The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-09-26

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~ qf business f politics there nc those who Ash and those who cut
bait; There arr also those who at times permit themselves 70 be
There have siways been awe major parties, one a majority the other
. mie'rhy party as public sentiment places one or the ether in charge
eoye,nrnent stands in It's present form.
Chr goyernaeni Is nearer TO the ideal than my other government
IN the Freedom Of shoiee and action Il permits the individual in his
political alignment Thus there may be a many parties as there are
individuals and grsdrs Of individuals who wish 20 form them, nomi-
maize candidates and seek their election TO offices.
A long intervals conditions arise which make policies . caaii
datcsof both the injor political parties unsatisfactory 20 large groups
.f gofess and a genuine independent or third party movement results.
Occasionally state or local conditions are such as TO inspire such a
snevrnsns thai IS sincere in It's motives aud honest in the ends iha,
are sought
The political history Of the states, however, shows that the over
whelmine majority OF so-calIed independent political movements are
inspired By the selfish motives of individuals; that they are employed
as short cuts to office o as a weapon by which . weaker cause seeks
10 beat the stronger one in the struggle for votes, and that the public
welfare is a secondary consideration in these movements, when Il
receives any consideration at all That is the reason why the vast
majority Of independent political movements fade with the passing Of
a single campaign, the vast majority of these movements do not seek
as shorts cuts to office or as weapon by which a weaker cause seeks
20 establish or vindieate a principle, but to put some individual, or
group Of individuals into office
That has been the history Of independent political movements in
New Mexico. One OF two Of these movements of a local character
during the past fifteen years has been dictated by an imperative
pubie need; the necessity for breaking as inefficient or corrupt po-
lficai control The rest have been formed for and used as clubs by
minority =sle
who cut bait and those who permit themselves to be used as bait. The
fishermen have been the. orsanisera, promoters ad dnancisrs Of the
49, ~'---~ N1
voters who have permitted themselves 10 be led into support of the
enterprises of the astute fishermen. Those who have served as bait
have been the sacrifcial candidates..
We have had a vivid illustration of fishermen, baitcuttcrs and
bait in action IN the recent senatorial campaign. Mr. Arthur Selig-
man, the democratic state chairman, Is the most astute of fishermen;
an expert in the employment Of bait cutters and in the use of bait
that Is trade-marked independent = Seeing no prospect for success
for his candidate in a straight division Of the voters along party lines,
he and his associates in the democratic management conceived the idea
OF am independent senatorial candidate who might split the republican
VOTE That there was no popular demand for such a movement; no
principle az stake; no worthy object 10 be served, in no way deferred
these accomplished anglers Using a a groundwork for their effort
the hang over from the campaign of 1920, when a similar plan was
employed, they brought about a convention in Santa Fe in which
Colonel Bronson NJ. Cutting assembled in his newspaper office some
fourteen men who nominated Mr. Apolcnio A. Sena Of Las Vegas as
an independent candidate for senator. MI. Sena was used as the bait
with which to fish for independent" voters.
No effort was made to elect Mr.. Sena 10 the senate. No effort was
made by those behind the scheme to even secure votes for him
Workers in the socalled independent cause said bluntly to voters. il
you don't like one OF our candidates, vote for the other. One is
a democrat, the other Is a republican. We are out TO beat Bursum
There is no law against this kind Of campaigning. So long as two
or more voters can be induced to associate themselves together in the
framework of an independent party, and SO long as anyone can be
found who rs willing 10 serve as bait, this kind Of fishing for votes
can continue. The party management, however, which finds il neces
sary TO resort repeatedly to this particular form OF the political stuffed
club, is bound TO suggest weakness in its cause, doubt Of confdence
ia its candidates and lack OF faith in is principles. The voters who
line up behind this form ~ independent movement are bound TO realize
sooner or later that they have been victimized and used for purely
selfish ends
We have heard il suggested BY democrats the sincerity of whose
partisanship cannot be questioned, that the present management of
the democratic party in New Mexico has become 80 enamoured of
the art Of angling for votes with independent bait as 10 neglect the
interests aud welfare Of the great party IL is supposed TO lead. This
seems 10 he borne out by the fact that under the present democratic
management and methods Of campaign direction. the democratic partv
has suffered a sequence Of increasingly disastrous defeats.
A political party conducting a straightforward fight for It's faith
in IT'S candidates and the principles for which they stand is a much
harder party to beat than one whose management relies for victory
upon subIerfuge and trckery.