Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-12-04
POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY.

Some republican leaders charge the Journal with
effort to destroy that party Others, with great
vision, that the route the Journal has chosen
holds out the only hope of party salvation Let us
look the situation squarely in the face from the
standpoint OF party wisdom, leaving out all ques-
ton of doing the right thing regardless of political
consequences,
The republican who insists that that party In
New Mexico has done the right thing, even approx
imately in the past, ostrichlike hides his head II
the sand Even a casual survey of the party record
shows this to be untrue and that the adminisra-
ton has been in the interest of the few instead Of
for the benefit of the many
II anyone will dispute this statement, or is IN
doubt concerning its accuracy. the Journal will
count in detail later of the outstanding illus
trations of the truth of premise. Domination
by a few who have sought public benefits; con-
troll of special interests which have saved millions
in unconscionable tax exemptions which have
made millions from unresarined combinations
public monies deposited in banks with interest; i'm
proper appointments to office repression of all In
formation from the public; maladmlnistration OF
the land offce-these are but few conspicuous
examples
The theory OF our critics is that the party well
fare demands the suppression of all discussion OF
past evils and defense of all past republican acts
as proper and desirable. According to their view
a confession Of improper conduct will be fatal TO
future success.
If the party intends to go in the old
way unrepentant and unregenerated, until 1t meets
its Waterloo, our critics are right. They should
continue fool the people until they be fooled
no longer and then be content to fall with mighty
crash When that time comes New Mexico will be
permanently democratic. The republican party IN
this state will have committed political har kari.
But il new and broader leadership secs the
errors of the past and believes that the great
publican party possesses the capacity to solve New
Mexicos problems and to outline for her a program
Of progress which will bring growth to the state
and happiness her people, that leadership should
repudiate the crimes of the past against the people
and confessing its sins. map out such program
and ask the approval of it by rght-thinkng peo-
pie in the state.
The republican party Its leadership has con-
Quoted 1t for twenty years, is doomed to perpetual
defeat in the near future. Many and women
who are republicans and who wish to remain re.
publicans will not do unless they feel that their
party is free to serve the people, and willing to
der that service.
The rank and file OF the party is made up Of
right-minded and well-intentoned people. Under
repression and bad leadership they have been mis-
guided. Under enlightened and unselfish leader
ship these people would be glad to move forward.
Republican leaders who would perpetuate the
past should remember that a cataclysm need not
cent Of the republicans. Whenever Is per cent OF
the republicans OF New Mexico conclude that 1t Is
necessary to punish the party in order to make 1t
responsive to the public need the party is doomed
But for the national landslide last year just such
result would have occurred then. The gods favored
the organization in New Mexico and gave 1t two
years more in which to regain its and to de-
vclop its conscience.
Are these leaders insane with power and fat
tened with special privilege to continue pol
ICY the end of which is suicide, will they see the
inevitable and put forward program and leader
ship which will inspire the confidence of the people:
In the judgment of the Journal the answer to
that question will determine the future of the re-
publican party in New Mexico. The man or the
newspaper which will encourage the latter course
is the real friend of the republican party. can
didate for governor with the courage and vision OF
Moses is needed to lead the republican party out
of the wilderness