Albuquerque morning journal., 1921-12-29
PROTECTING IMPROPER CONDUCT,

The Jurnal wishes to be as sweet-spirited as
Justice to the people will permit to be. The role
Of conoclast possesses many very dsagreeable
features To anger and to inst them with
deadly hate is distasteful to us. We much prefer
friends instead Of enemies.
None the less the newspaper fails in its duty to
the public if 1T allows awessness, vice. corruption,
favoritsm to flourish unchallenged I. w. WIS
and bolshevlk are made by the Determinations in
laws and their administrator The strain of
irritation is too great for human nature and men
find themselves in the mental attitude of being at
with a society which will tolerate injustice and
discrimination. 1t may be necessary to punsh the
man who makes overt against the existing order
but Furnishing the victim will not the ailment.
The way out is for to reform our methods
til favoritism and discrimination under law no
longer possible. A democracy can know no favorites
of the gods. A few not be permitted special
privileges and special immunities, whereby they
grow rich and enjoy improper protection, while
many are forced into distress and find themselves
without adequate and just opportunity for them
selves and their children.
No correct these evils but the people
themselves. The people cannot accomplish
rection unless they know the facts and public sent
ment is crystallyzed in favor of equitable
dtons The public cannot know unless the news
papers will tell them. Without honest and fearless
newspap pers there is little hope for happy and
contented people.
For newspaper to attack these conditions means
unhappy hours for it's hapless publisher. He is
hated lied about conspired against and his desruc-
tion sought by the few whose special privileges and
immunities thus endangered. In sense of
duty done he finds his only comfort.
The friendship and support of the people alona
will make it possible for him to carry on. Those
who believe in honesty and justice in government
must become subscribers to his paper. His adver-
tsers must be paronzed by those who believe in a.
fight for decency. The advertiser must be made to
feel that it pays to advertise otherwise the effort
of the powerful to curtail his advertising effort
to drive him out of business will be successful
This is said by way of caution to the public and
not by way of complaint. The people do support
the Journal in it's efforts. Two thousand more sub
scrlbers receive the Journal than when the present
management took 1t In spite of a bad year
in the financial world. advertising this year has
largely exceeded that Of last year. If the people
will be Thoughtful enough subscribe and to patron
ize advertisers will be kept strong enough to
make your fight.
No state in the union has suffered and Is suffer-
ing so acutely from politics financial combination
New Mexico The present management of the
Journal found condition in the state where pull
instead of justice more often determined the course
Of legislation and the administration of the laws.
The rich procured mmunties and special privileges
whereby to grow rcher In return they furnished
the FUNDS to keep poltlclanS IN power through
ruption. The politicians in turn, dealt out mmun-
ity from arrest or punishment for friends and rail
roaded" their enemies. Through the control Of the
avenue OF publicity, public opinion kept quies-
cent. This Is not an over-statement.
That a self-respectng editor could be silent
under such conditions is unthinkable. He can be
annihilated and maintain that sef-respect, but he
can not be silent without craven cowardice.
A. few of these evils are on the way toward
cure, under the while light of publicity, but the
system" is only shaken, 1t is not destroyed. Today
a state treasurer and state auditor are being pro-
tected from investigation and punishment by gov
ernor who refuses to call special session of the
legislature. Irregularities at the insane asylum are
being hushed up although the rumors that
scandalous and criminal conduct has been unearth-
ed. Many departments of the state government
are reeking with wretched incompetency or worse
while the governor appears inert In the hands OF
the politicians
Can the wealth and the political power of men
protect them from answering before the bar of
Justice?
The Journal breads the hfe-and death struggle
which looms just ahead. We hope to Withstand the
strain to which we will be subjected We are fully
determined to do our share to redeem New Mexico
or be destroyed in the attempt The support OF the
rank and file of the people is our only defense
With it, better days are just ahead for the people
of New Mexico