Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-18
STATING THE FACTS ABOUT BURsUM.

1t has been tntmated that the purpose of the
Journal in having something to say about the
nature of the appointments to be made in New
Mexico and concerning the disturbance between
Senator Bursum and Secretary Fall. is to do harm
to Bursum and minimize the good record he
is making in Washington.
Nothing is farther from the truth The record
which Senator Bursum is making in Washington in
procuring cooperation from other senators for the
relief of conditions in the west, is remarkable.
For it Bursum deserves great credit and the Jour
nal intends that he shall have all the benefits Of
his good work, far as this paper is concerned.
1t would be appallingy bad faith for us to con-
tnually demand sincere public service from our
representatives and then to minimize that service
after attempt is made to meet the requirements
Of public sentiment. AS fast the real facts of
Bursums successes in Washington be prop
erly appraised, those facts will be given to the
public. Bursum is entitled to all the advantages
which the facts will give him.
There is no intention the part of this paper
to gush over the senator, to seize upon propa-
ganda sent out for his advantage to sing any edt-
torial anthems in his praise. We believe that he
is making an excellent record and intend to
give him all the advantage of his record.
The effort to keep the between Senator
Bursum and Secretary Fall covered up. is childish
That there is trouble on, acquainted with
the facts, will deny in private. Yet party organs
feel it their duty to conceal the facts Will they
be kind enough to inform us why the public is
not entitled to such information as we get
to what is going on? Why pray tell, must the
people, who presumably the government. not
know about the quarrels of their servants?
President Harding has shown a disposition to
allow his personal friends to dictate appointments
to the exclusion of the time honored system OF
consulting the senator from the state. By this
route Fall is in the saddle in New Mexico as far
as appointments concerned. We do not APP
prove of this-we merely state the fact. Why
should not state the facts?
Senator Willis of Ohio and Senator Lodge of
Massachusetts are on the war-path similar
treatment in their states They may bust the COM
bine" in which event Bursum would probably be
the beneficiary. Hardings present methods are
heading his administration toward the political
rocks. Already eastern papers beginning to
demand less influence from Hardings personal
friends in the cabinet
We are not at all certain that it will help
Bursum's chances in September for Falls "cinch"
to be broken Pledges made before the election last
fall might lead the senator to make some recon-
mendations which would outrage public sentiment
in New Mexico.
While we intend to give Senator Bursum the
benefit of every angle of his good legislative rec
ord, we also intend to give the facts of any bad
record concerning appointments. The people
entitled to make up their minds about how they
wish to vote, with full knowledge of all the
facts. To overstate the good and to conceal the
bad, in a candidates record is the method of par
tisan sheets. They wish to mislead the public. The
journal does not wish.
We may support Bursum in spite of few
bad appointments. If survey of his whole record
leads us to feel that he ought to be returned
to the senate, the Journal will do its share to re-
turn him.
If the other hand, Bursum is to be one
sided public servant, helping the people in the
hut hatra ypu thaTo in Tho r11b-
terranean manipuations of politics. may be
forced to oppose him.
Never have we a who possessed
greater possibilities for good to people than does
Senator Bursum, II he will become hearted
~ the champion of the people. By the same
token he become their greatest menace through
a perversion of his abilities His future is in
his own hands.