The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-10-19

In 1892 Frank A. IIubbcll, then am obscure but
ambitious young politician effected fusion with
BcrnaiO county democrats obtained for him.
self and his followers a majority Of the influential
and remunerative places ON the county ticket do
feated the regular republican organization headed
by the late NJ S. Otcro, and grabbed control Of
the government of Bcrnalillo county, having Sc
cured in that election a majority of the county
commissioners, the county clerk, the assessor and
the probate judge.
II took the people of Bcrnaillo county seven.
teen years to break lIubbc s absolute control of
the county government. During that period, with
his control of this county as bnse of operations.
he became the boss of all New Mexico. dictator Of
legislation and director of public policy in tho
worst period in the history of this commonwealth
During those seventeen years progress in this
| county was at standsill. The schools became
grim subject for statewide Jest Ruthless political
henchmen squandercd The money taxpayers paid
| for the education of children Road building
ceased
The details of that period are available in the
| files Of the Albuquerque Morning Journal
During that period the assessment cinch" was
developed into powerful instrument for more
tightly welding the fctters of boss rule upon this
county. II was the practice of Boss IIubbel to
| approach merchant or other taxpayer, name
such campaign contribution as his fancy or pres
ent need might dictate demand the money forth
with, under penalty if refused of an increase in
| tim more than the amount of the campaign con
| trhutOn.
| BE good or be sorry" was the IIubhc slogan.
The details Of the assessment cinch'' are avail
able in the files of the Albuquerque Morning
| journal
| During that period the sheriffs Office the as
SCISSORS office and The trcasurcr'S office took fees
| and pcrquisiteS ranging from $4,000 to S25OOO q
/ year each The pfckings of the county clerk were
rich. The taxpayers paid the bills and the men
who got the office paid generous percentages into
the campaign fund Golfers of the Boss,
The details of these dealings in public money
available ip the files Of the Albuquerque Morn
| ing journal.
The principal influence in breaking the rule Of
i Boss llubbe in Bernalillo county was the Albu-
querque Morning journal. d. A. Macpherson,
then directing the policy of the Morning journal.
refused to permit Frank A. llubbell to dictate
either the policy Of his newspaper or the size of
i his assessment return. Rather than surrender his
i personal liberty he turned and fought.
II Hubbel declared boycott on the Morning
Journal, and so complete was the terrorism he cx-
erciscd over Albuquerque merchants that num-
her of them obeycd orders and withdrew their adj
vertising.
Citizens of Bernalillo county, regardless of pol
itics, rallied to Macphers0ns support They
backed him up in his fight. But with all that
backing four years and two bitterly contested
| elections, long fights in the cOlirtS and a com
munity divided against itself were required ia
break liubbell 5 grip on this county and drive him
out of power
II The history of that fight is found in the files oi
! the Albuquerque Morning Journal
II So strong was the lIubbell machine that a rem
4 nant of il has endured through six elections in
each one Of which IIubbell has fought to regain
his control of the county government, and has
III been defeated.
II This county now faces another such fight; Blu
! this time the conditions differ from those in any
i election since Hubbcl's frsi complete defeat, Al
| in 1892 Ilubbcll has again effected fusion will
certain democrats. As in 1892 the democrats witt
| whom he is dealing have allowed him to name his
men for a majority of places on the county com