Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-10-12
MIR. HARRICK'S LETTER.

If our readers failed to read the letter of W.
Harrick published Monday by the journal nd
the heading "As People View It," they should
SO now. In its early paragraphs which we do n
reproduce, Mr.. IIamick showed very clear Al
complimentary understanding of the Journals car
We do not to rcpublish his favorable cor
ment, but we do wish to make reply to his criticism
Here is part of what he says:
This brings me to the point of what
have to say: Some time ago made a dis
covery. Probably others have made the
discovery before me. 1t is this: There are
ceedngly few leaders who really lead. Theo-
, dore Roosevelts are very rare. In ordinary
affairs leaders will initiate only such reforms
and improvements as public sentiment forces
them to. New Mexico enacted prohibition
law before national prohibition went into eff
feet, hut not until our leaders were sure pub
lie sentiment demanded it. This is true of
most measures of marked benefit And why
should it not be SO? If a valuable measure
is put through before people require it, there
is sure be lack Of appreciation, and for that
reason it becomes ineffective to extent.
Now this is where the campaign of the Jour
nal comes in strong-in arousing public
thinking and creating a demand for certain
definite improvements
but why is it necessary to resort to per-
was admirable. 1t was fight for principle,
but it now loses its force and appears to have
degenerated into ordinary political bunk not
deserving Of special notice. Was there any
thing wrong in Fall and Bursum and a few
other republican leaders meeting at the De
Vargas TO plan the campaign and select posi-
BILE candidates? Such planning had to be
done by one even though these plans
did not work out in the convention. And
why is it necessary to brand Mechem as be
longing to the bosses because he will not call
his friends, these leaders, thieves and
scoundres?
THE journal has remarked upon the
ability of these men-Bursum, Fall, Hawkins
and Sully Why not them instead Of
Willy them? Surprising their minds are
not always such approve They are
men of keen PERCEPTION, and they keep close
watch Of what the public desires, and will he
quick to respond. These very men are the
best qualified We have in the state to plan
" and advise for the best interest of our state
government We need them. Let's use them
instead Of trying to get rid of them. If you
doubt their sincerity you have a most power
full weapon to bring them in line. They may
smart under personal attacks but it will not
move them. But YOU can make them use
their influence for the support of the meas
ures you advocate. They would hardly dare
to act contrary to fully aroused public de-
mand."
Up to about two weeks ago we absolutely con
Cured in what MIR. IIarrck here says. In the fac
of accusation of insnCerty we persisted in an at
tempt to influence these gentlemen through tn
medium of an aroused public sentiment. We he
lieved that they would be responsive to it. w
most earnestly hoped So At times we so sincerel
believed that they would that we said so in print
Those sayings now being quoted to prove GU
We fear Mr. Herrcks inability to follow us il
our later course is due to partisanship which
too deep-seated to permit the logic he otherwis
uses to lead to its own conclusions II not that
then he is unfamiliar with the mental attitude o
these gentlemen.
We completely disagree with him as to the D
Vargas conferences. They were not conferences It
plan for the party. They were held for the purpos
Of debating to the party. These unauthorized mei
that Governor 1arrazolo withdraw from
the gnbernatorial race. Whence came their RICH
TO make such demand? But that is rather be
sides the real question.
We have not resored to personal attacks w
have confined ourselves completely to the recor,
of these men in their public relations. They asl
to be continued in the leadership of a domnan
party. That means that they have been in contro
OF the affairs of the state. Is not their record o
in that capacity an entirely prope
subject for discussion when they seek new com
mission from the voters? How determine
their right to serve other than by tn
record which they have made?
: We sought to support Mr.. Mechem. The instan
Effect of our freely discussing the record of tn,
party was an accusation that we were stabbini