The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-05-03
HE COUNTY COMMISSION

n Is noted with interest in today's issue Of
the chronicle Of our wen know local prophet
4 aud martyr that FOR many months the Jour
has been highly displcased by the conduct
I office of two Of the county commissioner
This displeasurc on the part of Mr.. Magec
Is been admirably concealed. II appears to
i've been treasured somewhere in ms Inner
Dst soul whercon the light of "pitiless pub
lily no longer plays as once it did IN reveal
g the original fount of ''civic righteousness
Nevertheless. the journal 5 apology for the
resent board of county commissioners, while
Hated is welcome. We are glad 10 see ouf
{ading champion Of reform fall in behind
BE- Herald in the demand that something bee
pne 10 put the government of Bccnalilo
unity back on a business basis.
The effort Of the Journal 20 get out from
lder its responsibility for the part 1t played
the election Of the present county board Is
ghly amusing. Gutierrez and sanchez were
! ndidates in 1920 ON what was, in effect, the
mocratic ticket. They were put on Shat
,kct as Independent republicans because
icy were believed 10 have a following OF
3ters and because il was expected that they
3uld help carry this county for Hanna and
e democratic ticket. They demonstrated
lat thry did have a voting following and
eir influence in carrying the county for
anua and the democratic ticket was far more
tent than that Of the journal. as the de-
He'd vote Of the county in that election
ainly shows.
While the journal did not champion the
ection of these two men, by name. IT urged
INSTANTLY and violently support for the dem
ratio ticket and acquicscrd without a murmur
the Inclusion If these two men on that ticket
ld in the championship which IT received.
The effort 10 orphan the two commissioner
ludicrous. THEM political parenthood is os-
blished beyond doubt. They are the polti-
creations Of Mr.. Magec and his aSso"iatcs
4 the 1920 election. His final determination
4 repudiatc them is interesting. Il may prove
flpful,
All this. however, is secondary 10 the real
1nsideration that is brought before ms as re
brds county affairs by the present situation
the board Of commissioner. The use of
e nominations for county commissioners in
e 1890 election as a partisan political lever
get votes for a state ticket was in no way
busual. II has been p~raetised by democrats
B ii republicans alike for many years. Most
the Illusions and reform movements in
is county have been inspired mainly by a
ESire TO- all one party or another To get con
Fol Of the state government. and the desire
achieve business government and indepen-
mt, nou-partisan government IN the county
y been secondary, when not wholly lacting.
The time has come FOR a change. II is time
at the people Of the county, and particularly
e people Of Albuquerque, should demand a
ally sincere effort 10 make partisan politics
ke second place in the county government
d 10 put business government of county af-
irs Ia the front. Albuquerque, paying sew
~ per cent Of the taxes. and with seventy
pr cent of the population, has never had but
e commissioner ON the board. The country
Fccincts have had the majority purely on the
isis Of partisan political considerations.
II does not matter particularly whether
mmisa4sHers come from within the city
nits or not. II does matter Tremendously that
cy should be- business men, or men equipped
conduct the county business on a business
isis.
II is time 10 think this thing over with care.
mother county election Is not far distant
we wish TO do 50 we can take steps this year
end, for two years AT least. this use Of the
UNITY commission as n political lever, as II
rs used in the 1920 election by Magee and his
|%sociates in support of the dcmoci aiio state
cket.
Once we have had n little experience with
Il bipartisan county government, we are moi
kelly 10 return to the old school.
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