The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-12-06
THE MIsTs OF SUSPICION

/ ccpt The editorial columns Of The Albuquerque Morning journal
: during the past seven months as the only evidence and all the ct
dence about conditions in New Mexico, he would go elsewhere be-
wrong; that government is rotten; that leadership is corrupt that cit
izenslip is inferior and that moral tone is low. His conclusion would
be that New Mexeans lack honesty, intelligence and ideals. lie
would take his grip-sack and his meal ticket or his bank account and
vertising, asked the question Are we entitled to supportq'
The journal concluded in this appeal that it is worthy of support
upon its unsupported allegation that it il the principal influence in
binding Albuquerque to New Mexico, or words to that effect.
II constant st pointing inms Of i the finger Of suspicion in course Of Of an I'm,
distrust of men and institutions is the principal influence binding Al
et effort to destroy men aud institutions, without any accompanying
effort to build up better men and better institutions, entities a news
paper to support then we agree with the Journals conclusions for
suspicion, implication of wrong motives and dishonesty assertions of
evil intent and efforts TO tear down have constituted the whole bur
den of the Journal editorial policy during the past seven months
nal headed, 1.-THE SCHOOL BOOK ADOPTION"
The New Mexico state board of education, an official body com
posed of honorable, intelligent men and women, will meet in Santa Fe
schools for a period Of six years. The adoption is very important TO
efficient educational work during these years. Large sums of money
that these books are adopted for use in the schools.
Thus far theyorua stated the fucts in the editorial referred to
public confidence in the ability of the state board of education to
make an honest and wise selection from the text books offered as it
is required to do by law an implication that members of the board
cm be influenced by dishonest or unworthy arguments o motives;
and incidentally a reflection upon the honesty and integrity of every
publishing house and every representative Of every publishing house
that may appear before the board in behalf Of any book.
Impossible good can be pointed out that viii be accomplished by
this effort TO create general distrust and to instl indefinite suspicion
There is no specific assertion Of wrong doing or intent to do wrong
should such intent exist or such effort be made. II is all vague ss
plclon, Ihnfs OF EVIL mtent, suggestions Of an effort TO put across
are told that they are to be compelled to buy certain school books
the Albuquerque Journal is flashing lightnings to brighten the crooks,
fools and knaSes. That suspicion and Implication of dishonest mo
sble positions that honorable statesmen are libeled by inference that
are smirehed; all this means nothing TO the Prophet of the Dawn of
the New Day in New Mexico.
This journal editorial says that "this is a situation which pos
sesses possibilities of graft and dire mistakes. Among the bidders are
publishers who have many times been SUSPECTED che capitals are
to procure adoption Of their books regardless of merit.
~ this assertion you have a typical example of the Journal
subject to suspicion and harbors intent to do wrong save only the
Journal and its editor.
It viii be noted at once that the journal says some Of the pub
fishing houses seeking to have books adopted have been SUSPECTED
Of wrongdoing in other states. No publishing house is specified
suspicion is east on all alike. The insnuation of evil is turned loose
to strike and injure where it may. II
fthe journal knows Of instances in which these SUPPOSED pub
fishing houses have done wrong in other states, why does it not suee
iy them by name, in justice to the others who are honest. and "a TIA
gently, for their protectonl The journal has said too little or too
much. i becomes its duty to print and prove some facts in this
The honest publishing houses, however, are amply able to take
arr " wa" sin sen.erp, ms 2 S SshG q tbe o@ nsoyt ! Of ,St tEe IF aTSi E v ad not s gl
picio1 on the intelligence, ability and integrity of the members of the
agraph, states that it has great confidence in the integrity Of the state
board and a FAIR tagain the capitals are our own opinion of their
competency; but the assertion is humorous when read with the rest
OF the editorial, the whole purport of which is that the members of
influences, or subject to being tricked by crooked salepeople intol
adopting unworthy books and throwing aside worthy ones The pro
fessional training and ability, the native intelligence and the hon II
assaled.
III IL aAsefle nat al albuquerque lawyer "a been hred by GER
tain publishing houses 10 present their books. It is limited that teach
ers have been brfbed to use their influence in behalf Of certain u-
named books and publishing houses. The journal asserts that 'one
syllable Of plausible talk from a paid county attorney in behalf of any
work should result in its being immediately dropped from considera-
ton And right there you have an interesting illustration of the
intelligent policy in the public business of the Prophet of the Dawn
of the New Day,-ihe only force at large in New Mexico during the
past seven months that the journal has admitted to be honest and
competent:
A meritorius and desirable text book, il is implied, should be
thrown out if a plausihk presentation of its merits is made before
the state board Of education. /
Suppose all the crooks and paid advocates and ntriguerssout Of
Jail should show up before the board in behalf Of this or that text
book Isn't this board Of well known, practical, experienced edusa-
tors competent 70 take the books. exanine Them aud judge them by