Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-09-22
ARE WE CONSISTENT?

The letter of w. E. Ragsdale, published in an
other column on this page seeks to put the Journal
on the defensive to it's consistency. Perhaps it
succeeds In any event gladly give space to the
letter and take advantage of the opportunity to
make plain our position.
May we say that two differing positions are held
by men of independent and progressive thinking as
TO policy where the party of his affiliations has
fallen upon evil days. One theory is desert the
party temporarily and aid in Christening and purify
ing it by defeat. The other is to stay inside the
party and to fight for housekeeping from within
We spent week following the convention gazing
into the crystals of the tumbng Pecos summoning
the muses. of wisdom and prophecy trying to decide
wisely. We sought to make opportunity for
Ice the yardstck by which to decision
We are confident cowardice played part in that
decision.
Had our three months campaign for civic right
eousness been without avail and had the party adj
hered unyeldingly to reaction and boss control we
would have supported the democratic ticket in a
spirit of hopeessness better things in the repub-
lcan party But did make awful dent in the
party policy and did get the platform for which we
fought, in most of its details
We knew this before We went to the Pecos. But
the husks without the kernels not sufficient
We had to know the circumstances of Judge
Mechems nomination and his attitude toward that
platform before We could support him. Until we
were satisfied upon this point said nothing.
When the day before the convention, said
the bosses wished to nominate Judge Mechem as
their candidate, it true. They had exhausted
themselves in effort to bring sufficient votes to
any candidate of their real choice without avail.
AS a last resort they turned to Judge Mechem
merely because they preferred anybody, however
progressive. to Governor Larrazoo. Only 30 could
they their faces at all
Had Judge Mechem yielded to their mportuni-
ties we would never have supported him. although
we said he good But he fatly refused
to be a candidate and left them
His name placed before the convention with
out his consent, on the spur of the moment and
without the knowledge of a single of the bosses.
Their understanding that Messrs. Hughes. Craig
and Armijo would fight it out with Governor LARA
zolo Mr.. Bursum the demonstration in the
convention hall for Larrazoo and knew he would
win easily against these gentlemen, BY of those
sudden strokes of vision and courage which account
for his qualities of leadership, he suddenly decided
to place Judge Mechem in nomination. 1t came as
utter surprise to his associates.
Mechem never consented to rum made prom
Uses and finally accepted the nomination with the
understanding that it involved obligations This
changed the entire front of the status of Judge
Mechem. He not the choice of the bosses. They
merely accepted him in desperation They received
nothing which they wished at the hands of the con-
vention. They defeated. Their victory was
only an apparent victory.
Judge Mechem is, and for years, a progress
sive. He stands for all fighting to get for
the people.
Under such circumstances wherein lies in
consistency in supporting Judge Mechem, staying
with the party and remaining of the peoples
friends in its rehabilitation?
We merely elect to fight for civic Righteousness
and decent government from wiuhin the party. We
feel that in this way best New Mexico.
We shall not allow this decision to abate fight
In the least degree
With those who sincerely elect to take course
outside the party find fault. 1t is question
of judgment. To course appeared the wiser
one-not for ourselves but in the public interest.
We would aid in redeemng the great republican
party. We had the courage to start the fight prac
ticaIly single-ha We started it with the full
purpose of finishing it whether it took year or
five. We will.
Others may differ with to the wisdom of
our methods. but is in decent position, at this
late date, when we have made speaking out in
meeting perfectly safe to question either our con-
sistency or our good faith.