Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-08-09
\ DICTATED DEFEAT OF REFORMS.

| The Herald thinks that the back-room confer
ences to pick candidates is the proper thing. Wasn't
Senator FAN elected head of his party, it asks +?
Wasn't Mr.. Bursum elected national committeeman?
Isn't Mr.. Craig state chairman? Then who should
meet to fix up slate, if not they?
The attitude of the Herald precisely illustrates
what is the matter with the republican party in New
Mexico The state conventions have been political
rallies to ratify the work of the "fixers Sometimes
the fixing has been done in advance after it is
done the day the convention NETS. But it is done.
No platform is threshed out in the convention
No candidates give free battle for supremacy. The
convention is a camouflage to hide from the people
the dictation of the few.
We have objection to Senator FAN for United
States senator, Were he a candidate we would
doubtless support him. New Mexico is proud of the
national prominence he has attained But he was
elected to represent us in the United States senate
not to pick out a ticket for the people.
We regard II. O. Bursum as one Of the great
national committeeman of the country. He acts
wisely and justly the committee and makes New
MeXico's influence felt. We for him for national
committeeman We also value his advice. But his
position does not authorize him to insist that can
didates Withdraw. P
All of these gentlemen an asset to the party
and their counsel will be sought, but they make
great mistake by attempting to convert influence
into power and to dictate to the party. They are
its honored servants not its masters. Unless they
recognize this fact their usefulness will be ended.
To that extent, and to that extent only, we object
TO their activities.
We insist that it was presumptuous for these men
to demand of Governor Larrazolo, or any other man.
that he withdraw his candidacy. Any man who sees
fit has right to ask henors at the hands Of his
party
The friends of Governor Larrazolo had a perfect
right to meet at his request advise with him. No
representative of the Journal participated in the
conference advised the governor to be a candi-
date. The Herald knows this and is only practicing
its usual low ethics in constantly repeating what
it knows to be false.
We are not even committed to the Larrazolo can
didacy, as the Herald well knows yet it continues
to assert management of his campaign We
have nothing to do with his campaign or his man
ayers.
We have advised present support of Governor
Larrazolo most likely to promote the success of
the program of reforms for which, we stand. We
still advise it. When we think such support will no
longer promote the reforms, are at liberty tel
withdraw it, Whether such time will come is
'in the lap of the gods"--we do not know
The Herald accuses us of trying TO eoerce the
party. AS a matter of fact merely pressing
upon the rank and file of the party the need of
certain reforms And that in the eyes of the Her
aid, constitutes dctation!
All should submit to the free decision of the
delegates of the party, and if defeated live to fight
another day. But will not bind ourselves to sub
init to a dictated defeat of our program. Whether
condition arises which will be too strong for our
stomach depends upon those who have ''scizzors
hold on the party not on U.S.
An effort to eliminate our program from serious
consideration by the convention by attempting to
buy off the only candidate committed to that pro-
gram, should have been expected to draw our fire.
We insist fair test of the strength of party sem
tment upon these reforms.
The majority should rule and, if we are defeated
after the strange-hold of the few has been released
We can have complaint.