The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-10-15

report or the address OF Judge AZ. c..
Mcchom. republican candidate for
governor. In that city Monday night;
Judge Merritt &. Mechem, Of So
zorro county, Republican candidate
for governor Of New Mexico. appear
cd last night before an audience in
Ration which filled the great scouting
space o1 the shulcr auditorium to It's
capacity n oVerflowed to standing
room IN the rear, an audience which
Appropriated 700 persons. II was u
deeply attentive gathering. and one
tha frequently manifested It's anpre-
citation Of the keen points made by
the speaker BY vigorous appliance. In
marked contrast 90 the spirit OF broad
dcnunclntion OF men and bosses
which has been exhibited by his OPP
I poncnt throughout the state. Judge
Mechem discussed the isspos Of the
A campaign In detail, calmly, dlspas-
~siunatcly, with courteous reference TO
my friend Judge Hannn.' answer
ms the charge that he would be con-
troilod as governor by the quiet but
i~noisivo declaration II shall stand
flat upon ms own two feet and de-
pend always upon my own head" No
one. hearing him. could question the
honesty, h sincerity. the ability, or
the fcarlcssncss OF the man.
The Great Issue
Judge Mcchem was introduced by
Attorney o. L. Phillips. and spoke as
follows.
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
and Fellow Citizens cf Ration:
I am glad TO be here tonight and
have the opportunity Of addressing
you on the Issues OF the state CAM
pnign. ! read the other day a note
IN the albuquerque Journal TO the
effect that Mechcm persisted In talk
ing about the Loegue OF Nations, but
would not discuss the state Issues. I
think that this campaign should In
ciude a discussion OF the League of
Nations. as Il is the greatest political
question before the people Of the
United States at this TING. I do not
think we should discard a great ma
tiunnl policy, one which ~ truly and
distinctlVoiy American. and embark
upon a new one, OF which no man
can see the end, 0nd I would be neg
Letting my duty as an American cit
lien, II J. did not a. any time, or any
place. or anywhere. tax about the
League Of Nntiona. ] think Il Is the
duty OF an American citizen when he
can get other Americans 20 listen to
him. to talk on this great question.
But my friends. l am perfectly will
Ing TO discuss the state issues. and i
viii start In with the mining tax law.
Hannas Pct 1ssnS
/ did not draw the mine tax law. I
am not responsible for II. for itnI pass
ms. ID for It's administration. j have
absolutely nothing to apologize for.
no record In that respect to defend.
My opinion on the mining tax law is
hat all clnsses Of property. mines,
IMMORAL lands. and everything else,
should be taxed nj their actual val
ne. OF course II farming land, or
chard land. live stock. merchandise,
etc, pays but fifty cents on the dol
lar. then the mines should pay the
same, but I soc no reason why we
I cannot arrange for some system OF
taxes whore mines and mineral lands
win pay on their actual value. Now,
that's fair. and that's what I stand
for. (Applause.)
The Democratic Record
As far as the present mining tax
law IN concerned. II was passed in
the legislature with the aid of dem
ooratlc votes. IL was approved by
the Democratic governor. Mcdonald,
and Il could not have been passed
over his veto. My friend. Judge
Hanna, then democratic member of
thu supreme court. was IN full pos
session OF the facts concerning the
law. as each day the members Of
the supreme court were In and out
while the legislature was ia session.
and together with the other state Of
ficers received printed copies OF the
bills AZ they came out. I do not
know that he consulted with Cover
nor Mcdonald, hut / do know that
he and all Of the other democratic
offlceholders we're consulted by the
legislature at that time. / know h "a
Governor Mcdonald had competent
leEal advice from the democratic
lawyers who were there In int Fe.
Now, Governor Mcdonald was not "a
nA.nNnn mAAH NA mHA N AAA1 NnmAnA
good business man, aud IL was very
lard TO put anything over on him.
y / have little doubt that all
through the discussion OF the mining
tax law he was converannt with every
phase Of II and regarded Il as II was.
an honest experiment wish q ncw sit
nation. Now Mr.. Harry Patton who
is cnndidatcl for judge OF the supreme
court "a friend Of mine), declared
during his ineusnbhncy OF the office
Of attorney general that that law was
Unconstitutional. and as the legal ad-
VISOR OF tho state, 20 advised those
Other officials Of tins state. who had
al right TO call upon him for his opln-
ion, but during that time, and since
That time no attempt was made by
anyone to test the constitutionnlity OF
that law. The courfh were open 70
livery taxpayer IN the state; " they
wished TO test the coustituhonallly Of
tItut mining TAX law, tho courts were
open for that purpose. No demo-
icrat-Mr.' seligman. a big tax payer.
and these other democratic leaders
inone OF them attempted 20 bring the
matter before the courts n nave
an adjudication OF Il. The democrats
have never taken any step az all to
amend, to change this mining tax
law. and, my friends. there never
was anything about the mining tax
law In the democratic platform until
In republican legislature. at the In
Stance OF a republican governor, set
I1ho machinery In motion for The
amendment OF that law.
The Hepubfican Record
At the last special session Of the
leGislntnro-a republican legislature
Ia law was passed authorizing the
governor 10 appoint a commission to
Investigate the tax situation very
carefully throughout the state rs to
an kinds and classes Of property, M
.rffnuInrlv "a 10 The unlulur fne iotu