Deming graphic., 1921-01-11
LOTS OF VIEWPOINTS

The Santa Fe New Mexican suggest
that there are two viewpoints IN re
gard to the NillistaS pardOnetl 10y GOV
crnor Iarmzolo. There seems 90 h
TWO or more viewpoints, but Their
should boz tut one-the American view
point. tempered hy the American de
sire 10 see justice dome
The New Mexican editor in nSin,
the viewpoint that Governor LARA
zolo acted Justly n setting free MeXi
cans. let u> say 90 be charitable, VIII,
crossed the international boundar,
line ON March .. 1916. and attacked the
town of Columbus in Luna county
this state. and killed number of ou'
citizens without any conceivable cau>,
or provocatiou" lays himself open O.
question boy every American who T.
moved by love of country that must in
oludc the American men and womei
who were So cruelty murdered 10y VIII
followers.
The New Mexican imputpS o. tn
Graphic and los iuuueudu o the lun.
county and other New Mexico citizpu
who support It's views hlOodthirstl
attitude that is entirely miuStificd. !,
says: "One tviowPomD is that the,
are numbering bandits and should b,
hanged or imprisoned for life hecau,,
they took part in the Columbus raid
whether or not they committed muir
der during that raid that the ordinar,
processes of Justice do not apply anJ
that In their eases even the suprem,
court Of the state need not observe thai
impartial attitude which is supposed q,
characterize such tribunal In ordinar.
matters
Either the New Mexican editor ha
NOT fortified himself with the facts 81
the case or he still inclmcs 10 his fir,t
views. expressed In a careless and un
thoughtful way. that might De summe
up in the heading Of his first editoriu
30 we'll When these men wcr,
found guilty. were they given fah
trialf The court records will show
conclusively that they did get such o.
trial They had pleaded guilty to sec
md degree murder in order to escape
the moose that had ended the career.
Of seven Of their coufederateS Thei
presence at Columbus was fully eStah
iished hy their OWE stories and thi
alone, had they done mo- killing. wa.
sufficient 10 convict them Of equal par
ticipation in the murders
But the Villi>tas might have. cal
now. obtain a change Of venue therph
escaping any prejudice that Nigh.
exist against them In Luna count,
But. as matter of fact. tlie prisoner
never were the objects Of hate or ven.
gcncr here. They had been wouAded
ia fact In itself. together with theI
proven presence az Columbus, pointing
to their guilt and they We're given al
the care Dos ihle under the circum
stances they We're left practically m
g9rded. for there was no thirst foi
their blood hy the citizens Of Luna
county who prOhHhlv could have lynch.
Ell them with ease. The prisoner.
were viewed more as strange wild
beasts that had been Suhdued and cag
ed. Their fate Is Of no interest to
Luna county citizens except as it g.,
hound up with the tragic event in
which they participated at Columbus
Neither are they Interested I'm the spec
the New Mexican who seek to cstah.
lish a quite different status for the
raiders than the United States govern
ment the federal court. the stIte su
urpmc court and the people generally
have established hv common consent
and court decisions
Luna county could have had the
NilliStas blood had il cared to have
gone outside the law 10 she'd H. ItI
only want. those guilty W murder at
Columbus punished for their crimes
The fact that wrt Of the raiders got
away and could NOT be- apprchcnded
has nothing &C. do with the punishment
of those who were taken and confessed
% murder Justice Is all that Luna
county asks In dealing with the VII
liStns or other law breakers
An editor who could write the 80.
we'll" editorial which the New
Mexican printed is to phlegnalic and