The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-12-01
WHERE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS

\ ANlERS representing the American Legion in the worthy effort
of that organization to prevent liberation OF the sixteen VHllstas
= pardoned by Governor Larrazolo, have not asked Acting Gov
eTnor Pankey to revoke the pardons, a $ some people seem to believe
The appeal to the acting governor, as we understand il, has been for
an executive order ~forbdding the warden Of the penitentiary to re
Larrazolo are illegal. The claim Of ilegalty is based upon section
state prison board before a pardon can legally issue. The authority
of the acting governor 10 issue such an order is the question now
being s considered a BY i the attorney ,%s generals efas e., no.n., co.. =.
villistas to resort to hqbeas cop.us, in any further effort 10 lberatc
ing now pending at Santa Fe can be considered should it reach the
state supreme court. The procedure proposed would immediately
bring the question of the legality of the pardons before the state
courts in a way that would probably insure a full herring aud an IN
Such a proceeding is undoubtedly desirable. 1t would determine not
"algo the right 7 2 q tn tho 9n executive sa.o sm to ,r md%Is S.m n wholesale Gr s%e , Use Of b tS
far the executive pardon power extends and what, If any m, res est e.
know it before the legislature meets.
The Herald does not venture to understand or to discuss the legal
proper and desirable that AN order which would result in such a pro-
ceeding should be issued, provided, of course, that the law officers
an order. No injustice to any one could result since the whole ques-
ton would pass Immediately into a competent court where a speedy
decision would undoubtedly follow.
Exactly at this point ends nyresponsibility the acting governor
pardoning of these VIiastas. Any eirt to create the impression in
the public mind that the acting governor and the attorney generals
office share in any way the responsibility for the effort to release the
Vilistas will be recognized at once as political %hapdoodle.
There has been no such intent ON the part of those acting for the
American Legion. Their sole purpose has been to prevent what
members of the Legion and the people generally regard as an out
rageous abuse of the executives pardon power.
We find an effort TO play politics with this case, however, in its
cb vrsn' any ~ I% u faws go"i% arra sG t IN pditori.T y the
Journal Monday tends to leave the impression in the minds of read
em, and would leave the impression with those not familiar with the
details of the case, that Acting Governor Pankey and the attorney
generals office are associated with Governor Larrazolo in the attempt
to lberate the Vllbtas. This editorial is headed; 1.-THE People Lock
to Governor Pankey." 1t concludes with the Illuminating announce
ment that 'the courts should be permitted to decide. All will DOW
to their decision"
No aOunt sue courts will learn relief from this authoritative
source that they are still in good standing with the people. This had
always been the case in the past. But some apprehension had been
entertained that since the Dawn Of the New Day there might have
occurred a new deal that would change the "old odrer"
With its six months record of LarrazolO championship, defense
and political promotion ON its hands and Iarraz0los pardon of the
vlIistas ON its back, the attitude of the Journal toward this incident
has been amusing. In one issue it has branded the pardOns as an
outrage, which il undoubtedly was. In the next issue it has upheld
and defended Governor Larrazolo, who issued the pardons. On one
day Il has demanded vigorous action to void the pardons and keep
the Vilistas in jail, where they undoubtedly belong, and on the next
it has spread sob stories over its first page, calculated to create public
sympathy for the sixteen men.
Efforts to confuse the public mind about this Vllsta pardon ease,
and to mitigate or divide the responsibility of Governor Iarrazolo for
il will prove extremely futile. The facts are far too simple, too
plain and too well known TO be misunderstood or confused.
just before his departure on a visit to Mexico and just before
turning over the state government TO the Lieutenant governor, GOy-I
ernor Larrazoo issued pardons TO sixteen ViIistas. The attorney
for the men stated that the governor had agreed to issue these par
dons before the election. He may have anticipated the storm of pop |
uar Indignation that followed his action, because Mr.. Larrazoo |
timed the pardons and his departure for Mexico so as to permit the !
storm to break during his absence from the state.
Defenders of Governor Larrazoo and champions of the LARA
zdo political fortunes may strive to divide responsibility and they
stand. So will the responsibility. The man who pardoned these
Vllstas and beat it to cover ahead of the storm is the same Larrazolo
who these defenders and political champions were quite recently
holding up TO us as their model Of civic virtue, political chastity and
moral courage. He is the same Larrazolo who these crusaders for
civic righteousness sought earnestly to force on the people of New