Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-08-26
SENSIBLE TACTICS.

The inevitable tendency of politics is toward I'M
worthy methods. Men who are clean in their per-
sona and business lives, will resort to methods in
politics of which they should be heartily ashamed.
Good men and women often refuse to have anything
to do with politics because of the filth Thereby
they leave politics to those whose ideals are lower.
1t Is a truism to say that our good men and women
should take a hand in forcing higher standards.
Politicians then, left to themselves, tend toward
rather low methods. The restraining influence is
public sentiment They will be clean public
opinion demands In states where public sentiment
is alert and public ideals most highly developed,
political methods the cleanest With no other
factor introduced into the situation the politicians
are compelled to cater to popular opinion in order
to stay in power.
Real systematic corruption in politics has It's
origin where there is league between crooked
politics and crooked big business. This big business
desiring to control the situation to its profit, puts
up the money for politicians to corrupt and control
popular opinion In return for funds with which
to corruptly control the situation, improper fayors
are granted to these big business influences. News
papers are owned and other avenues of publicity
are cooked-up to bring about the desired results.
New Mexico has suffered for twenty years from
this kind of league. 1t has crossed party lines and
improperly influenced both organizations Big bust
ness knows party in seeking to accomplish Its
will There is element in the democratic party.
as there is in the republican party, which does its
bidding That it has been dominant in the
republican party has been due to the supremacy and
solidarity of that party, 1t will attach itself where
II can attain its ends.
The Journals assaults upon the Fall-Hawkins-
sully combine have not been due to personal spleen
1t has been because they have been the instruments
through which this unholy alliance has been main
tanned. Our effort has been to break up such an
arrangement by arousing popular opinion to point
where it will be fatal to the politicians to maintain
such relations
The public sentiment of New Mexico is doing It's
work. Big business was not in the republican con-
vention at Santa Fe. Senator Bursum's attitude had
offended these and they against him.
They against him
No matter what Bursums political methods may
have been during the period of this combination,
with these gentlemen against him now, he must
depend upon appeal to popular favor for his cleo
tion. This will leave him without obligations to
special few.
For months the Journal has sought to drive
wedge between the politicians and the special in
terests by making the special interests unpopular
and by belaboring the politicians until they would
desert these interests and go to the people.
Whether not the Journal has been party to
the breach, the fact remains that this menacng
bination is breaking up 1t is not entirely broken
up yet but its solid front is broken. The people
will help all it
To insist upon new leadership which has not
been party to these freedom destroying transac-
tons in the past would be altogether too ideastic
to be Of practical value. 1t would involve attempt
to BREAK" personally individuals who strongly
intrenched. 1t would delay reform in New Mexico
for several years The Journal is devoid of desire
to destroy any individual. 1t merely wants reform.
If these individuals that the public will
endure the old order Of things longer and they
are ready to rely upon popular favor and public
service for their the end desired by all of
US will be promoted If they encouraged to believe
that the method can win. To aid in encom-
passing the defeat of the who attempts to show
that elections be carried without the help OF
the special interests is to throw politicians back into
the arms Of big business.
The Journal regards it as its duty to the publie
to come to the aid Of candidates who break with
these interests, thereby encouraging the break.
In this spirit we came to the aid of Senator Bur-
sum. We will stay with him long he occupies
his present position this question, this year or
any other year. We strongly feeF that the decent
and independent voter should occupy this position
We firmly believe that the election of Senator Bur-
sum will go far toward destroying the political hold
Of the special interests in New Mexico.