Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-11-24
Albuquerque Morning Journal Wednesday, November a. 1920

recognition OF Carranza to the latter's persona
i representative at Washington, Eliseo Arredondo
There certainly no war, either expressed OIL
implied, between the two countries.
These men, then, had the status of outlaws ant
not of soldiers. But it may be argued that even il
they We're outlaws Villa maintained military dis
cpine, and that his men knew that if they did
not obey him they would be shot.
The same objection might he urged when il
is sought to punish any other outlaws. Every band
of such is dominated by at least one chief
tain who keeps them in line" But from this can
it be argued that If any individual outlaw should
fall into the tolls of the law he could successfully
plead that his wicked leader made him break the
law. under pain Of death? What perfect defen;o
would thus be provided for any law-breaker oper-
ating under a gang-leader
This is neither sound law nor sound logic. When
a man joins outlaw band, he does so at his
peril. &While things go we'll. he shares in the
loot; should he be caught, it i'll becomes him to
set up the cry of coercion. He must be ready to
take his thorns with his roses 1t is part of the
risks of the trade"
AS matter of fact, any knowing anything
about the psychology of Mexican outlaws will tes
tify that most of them such because they ne
lieve that pillage is easier than work. The few
that are impressed into service against their will
usually able to desert before long. BY remain
ing in the band they tactly assume all risks.
But the governor does not insist the point
that the men may have been forced into service BY
Villa. He predCates his argument chiefly upon the
proposition of international law that begerents
should not be treated as criminals if their alleged
misdeeds committed in obedience to commands
by their superior officers. This proposition of law,
as we have shown, cannot be stretched to apply to
the Vistas, because they would not fall under the
classification of beligerents,
So far, have based discussion of the
matter solely upon what conceive to be the law
in the But there is another phase that no
public servant can ignore-that of popular opln-
ion. However calIous Governor Larrazolo may be
to criticism praise with respect to his personal
traits, he is still the servant of the people of New
Mexico; he is still the governor of American
state.
We do not believe that his action in pardonng
these will be appauded by the state by
the nation The border states, especially, have suf
fered too much from Mexican raids not to resent
the release of outlaws who have either confessed
their guilt in open court who have been found
guilty of murder by competent American jury.
Our soldiers rsked their lives to bring back these
men, that they might be tried before courts for
acts committed on our soil. They were tried and
were duly sentenced; and now, after more than
three years have elapsed since they sem
tenced-during which time many witnesses who
could throw light the have left the juris
diction of courts-they pardoned.
Why? What new facts have come up since their
What error has been discovered hat
could not have been discovered Immediately after
their conviction? What facts have come to the
governors notice now that not available to
him when he took office two years ago?
Governor Larrazolo has the legal right to par
don any one he chooses And his employers. the
people of the state have equal right tC criti-
cze his Judgment in discharging the mandate that
he has received from their hands.