Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-10-11
Says state Is Boss-Ridden.
Socorro, \. NJ, oct.

h@SNNiA ~ ~ Ne N-NN' - 49,
Editor Morning Journal;
Dear Sir:-It has been with a
good deal of interest and apprecia-
ton that | have watched the Jour
nal wage its campaign to secure
the adoption of its platform. The
campaign was well planned and
well executed and was carried to a
successful issue In the adoption of
those measures in the platforms of
the two parties. The spirit shown
in the fight, in that principles, not
men were made the issue. was es-
pecially good, and there is no ques-
ton but that the agitation has
moulded public sentiment to the
extent of demanding Il primary
law, a budget system, a n-parti-
san commission to handle state
land, and remodeling OF the tax
laws.
For a number of years | have
been feeling that the state and
county affairs were badly handled,
or that we were boss ridden" and
that the average man has little to
say about how public matters are
handled, and / have been trying to
discover how the condition might
be remcdied. The reason should
not be hard to find, and there
should be a practical solution.
The real difficulty is undoubted-
ly due to the fact that the average
citizen does not seem to realize his
responsibility and act accordingly
by taking thoughtful and intelli-
gent part in public affairs and de-
mand reforms of methods which
would ruin any other business. The
money squandered and the excess
sive taxes are his money; the poor
ly-conducted state and county Of
fees retard progress and prosper
ity and cost him hard-earned
money; the poorly managed schools
deprive his own children of the
education they should have.
Some person or agency Is re-
quired to stir people up to action.
and that Is the function the jour
nal has fulfilled 50 admirably.
That function is very important,
and progress cannot be had with
out ii, but there is another side to
consider: There must be an organ
ization and it must have strong,
capable leaders. The strength OF
an organization depends largely on
the power of its leadership. The
republican party has had good
leaders with broad constructive
ideas or it would not be the domi-
nant party in New Mexico TODAY.
They are large caliber men. ana
who shall say they have not the
interests of the state at heart
When the constitution of TINS state
was framed and the first tax Ia"
passed there were many problems
which had to be worked out by eN-
perience, to some extent, and pos
sibly it was the intention of the
lawmakers at that time to encouf-
age the investment of money III
mining. The state land laws may
offer opportunity for abuses, as &c
numerous others, but why not
change the laws to conform 10
present day requirements and eX-
perience? ...,
This brings me to the point OF
What I have to say. Some time ago
T made a discovery. Probably 9TH
ers have made the same discovery
before me. 1t is this: There are
exceedingly few leaders VINO really
lead. Theodore RooseNeltS are very
rare. In ordinary affairs leaders
will initiate only such REFORMS anu
improvements as pubic sentiment
forces them to. New Mexico en-
acted a prohibition law before ma
tional prohibition went into erect
but not until our leaders were SUI
public sentiment demanded IT, rms
is true of most measures OF narheu
benefit. And why should 1t not De
so? If valuable measure IS put
through before people require IT.
there is sure to be lack OF appfecia- :
ton. and for that reason II becomes
ineffective to an extent. Now tIlls
is where the campaign of the jour
nal comes. in strong. In arouSl"s