The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-08-05

Mr.. VIII Robinson,
Editor Roswell Evening News,
Roswell, New Mexico.
pear Mr.. Robipson:-
Responding to your inquiry as to
the short ballot proposal OF the spec
tai committee OF the Taxpayers asso-
Iatton OF New Mexico contained n Z,
port Of that committee already pub
iished by you, my impression. like
yours. IN that the idea is very gen
orally acceptable to the thinking poo
pie OF p state. The personel OF the
committee, consisting, as II does. Of
ihreo lifelong republicans ana W
prominent democrats clearly demon
stratcA through the directness and
unapfmiJ OF the report that political
consideration cannot. In any way.
have influenced the position taken
by the committee. There Is AS much
heed now as there ever was for po-
ltical parties, our form OF govern
meht demands them. but the time has
come In our history when certain
fundamental abuses and errors Ia the
administration OF our governmental
system must be faced and adjusted
quite irrespective OF party, OF faction
or Ut political cXpediency. That this
Is true lis now fully apprehended by
some Of u biggest public men who
see through conditions into auses
and are calmly prociaiming the
truth. One such. man Is Senator
Thomas Of Colorado democrat
but so clear and sympathetic a seer
into the heart OF things. that his ut
totanccs are like cold spring water TO
a thirsty traveller In the desert. lie
sAys boldly and without passion or
exasgerati0n that the trouble with
us Is too much politics and not
enough business In M government
that neither party Is wholly honest
In It's moves for reform but that prac-
tically all u public men In WASH
ington and elsewhere compromise
and play 10 cxpedlency when put TO
the test, That Is the gist of what he
says. That Is the gist OF the truth.
Thomas May Win by independents.
l was recently talking with two Of
Senator ThomRs' senatorial colleagues,
both Of his own party. and they said:
Yes. Thomas Is indulglng In the lux
ury OF being independent. This Is his
last term. He doesn't care" That
was really as much AS to say that no
man who looks forward to- future 20
iiticai office can be independent. But
from what | hear In Colorado II Is not
unlikely that Senator Thomas may be
renominated and returned TO the sen;
ate. even II that state goes republican,
which | certainly hope II will. An
other quite independent statesman
who knows the truth and who Is free
In Senator Nelson OF Minnesota. a
good republican and a party man. Al
his last reelection he didn't even 90
home to Minnesota or pay his pri-
mary filing fee bu, received the noni-
inution and the election. What the
people are beginning to look for IN
their public servants Is clear-seeing,
dignlfied, unabashed independence
and eourage-not impotence and In
t~olerence pf either the radical, the
Rodey or the reactionary type, but
with a touch Of spiritualty-and
fiagod. straightforward honesty,
When they find Il in a man In office
they are much more likely than they
were a few years ago to stick to thai
man. whatever be his party.
The Pnsssing OF the Label.
OF course there are still a lot OF
men In your party and a lot OF mei
In my party whose only idea OF po'
liticai worth is political label but W.
have reached u point where. In spite
OF the many benefits Of government
its extravagances and abuses are &c
pronounced that II won't be long be-
fore each OF us will have 10 be shown
before we vote for a man, what are
his intentions about this very thing
II government goes on the way II Il
goiRg now ana has been going In q
steadily increasing degree for a lont
time--constantiy increasing an un-
equilabiy distributed tribute OF tax
afion-something Is going TO break
We wilt all 80 broke individually
first, thee the system will break ant
then the reaction viii be worse thai
the conditions leading up 70 I'M
No UnlversaI Panacea.