Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-04-06
WHY

|ions anu III spltt Of tnt ihct biht ht
attended personally 10 the registration
At the required time. How the name
got off the registration books or why
Il was not put ON them Is a matter OF
opinion. Anyone can draw his own
The editor should have
the official publication Of the
registry list, which he failed to do.
Hence there was no recourse under the
law.
But why was the name omitted
How many other names were omitted 7
To what extent Is the outcome altered
because os omissions? These are ques-
tons Of vital interest 10 any commun-
lty and free commonwealth. Is the law
on the subject 10 be the guide Of public
officials In the discharge Of their
duties, or are the prejudlces and per-
sonal wishes Of those who are ap-
pointed 10 enter into the Interpretation
of the lawf III the latter IL to be the
guide, the suffrage Of no person Is safe
who IL not prepared TO put up a fight
for his franchise. And that's just what
the editor Is prepared TO do from this
time forth, and hopes that others will
profit by his loss.
The Graphic does not charge the
members Of the registration board with
a guilty knowledge OF the omission.
But Il does charge carelessness, and
pleads guilty 10 the same charge. From
the first members OF the board gave
out information not strictly In accord
ance with the letter OF the law. The
impression was first created that only
those who paid real estate tax could
vote, whereas the law says property
tax" It was then, according to the
county treasurer, given as an opinion
that those who paid taxes on property
held IN partnership could not vote,
whereas the law states paid a prop
erty tax" IL was also given as mere
opinion that the fellow that paid only
few cents or dollars on such property
as household goods had no moral
right to vote. The law is exceedingly
plain ON tie subject as TO whom Is
qualified; Ii says In Art. o, Sec. II, OF
the Constitution Of the State Of New
Mexico:
mo suc,. debt shall be created un-
less the question Of incurring the same
shall, at n regular election for council
men. aldermen or other officers OF such
city, town or village. have been sub
mitted to vote Of such qualified elect
ors thereof as have paid a property tax
thavsm drvLse I've pre- -eding year, and
a rhajorify OF those voting on the ques-
tion. by a ballot deposited in a separate
box, shall have voted In favor of ere
ating such debt"
There is nothing cloudy or ambigi-
ous about the provision, yet from the
first the tendency has been to limit
suffrage by conscious or unconscious
discouraging OF the small taxpayer
from voting ON the water question.
the gentlemen who composed the
board of registration are all estimnble
citizens and nothing here written Is
intended as n reflection on their hon
esty and good character, but 1t does
seem that they have allowed their no
tions" or lack Of information or pretu'
dice TO guide them rather than the
exact letter of the law, which, in itself
Is conservative enough. The taxpayer
who has lost bis vote naturally doesn't
like n system under which his qualifi
lcations are unduly brought under ques
tion. The board exceeded its authority
when Il failed TO register any maj
willing TO swear that he had paid Al
property tax. because the law provides
that any such person swearing falsely
shall be prosecuted for perjury. Ma
lturally the board had neither the time
nor the information, even after refer
ence to the tax rolls. to show that ANY
given person was not qualified voter
Witnesses would have to called ant
legal inquiry instituted to prove tha
n man known to own property was no
n taxpayer under the provisions OF th'
lconstitution. The board would have
discharged its full duty by using ordi
nary means to register only qualific,
voters, and would thereby have en-
oouraged the free expression Of tn
will Of the people.
The Graphic believes that the SAINT
ultra -conservativ instincts that seen
TO enter into all the activities Of TN
city has permeated this election. Th'
tendency seems to be TO limit participa
tion In civic affairs to large propert.
owners. whose qualifications 1t woul'
lbe foolish to question; to old residents
whose interest in the good Of the com
} munIty and stability could not be dis
: puted. All of which Is very good; sucl
are the natural leaders Of any comm'm
: ity, but they are limited by law, th
same as the little fellows and late
comers who have right to demnh
their share in the government an
benefits OF citizens
City governments, especially remot
ones. are always reactionary In ten
Iency. IL was so with Athens, wh
fell because she steadily refused I
; make citizenship possible. The ol,
; blood ebbs away and does not renew II
) self without life e-giving lnfusions. Nei
citizens can be made just as loyal a
: old ones, as was proved by the srrengt
Of Rome. Easy access 10 citizenship
its burdens and It's duties, should b
the effort OF any progressive commnn
ity. We want the old stand-bys {
lead. but we don't want 20 have to liy
here forty years to acquire the ful
rights OF Deming citizen. As mat
u