Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-09-27
WE DID NOT MAKE THE RECORD.

We have received a couple of communications
blaming us for the situation in which Judge Mechem
finds himself with regard to the republican bosses.
We are wondering just how we to be blamed
by any fair person. We did not introduce Mr.. Bur
sum to Mr. Fall, or Mr. Hawkins, Mr.. Springer,
or Mr.. Sully
We had nothing whatever to do with their COM
bination to enact legislation which would enable
them to escape just taxation.
We did not invite Mr.. Mechem to move to Mr..
Bursums county of Socorro, nor to run for judge.
We did not ask Mr.. Bursum to support him for
that position.
We did not invite Messrs FALL sully. Hawkins,
Bursum, ct al. to come to the state convention, or
to hold conferences after their arrival We did not
ask Mr. Bursum to ask Mr.. Mechem to run for
governor. We did advise Judge Mechem not to
do
We did not ask Mr. Bursum to place Mr.. Mechem
in nomination before the convention. Neither did
Mr.. Mechem Either one of us, acting from differ
ent motives, would have advised him that it was
unwse for him to do it. We did not ask Mr.. Bur-
sum to 'ride herd" the convention and round
up the delegates necessary to defeat Governor LARA
zolo and nominate Judge Mechem, thereby opening
the way to charge of bossism
These gentlemen have made their own record
At most all we have done has been to publish
small part of it. Certainly no one should say that
the public is not entitled to know what men who
undertake to constitute the third house of their leg
stature doing.
If the records of Messrs. FALL Hawkins, Sully
Bursum Springer and others are good enough and
show such soicitude for the public interest will
make their support of Mr. Mechem an asset he Is
entitled to the benefits.
IT, on the other hand, their records are such as
to make their support liability, the public is almost
certain to charge Judge Mechem with the liability
in view of past relations, unless by his public utter
ances he distinctly and affirmatively places them
in position where they have no claim on him.
What think about II. or how strenuously we may
support him, is not the question. If he is to be
elected he must get the votes To get the votes he
must satisfy the people.
If Judge Mechem feels that the support of these
gentlemen will aid him more than 1t VIII harm him.
well and good
We made our support conditional on the prop
ostion that we were not willing to surrender our
freedom of action We think we'll enough of Judge
Mechem to be willing to support him. We have
been doing SO in the belief that he will act indie
pendently when governor.
But we believe these gentlemen not the
friends of progress in the state. We feel that
through their connivance literally millions of dollars
of taxation has escaped and the burden thrown
back on the people We will not support or defend
them, or even keep silent in what somebody con-
ceves to be the interest of Judge Mechems candi-
dacy.
There is a way for Judge Mechem to get rid Of
these men baggage, if he wishes to take it.
If he prefers the record of his relations with
them as it now stands in the public mind, We fail
to how should be charged with it.
All this is cup to" Judge Mechom He must
make his own decision. Our support is in spite of
their support. Will the public view the prospects
of his being free from domination with much favor
unless he says something to convince them to that
effect?