Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-09-21
INVISIBLE GOVERNMENT IN NEW MEXICO.

1t Is doubtful whether America has ever seen a
more conspicuous example of Invisible Government
than New Mexico has possessed and still possesses.
AS make this statement the reader says: 20,
but think of Tammany and Plat in New York and
Quay and Penrose in Pennsylvania" We have
thought of these They are more famous Cor in
famous) examples but more typical In fact,
their organizations better disciplined from the
top down to the bottom. A citizen knew where to
So at least, in order to get relief.
In New Mexico the big boys" have controlled
at the top, in specific matters which directly con-
cerned their personal well-being but have left
their underngs to" get theirs without restraint
or direction. We have had license without dis
cpline
Much of this has been laid at the doors of Sem
ator Bursum Many people conceive of him as
giving minute directions to all of the devilment go
ing on in New Mexico. much Chief Murphy does
in New York. This impression is erroneous The
New Mexico system has not been a System" at ALL
No one central organization has looted treasures
and grown rich and powerful The lesser lights
have aided the greater in getting exemptions and
favors and, in turn, have been licensed to loot in
their own petty ways, for their pay. Senator Bur-
sum has not been interested in the big looting or
the little looting. He is politician who desired to
hold the republican organization together and there
fore accepted things as he found them and worked
with the materials which he had.
At the top, Fall wanted a political career; Haw-
Kns wanted tax exemptions and favorable corpora
ton laws and few big cattlemen with their CO.
horts, wanted control of the land office. For the
mutual accomplishment of their designs they have
worked together and, until this election, have fur
nished the sush funds with which to control cleo
tons.
Kaseman has had his coal combine; the favored
banks have had the public and quasi-pubc funds
chiefly without interest. The "kcker' has been
broken" and driven out fthe state. Banks either
IN his laptp
funds. and, If he refuses to be coerced. suddenly
turn on him and break him. Corporation con-
trolled newspapers have drawn down their "swag"
in printing contracts obtained without bidding or
containing joker clauses which preclude COMPETE
tion Direct subsidy or Accommodation" endorse
ments at the bank supplied. In return, the
man who gets "out of line" is "lambasted" almost
beyond endurance.
At the bottom the precinct boss was handed his
"rol' election day and was responsible for re-
suits purchasabe and purchased electorate has
resulted Political morality has been at a low ebb.
This election bribery not resorted to yesterday
for the first time In Chairman o. L. Phillips
would not tolerate 1t and Senator Bursum had
broken with the money boys" This correction at
the bottom gives promise of improvement at the
top. Public approval instead of money, will come
finally to determine elections
Supporting the republican ticket makes no one
acceptable to these gangsers The Journal has been
Ignored, insuted and abused by this crowd through
out the election just passed. No whit of honesty
has abated. We must aid the public in whipping
this gang or they will whip They bitterly.
unalteraby and viciously hostile to the Journal.
This does not include Bursum, Phillips and Boyd.
Their treatment of us has been fair and reasonably
cordial.
Either the republican party must be cleaned up
In the personnel of its directing influence and
pledge definite and concrete reforms OF vital ma
ture 1t will be unfit for lbertyloving people to
support.
Senator Bursum this Anyone who thinks
that the command from him to be decent will bring
Instant reforms is uninitiated. These influences
are entrenched, each in its own petty way. Bur-
sum will help, but public sentiment within the re-
publican party, must be the deoderzer. vast task
confronts the republicans of this state if they are
to be entitled to victory next year.
No effort should be made to defend the past
cleaning is the only way to get rid of the
vermin.