New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-08-26
HANNA'S ULTIMATUM COVERS
DEMOCRATIC CHANCES FOR A
VICTORY WITH GLOOM CLOUD
(By Guthrie SMITH

(By Outhrie smith,
Democrats of New Mexico have all
but defaulted the senatorial election
that will be held September 20 in
connection with the election to vote
on II proposed amendments to the
state constitution.
After two days OF laborious work,
with the single task of naming a
candidate for United States senator,
the best the convention could do was
to secure a conditional candidate. the
situation is without a parallel in the
history of Democratic conventions.
Failure to find a candidate neces-
STATED an executive session, with all
visitors and representatives of the
press excluded. Sessions of a demo-
cratic convention held behind closed
doors do not sugar well for the sue
cess OF Democracy, that so often ex-
presses an abiding belief in open
covenants, openly arrived at"
Some Delegates Go Home
Before the final action was taken
a large number of the delegates had
left for home. 1t is said upon re-
liable authority that in the afternoon,
before the final action of the night
session, a substantial part of the
Bernalillo county and Pecos valley
delegates favored letting the reso-
lutions stand and adjourning without
naming a candidate.
Conditional Candidate
Judge X. Harry Hanna, OF Albu-
querque, is the provisional or condi-
tional candidate. That is to say, he
agreed to let his name go on the Of
fetal ballot, which, under the law.
had to be certified to the secretary
OF state not later than Saturday. Au-
gust 20. The law provides that the
nominee Of the convention must be
certified to the secretary OF state at
least 30 days prior to the dateof cleo
ton.
The official ballots, under New
will be printed whit he names of
Mexico's Australian ballot system,
Holm O. Bursum, Republican nomi-
nee. and K. Harry Hanna, Democratic
nominee-provided, of course, that
Hanna decides the conditions he inn
posed have been complied with, and
he therefore consents to make the
race.
Democratic workers and anti-Re-
publican papers made frequent mem
ton of an independent movement that
was described as crystalizing with
great swiftness.
The crystalizing process was some
what delayed, and now the move-
ment cannot be launched because the
time is passed for certifying the in
dependent candidate so that his name
might be printed on the official bal
lot.
Hanna's Ultimatum
Hanna's conditions of acceptance are
that the Democrats prove they are
n earnest about the campaign; that
the fence riders come off-the fence;
that the Democrats be joined by Ger
tain groups" and hat an adequate
campaign fund be subscribed, of
$4,000 to $4,000. Under the terms
of the agreement, this AMOUNT of
money must be not merely subscrib-
ed-on paper-but must actually be
in the hands of the state committee.
The money may be subscribed,
but not until after Hercules eff
forts have been made. II there
had been sufficient funds in the
Democratic treasury, il is likely
there would nave been an inde-
pendent movement of some kind
launched. Arthur Seligman, state
chairman, has shown in several
campaigns in which he has been
the field marshal, hat he be-
E-.~. = al. .-u, II Nu
to disorgsnize the enemy's forces,
rather than of uniting his own
forces. His strategy was partly
successful in 1916, but failed in
1918 and again in 1920.
Hanna's fankness has not tended
TO improve the situation from a Dem
ocratic viewpoint. Even though the
campaign fund be raised he has al
ready cast a serious cloud upon the
possibility OF scoring a victory. And
il the fund should not be collected,
it would be too much to ask some
other man to serve as the burnt
offering, after Hanna himself has
pronounced the case hopeless.
Bursum's $4,000 Fund
The Democratic provisional candi-
date declared he had it upon reli-
able authority that Senator Holm O.
Bursum. the Republican nominee, had
brought TO New Mexico the sum Of
that had been furnished by
the Republican national committee for
use in the campaign. Told OF Han
mas statement, and asked about such
a fund, Bursum replied: I wish he
could prove it true. We would be
glad TO divide the fund with him"
Hanna's speech Of acceptance
showed him to be running true to his
old form. In the first state CAM
paign. in 1911, he was a candidate
for supreme court Justice. and toured
the state %denouncing Bursum. 9th
er candidates for the supreme court
were keeping off the stump. Since
time. whether off the ticket or
not. Hanna has tried TO win all the
elections through the sole ex-
of denouncing Bursum.
Nominated by the Democrats for
the office of governor. at the Las
convention last year. Hanna
devoted the principal part of his ac-
-eptance speech to Bursum.