon--ono OF
these ntntes Ii New York. In such
casoR the franchise must be exercised
according to The provisions OF the
laws relating to. the subject Of the
acveral atatcs and IL a matter that
does not directly concern US.
Same Question In 1915
This same question e. me .up. In
1915 when New Mexico troops had
been called into thh federal service
and were stationed Mt Columbus, The
men of both political faiths dnairrd
To oxerciae tho elective franchise at
the 1915 general election aud felt
that they should be allowed to vote
nj Columbus. THE stntc committee
admitted tho subject to eminent
lawyers who advised tho committee
had denlred or then desired to change
their residence from their home pre-
cincts to the Columbus precinct. No
legal way could be found to allow the
New Mexico troops To vote at Column
hus, though as above stated. men Of
both parties felt that they should be
allowed to vote there and that an In
Justice wal being done them in re-
NAsing them the privilege Of voting at
Columbus. u happened that a great
majority OF these troops were rcpub-
iicnns.
Against Army In Politics.
The American people have been
since he inception OF the government
ard are now. opposed to a large milf
tnry establishment as inimicable to
the safety OF the government and the
liberties OF its citizens. The policy
OF the national government under
the various political parties entrusted
with the government OF n country
has been IN keeping with this feeling.
The standing army has always been
small and generally under the actual
military requirements OF the country.
THIS is u wis., policy n one 10 be
forever adhered to IL We would keen
our government n republican form
of government ana not pass TO an
autocratic form OF government. also
the american army should not and
does not participate In politics, its
members, while exercising the clec-
tive franchise Ms opportunity may
offer, which IL very seldom. arc not
expected to and do not become active
participants ~ political workers. Oc-
casionally members OF the army Of
outstanding and recognized ability
participate In politics OF our country
but always with the permission of
the war department. As "a recent ex-
ample. I refer TO General Wool. The
laws OF the country and the rcguiu-
lions Of the army follow the letter
of This policy and We should all ,2eal-
ousiy guard II. A policy OF army
participation In politics would carry
grave danger to Il institutions and
TO the liberties OF our citizens. l
may cite as an example what would
happen with the army participating
In politics; n national election OF
great bitterness when the secretary
OF war, acting under the excitement
OF the contest. could single out a Few
close, pivotal states and assemble
The army in these states and influ-
enco It's voting M make certain the
auccdss OF the national cause nc ia
vored. This is an extreme case and
is rot present now and may never
be present, and IL merely illustrates
n Of the evils of general military
participation in politics. would not
invite military participation In poll
tics any more than to tear away other
safe guards to u liberties.
Thinks Democrats Gould lIelp.
II occurs to me that as the regis
tratlon and election machinery Of
Luna county is in tho hands OF the
democrats that the chairman OF the
state democratic committee should
cooperate with US on this inVestl-
cation and should aid amy legally
qualified voter In the Columbus pre-
cinct who Is being or may be denied
the right to register or the right 10
vote. The efforts of tho investigator
should be TO arrive at the exact facts
as to each case TO the end that full
Justice he done. II this Is Acceptable
TO the democratic state committee we
viii direct II representative there
to cooperate with the democratic
committees representative.
/ have endeavored to meet fully
your request for the information and
trust that 1 have done so. A fair
expression OF my views on the sub
ject preclude n categorical treatment
OF the questiofs you ask but / have
answered them all above.
New, as 10 your communication.
It's contents. composition and
vcrbago:
Suggests n Litllc Honesty
l take exception To your inforencca
and insinuntionH n request that you
honest and impartial viewpoint. One
would assume from reading your let
ter that you speak from authentic