Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-08-12
WHO OWNS THE Herald.

To regard our present controversy with the Her
aid a newspaper fight is to miss the point of
the whole situation which is vital to the people
of New Mexico
Many people accept what they see in print as
true, merely because it is printed. Altogether too
few stop to think that some man writes it and that
it is coored by his personal views and his personal
relations Few make inquiry as to the influences
which own paper and publish it to further personal
ends
The great means used in the United States by
the privileged few to retain ascendancy over the
many mislead the thinking of the masses with
kept press which is the mistress of the interests
The gentlemen who make a living ont of actually
getting out the Herald at fault only to the de-
gree that they willing sell their brthright Of
freedom of action as American citizens for the mess
of pctage Of a weekly wage.
Many of the real interests represented by these
men own their stock and bonds in the Herald for
the purposes protection their graft off of the
public To escape hundreds of thousands of dollars
in taxes by using such papers to protect them with
camouflage of personal abuse and rdicule while
they carry off their loot is the system employed.
The menace of a libel suit is held over the head
of competitors to make them maintain silence. A
suit backed by the millions of the special interests
is serious thing to contemplate. Rather than face
it. nothing is said To survive not the verdict of an
pillar tospost at great expense into remote counties
of the state until out from physical and fnan.
cial exhaustion, is not pleasant looming ahead
Suits are brought not in the hope of winning ulti-
mately, but in the hope of wearing the opponent
A show of righteous Indignation over the charge
made, by filing libel suits, can he used to confuse
the public to the merits The case can be carried
for trial past the election and the merits APP
pear until too late.
We realize all this. But a struggle is on to learn
whether or not the people can be masters of their
own government or must submit to domination by
special interests who prove themselves bigger than
the state. Taxes upon hundreds of millions of prop
erty being evaded. The sacred lands of the
school children the play things of the political
financial group in control.
The unrest abroad in New Mexico today among
the aboring classes is largely due to feeling
that the cards are stacked against them-that the
government is not their government but is the in
strument OF tax evasion and graft. That affection
for America necessary peace and prosperity
can only come with confidence that the government
is their protector and friend.
In the face of these facts duty to the people calls
and We will answer. The people must be aroused
TO re-assert themselves and take over their govern
men
We wish we had all of the facts about the Her
aid and we would give them to you. Some of them
are concealed. We give only what we are able 10
are:
John NJ. Suly, general manager Of the Chino
Copper company either in his own in that
Of his agents trustees many months has owned
900 of the bonds of the Herald Publishing com
pany and $4,000 of its stock He is, or until re-
Gently has been, an endorser note for $500
for the Herald Publishing company. In return he
has controlled it's policy when his and his compahys
and his friends companies interests involved
Lieutenant Governor Pankey is a stoekholder in
the Herald company and is, until recently was
endorser on a $4,000 note. He and Mr. Sully
have understood each other Mr.. Pankey has had
large dealings with tho New Mexico land office
Several large purchasers and leasors of school lands
are stockholders but cannot prove who they are
The stock owned in the Herald by Mr.. Hening
and Mr.. Hughes is bonus stock and cost them
nothing.
The public is entitled to these facts when it reads
the Herald's, articles and when it pays its money
it then wishes TO lend its financial support the
Herald 1t is entitled to do so.
There is United States statute against false
affidavs of ownership of newspapers. 1t is for tho
purpose OF protecting the public against just such
frauds Of concealment this We wonder if an
offense has been committed against the United States
government? We demand that District Attorney
Burkhart investigate it to the bottom.
No newspaper fight would lead us to this dras-
tic course We do not wish to harm competitor
as competitor! But we propose to hit, and to hit
to hurt. against this thing which attemps to con-
troll public opinion to the ruin of fair state
This is written down coolly and without malice
1t is done purely in the public interest.
Now, will the public see that this is not "iust