The Columbus weekly courier., 1920-12-03

The storm Of disapproval that
many Of MS expected would follow
the governors action m pnrdonIng
The sixteen Villaslas serving SEN
leuees m the state penfenllary m
connecllon with The Columbus raid,
has broken
Tho American Legion, the Kiwanls
club and the Contractors assocla-
ton are ORGANIZATIONS in Albuauer-
que which already have Registered
vigorous protest aeanist the issu-
anee oi the pariVn American Le-
elon characteriscs Il as ~an outrage
upon the pntiic right" calling ior
the utmost rcprphcnslon by ull law
ablding cit4zcns": the kiwanis club
indorscs the action OF the local post
Of cx-scrvice men. declares the ac-
elon Of the governor was one that
calls for criticism and condemna-
ton" and favols remedial consli-
tuuonal amendment creating
board OF pardons 20 prevent forever
any recurrence Of gross abuse in
pardonine power" The Contractors
associatioA supports. the attitude
OF the Legion and the kiwaniuns.
In word. representatives and
ciiirens of New Mexico, regardless
OF politics. have joined IN an un-
eauivocal censure OF this unfortun-
ate official valcdictory of tho out
going governor.
some have gunc 20 far as 10 ques-
tion Mr.. LarraEolo's motives. The
resolution Of the American Legion.
for instance, declares:
The act suggests. " Il does not
justify the conclusion. that the
governor had more In mind hts
personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT than
an act Of Justice 10 men under
going wrongful and unjust pun
ishment: that being about 10
visit the republic Of Mexico as
the guest Of the prcsident-elect.
The governor completely forgot
his duty 10 the people Of the
state who havr ~ sienally hon
ored him and also forgot that
mercy 10 the guilty is cruelty
10 the innocent"
As faf as the Journal Is con-
cerned. however. Il y not necessary
10 probe the gubcrnatorial con-
science In the matter. The act IT,
self is sufficiently deplorable. We
cannot know the workings OF Mr..
I.arrazolo's mind; hut we do know
what he has done
The eyes Of the country are upon
New Mexico to-day Associated Press
has carried several extensive dis
patches relating 10 the pardons.
The issue Is not merely one that
concerns the state; the entire ma
iion has an interest in the affair.
The interest Is this; Shall the
sixteen men who have been given
their day In an American court In
connection with one Of the coldcsi-
hlooded massacres IN recent border
history, he allowed 10 go scot-frcc
by The stroke Of Governor LarraEo-
los peng Did the United STATES sol
dicrs who gave up their lives In the
pursuit Of these men. die In vaing
Was the battle Of Carrizal a mere
wanlon waste Of American blood1
Al that the people Of this STATE
demand Is justice. n there is any
doubt about the guilt Of these men,
why has II not been brought up be-
fore ihisg II there Is no doubt
about their guilt, why should they
be- pardonedY Fifteen Of them con-
confessed In open court, and the
other was convicted by Jury. Fif-
teen men who confessed were rcp-
PRESENTED boy counsel; and no one
dares say that the ury which con
victed the sixteenth man was cor
rupl or imhccilc.
We earnestly hope That every
legal effort will be- made 10 keep
these men where they are.
n there Is any law covering the
ease, the ''reinc,lial legislation ag-
ges,ed by the Legion and the XII
wants club should be written ON the
books 50 that similar humilitai-
ing situation eau never again en-
barrass New MeRlco in the eyes Of
the rect OF the nation.
r0nn as0Ton NJ aArr nfnNNfNc