Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-12-10
MR.. BuRsuM SHOULD USE A SINGLE

Nothing can be more astonishing to the people
Of New Mexico than the argument of the defenders
of present conditions in the office that
the 5000 majority of Mr. Field in the election
a vindication of past management and mandate
to continue it.
T.. The that Mr.. Fields majority was some
5000 5000 less than that of Senator Harding is
ignored. The fact that the land office is the great
tool in the with which to build politi-
cal machine is also ignored. The very mismanage-
ment of which complain is the means by which
the commissioner profits politically"-to the
words of the Special Revenue Commission
&. But that is not point. These defenders of
the statu quo argue that the vote rebuke to
the criticisms by the Journal. This argument" is
certainly startling. The republican party in its
convention admitted by implications, that the pres
ent system bad and pledged itself to the idea
of bipartisan board to naugurate new methods
The people thought that they voting for a
change in land office methods when they voted for
Mr.. Field and the remainder of the republican
ticket. The 5000 majority could but
thing-that the majority of the people believed
that the republican party would redeem its pledge
and could be trusted. Had the platform declared
for continuance of present methods the party
probably would have been defeated.
So it must surely astonsh the people to
publican ward-leaders arguing that the victory
meant approval of things as they instead of
confidence in the promises of reform.
By this process of reasoning this Lillipu-
tian leadership must conclude that the vote
also against primary election law against
budget law; against mine tax revision, in spite of
the party having pledged itself to these reforms
and having asked for the franchises of the people
the strength of these promises
Judge Mechem and Mr. Bursum declared in
their Las Vegas speeches the other day that every
platform pledge would be kept. We believe they
meant it. But here are the little leaders in knee
pants declaring that the people voted against the
need of carrying out these pledges, having said by
their vote that they approve things just they
exist.
Will some friend please rise from. the body of
the republican audience and tell these little fell
platform, asked for the vote of the people the
strength of its promises and stands commit
ted beyond retrieve to the idea that all is not we'll
In the land office and that the old order must be
changed and old practices abandoned?
The republican who defends the old con-
venton plan; the old mining law the old land
office system should awake from his Rip Van
Wrinkle sleep Things have been happening while
he has slumbered. The republican party has COM
mitted itself to change all these old methods
What do the people think of the little repub- I
Hcan corporals with their broom-stcks, who are
so immoral as to advocate ignoring party platform
pledges? If Judge Mechem and Mr.. Bursum rep
resent the party in their utterances land think
they do), then those who defend what the party
condemned and agreed to change, totally misrepre-
sent the party and seek to thwart the plans of
Judge Mechem and Mr.. Bursum to redeem the Z
party pledges. Why these little not en- |
gagged in cultvating sentiment which will make the 4
work of Judge Mechem and Mr.. Bursum easier \
instead of more difficult? Mr.. Bursum should in 4
terview them in the wood shed -.