Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-12-12
CONSISTENCY.

What constitutes consistency? We know those
who evidently define it as being for man on all
occasions and under all circumstances or else
against" him under all conditions Such men need
leader and having chosen him, follow him with
dog-like fidelity wherever his judgment or per-
verseness may lead.
II another critcises one act of a public official
and commends the next act he performs, that critic
is attacked as being inconsistent" People with
such an idea of consistency look at the man ana
not at his acts. Yet it is not the man but rather
his acts which affect the public. The performance
of public official is the thing upon which we
must pass judgment
Herein lies the terrible handicap of editing a
strictly partisan paper The acts OF the party leao-
err however unworthy, must be supported and the
act of the political opponent, however meritorious,
must be condemned. To do this constitutes con-
sstency in the eyes of the partisan.
The Journal is independent newspaper 1t is
not a neutral paper 1t takes a position upon
public questions according to the public welfare
as it sees it. But it is not handicapped by the
necessity of always supporting the acts of someone
Therein lies independence. Therein ALSO lies the
certainty of the people learning the exact Facts as
far as the Journal get them.
1t is our policy to take position upon public
questions as they arise. If approve the course
of an official, will commend; If we dlsapproFe.
we will condemn. The Journal keeps clear OF
entangling political alliances which would en-
barrass its freedom of action.
We have no enemies to punish and no friends
to help at the public expense. We have friends
thank God but they understand that can not
support them against the public interest as we see
it, BY this attitude have earned our position OF
editorial aloofness' persistenty applied to us
We accept the status willingly.
We opposed the election of Judge Mechem.
Therefore we are told. Consistency" demands that
we attack we attack everything good or bad, which
he attempts to do Not so! We will commend where
we can and condemn where must in the public
interest. The journal is wholly emotiopess so far
as the official Governor Mechem is concerned.
Politically neither love hate him. We
merely accept him as governor of all the people.
His personality a man, admire. Our at
titude toward him personally is kindly We wish
him success
The Journal has end in view which has con-
troled its conduct That end is the achievement of
reform in the government of New Mexico We
likes or dislkes in our We claim de-
gree of infalliby. Therefore we may have, at
times, been mistaken as to what wise.
Our policy seems to be working out for the accom-
plishment of these reforms, The route we have
travelled is not important the destination we
reaching.
The Journal will continue to press for these
reforms and will continue to do all the "incon-
sstent" things which it feels will aid in bringing
about square DEAL and economical govern
ment in New Mexico
In the meantime we hope readers will not
be misled by the chatter about our being 'incon-
sistent"