Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-08-11
PASSING COMM ENT

are equally plentiful. Every polit-
ical scandal ana canard of the past
80 years has been revived No form
of coercion is overlooked and no
name in the republican party is
too exalted TO be used in the at
tempt TO eliminate the governor.
Mr.. Larrazolo himself is, of
course, the chief obstacle in the
way of the gang program. They
are now threatening him with the
steam roller. Ii was natural that
they should first have approached
him with offers. These offers were
not altruistic TO accept and carry
out the governors ideas. They
were simply personal, and rested
on the old assumption that every
man has his price.
The governor is responsible TO
the people Of New Mexico. He is
not responsible to any individual,
however highly placed. Fer him
to recognize or compromise with
the motley crowd of judges, bosses,
senator's, chairmen, ward heelers
and corporation attorneys now
gathered in this city would be 10
sell out his cause and the cause of
the people of New Mexico, Incl
dentally it would be political sui
eide.
The republican convention meets
in September. 1t is not in session
now. If. when the times come, the
governor can be convinced that
some other man than he would be
better fitted to carry cut the prin-
ciples for which he stands, then,
but not till then. it might become
patriotic duty to withdraw his
personal candidacy. That situation
has not arisen. 1t is not likely 10
arise. A convention which approves
the governors principles will prob
ably not turn down the man who
embodies them. But if, by any
chance, such condition should
come about in September, we be-
lieve Mr.. LarraZolo will surprise
those who think he is in politics
for reasons as selfish as their own.
If, on the other hand, the con-
vention turns down his program it
would be unthinkable for him to
accept any place on the ticket. IL
such result is achieved, through
fair primaries and conventions, II
the delegates come to Albuquerque
honestly elected and carrying out
the viii of the people they repre-
sent, we shall frankly regret the
result, but we shall have to ac-
quiesce in IT, 1t will then be mp
to the individuar voter to decide
which of the rival tickets and pro-
grams is better fitted to promote
the welfare of the state.
But If the threats now being made
are carried out--if the wishes OF
the rank and file of the party are
crushed by the steam roller-if
the slate framed up by the bosses
last week is forced on hand-picked
delegates representing nothing but
the De Vargas hotel-then a very
different situation will arise. Then
the ticket nominated at Albuquef-
que will not be a republican ticket
at all. The party emblem at the
ton of the ballot will be a sham.
In that case the independent voter
will have no choice. He will know
that there is no longer republic
can party in New Mexico and will
crush under his ballots the sorry
thing which is masquerading under
the party name.
OF course, this is still remote
possibility. We do not believe it.
is going to occur. We believe that
the gentlemen at the De Vargas
hotel over estimated themselves
and that they cannot force their
slate on real republican conven-
ton.
However, eternal vigilance is the
price of liberty. 1t is up to every
republican to use his personal in
fluence to send the right delegates
to Albuquerque and to see that
they keep the faith when they get
there. Ii every individual does his
duty the local republican party has
a long lease of life ahead of it, and
history will not date its final break
up from the first week of August,
1920.