Deming graphic., 1921-01-11
TWO VIEWPOINTS

There appears 10 be- two viewpoints
'gnrding the NilliStnS parduncd by
Governor G.arrazolo. one is that they
re- numbering bandits and should be-
anged or imprisoned for life because
hey took part In the Columbus raid.
whether or not they committed murder
Turing that raid; that the ordinary
processes Of Justice do not apply and
hat In their case even the supreme
curt ~ the state need not observe that
IMPARTIAL attitude which is supposed to
haracteriZe such a tribunal in Ordin-
ry matters. We cite the courts action
n passing upon question Of law IN
heir ease. In going outside the record
% dcnounce Villa as notorious band
r. and the NillistnS as bandits" The
Inference Is easily seen when one tries
imagine. for instance. the action OF
he court IN the case, let Ms say. OF
lohn Jones. who alleges he was arres-
od IN an Illegal manner II Il should
ulc that Jones was not properly serv-
u and add that he was a well-known
vife-heater the bar would' experience
mild surprise, Of course
Ms statement, of SUNRISE Of this kind
lie likewise proceeds with voluminuus
ietail to prove what everyone knows
hat Pancho villa was head Of an or.
anized revolutionary army under a
royiSiunal government and thus as
guch an organized military force" as
YER devastated hapleSs Mexico. Per
onally we regard villa as notorious
lJnliL' We may say this with Inn
unity and propriety \ notorious
laudit charge of q regularly organ
zed military force as cOmmandcr-in-
hief of good many bandits and per
laps a good many MeNicanS who were
not professional bandits but were re-.
ruited and disciulined hy force and
he frequent Use Of ,he death penalty
Similarly we might regard John
Tones as wife beatcr and could say SO
( willing 10 back il up. Stiil. IL Is
recognized fact that the supreme
ourt could not say 50 unless Il were
lassing ou a wife-beating charge.
The popular view based on right.
Gus Indignation over the atrocious
murders nt Columbus, IS. as stated
hat these men should be- hanged or
turned I'm for preferably hanged
and that n trial Is not for the pur.
pose of giving them a chance to prove
their Innocence but 10 convict them
With expedition and dispatch. This
'dea. as voiced by such papers as the
Dcming Graphic rather ubusiycly and
violently. is quite mtolerant of auy
-uggcstion that the Nlllistas should
have % fair trial. II thirsts for their
blood.
~ we s1id before. in view ~ the
crime 40 Columbus, this Is not surpris-
ing: not surprising in view of nll that
have suffered in Mexico
and on the border The Utterances Of
The court which the governor alleges |
lend o. doom and sentence the pris- /
lnerS before their trial probably re-
fleet the popular temper In New Mex
leo.
This. Of course. is not 10 be constru- |
ad as saving that the court is adyocat- /
ing suspension Of legal safeguards /
lr would deliberately impair the course |
n justice; hut the fact remains that il |
felt at liberty 10 volunber preiudicial |
allegations which il doubtless would
not think Of doing in ordinary cases
We are merely presenting a situation
here which will interest those who
claim that abstract Justice must be mo-
respector Of popular clamor-Santa Fe
New Mexican.