Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-03-26
TO PROGRESSIVE CITIZENS ONLY.

Greater Albuquerque ticket in the city election One
of these is the danger that the anti-triumvirate
vote will not be gotten to the polls. This danger
will discuss at later date. The other is that
too many people will vote for member of the
triumvirate and two candidates the progressive
ticket.
The net result of such course is likely to re-
suit in the election of the entire triumvrate, If
carried too far For instance suppose ten people
vote and four of them vote for the entire trium-
vrate. OF the remaining six voters, two of them
cut Walton for Council; two cut Well for McLaugh-
lin; and two cut Tingey for Reynolds. Then the
trumvrate will have six votes each and the pro-
gressives four each. Yet six out of ten thought
they voting against the perpetuation of the
trumvirate.
This would not be real danger except for the
solidarity of the triumvirate They have worked
together in the past; they filed together as group
and they ask the voters to elect all or none They
put together an organization to support them as a
whole and put plenty Of money behind the organi-
zation. Every selfish and purchasabe element in
the community will be with them, a group. If
too large contingent of well-intentoned citizens
vote for of this solid bunch through
misguided, but honest belief that it is best, they
will all be elected provided the opposition does not
develop greater solidarity than is shown.
On the other hand the three candidates on the
Greater Albuquerque ticket entered the field as in
dependent candidates and without consultation
with each other Each had strong personal fol-
lowing which urged him to enter. Unless these
three followings can be welded into a solid block
of opposition the entire three might be defeated.
The supporters of Mr. Walton, who think that
one two Of the triumvirate will do, should for
get it. They should support Well and Tingley in
spite OF some small personal preference. In return
Mr. Wells and Mr.. Tingleys friends should support
MIR. Walton. The danger of split vote should be
perfectly apparent Voters should decide now to
support the whole Greater Albuquerque ticket,
they may lose it all and return the triumvirate to
power.
The question involved is greater than the per-
sonal ambitions of any The Journal has
antagonism at all toward Mr.. Cornell and Mr.. Nc
Laughlin personally. Its antagonism toward Mr..
Reynolds is not such that it was unwilling to waive
it in the public interest Two of these men on the
commission, with the triumvirate broken, would
have been great misfortune to the city But
the return of the three to power would be distinct
misfortune. The only way to insure the breaking
of this group is to vote against all of them.
Concerning the private lives and the private
character of these three men, the Journal has moth
ing to say. There is no private stigma that we know
of on two Of them and would leave 1t unnamed If
knew of any. Any for criticism Of the third
is known to the public and will not be repeated by
in this controversy 1t question of the private
character of these
Our objections are numerous In the first place
they represent class and are out of sympathy
and unfamiliar with the vital problems of every
one else. They have not that cosmopolitan view
of the needs of whole community which would
make them representative. A city commission
should be in position where neither inclination nor
obligation. compels it to cater to any class Every
one should be willing to concede an impartial COM
mission. That is the way for to get peace
ably and fairly with each other.
These men run the city business as. they please,
exactly they would run their private business
They have not been representative of public SEN
timent in the past and, If they elected for
four years they will be less responsible in the fu
ture than heretofore.
Their attention has been largely conferred upon
the city's bank balances. This is very important,
but 1t is not all-important A commission should
give close attention to this vital subject but not to
the exclusion of other questions. How to unfetter
ant Importance These men are fossized. How
city and give 1t chance to grow Is of transcend.
to run little town with extreme conservatism,
instead of how to give its citizens chance to
make it city, has been their policy.
Mr.. Hebenstreit working a city plan
when he left the office of city manager. The whole
thing died a-borning. The commission had no vital
interest. The city limits have remained unex-
tended yet city water and fire protection are fur
in to the city and share the cost OF city mainte-
nance. Yet these commissioners are put on a Pc
destal as excellent business men," In the mean
time we handicapped with federal census
figure Of 10000 when it ought be $4,000 in order
to fairly represent us. This hurts Albuquerque in
d hundred ways.
Except in limited sections of the city we are
town of sand and dirt while cities which are our
competitors have beautiful lawns and flowers We
greater desirablty and attractiveness Water rates
and the water supply restrict, instead of encour-
age, our progressive people. II is time for the
city government to be brought abreast of the other
progressive elements Of our community
The Journal fails to see how those who are
ready to spend time and effort in city building can
believe that it is the part Of wisdom to re-elect
the triumvirate.
City needs should prompt progressive citizens
to support the entire Greater Albuquerque ticket
regardless of trivial personal inclinatons.