The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-04-24
EXPOSURE
STARTED BY
g. 6. MAGEE
New Mexico Editor Response
BILE for Revelation of Fall
Activities.
BY C. A. RANDALL

M OW that Albert B. Fall has
IN been thoroughly discredited it
III is difficult for most people to
remember that a short six months
ago the former Cabinet member was
still one of the Nations most power
full politicians.
But out in Falls home State New
Mexico, the people marvel at the fact
that Falls political empire has
crashed. New Mexico citizens recall
the long years of Falls domination.
They find it difficult to get used to
the fact that it is no longer lese
majesty to express ones opinion of
"AlkaI Az and his gang.
AS they gradually grow accustomed
to Fall, the fallen, they think back
over the cause of the mighty tumble
In most parts of the United States,
credit for Falls exposure is given to
Senator Walsh and his Senate COM
mittee. Not so in New Mexico. There
the credit is given to the editor Of
the States newest and most famous
newspaper.
The editor is Carl c. Magee. The
paper is the New Mexico State Trib-
une, an afternoon daily published in
Albuquerque.
Gift Exposed
1t was Magee who first brought
to public attention the fact that Fail,
soon after making the naval oil leases,
became possessed of great wealth,
and that he used this new found
money in making country estate
of what had been an ordinary ranch.
The dramatic story of Magee's part
in busting the crooked political ma
chine dominated by Fall is told in
Worlds Work for May, In an article
by William G. Shepherd.
Shepherd recounts the many en-
counters Magee has had with the New
Mexican courts during the past three
years, OF his struggles against gang
controlled bankers, of his reliance
upon the public for financial support, |
and of his eventual success in estab- !
fishing a really independent news |
paper.
Magee, formerly a Tulsa, Oklahoma, |
lawyer. moved to Albuquerque in 1919
because of his wife's health. There
being no opportunity for a lawyer. he (
INDUCED his long suppressed desire I
to run a paper. He bought Falls
Albuquerque paper, which had been /
purchased by Falls gang to insure
the 1918 senatorial election.
Things Happen
In financing the paper. Magee Dor
rowed heavily. Fall told the new
owner the inside story Of New Mex
ico's crooked politics. Magee, instead /
of playing along with the gang as he /
had been expected to do. began at /
lacking the crooked officials.
Then things began to happen. As
Magee tells it:
The first signal I got Of trouble,
my first real thrill out Of telling the
truth. came from Fail himself. He
stamped into my office one day and,
Shaping one of my editorials with his
cane. said to me:
You lay off thisi You lay off tnis!' "
Magee didn't lay off. He. went
after the gang harder than evef.
He increased his circulation. But
his notes were hanging over his head. |
and the bankers, at Falls dictation, |
called the loans. Twice Magee ap-
pealed to the public for support and
twice the public responded by buying
his bonds Then came the hard times
of 1922. Magee needed more money
and he needed funds to pay interest
on the bonds his supporters had pur-
chased.
Sell Paper
He couldn't make the grade. He
sold his paper TO the bankers. He
paid off his debts. The gang" thought
they were through with the trouble
maker.
Magee surprised them. He started
new weekly paper with his small
capital. He kept on telling the truth.
and soon found enough readers to en-
able him to change his weekly into
a daily on which the banks had no
loans.
That paper is one Of the bright spots
in American journalism. 1t has
cleaned up one of the most dishonest
political nests in American States. 1t
was accomplished simply by telling |
the truth and telling it hard and re-
peatedly.