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Show LEADING 558 FACTS 1880 TO 1912 HISTORY MEXICAN OF NEW the Philippine Islands and during the period intervening between Hagerman Governor of on resignati the of ce acceptan the of time and his return to the United States, James Wallace Raynolds, the secretary of the territory, performed the duties of the office of governor. The bitterness of spirit and the feelings His closest adviser and counsel during his administration was William C. Reid whom the governor had called to the attorney generalship in the first days of his incumbency. Mr. Reid’s well known integrity, ability as a lawyer, and reputation as a citizen are a sufficient answer to the charges made by the assistant attorney general, afterward associate justice, Alvord W. Cooley, that the opinion given by him to Governor Hagerman deserved to be characterized as an “‘absurdity.’’ 4°° Only a reference to this report and quotations by entertained Governor ‘Hagerman growing out of his retirement from office are reflected in a letter afterward written by him to the president.™ 468 ‘¢ATburquerque, N. M., May 15, 1907. ‘¢To the President: Washington, D. C. a I have fo acknowledge receipt of your letter of May Me President: : have been previously informed that the matter of my removal, through si you by was Mexico, New of form of resignation, from the governorship discussio! sidered as a ‘closed incident,’ and could not admit of any further Your letter appears inconsistent with this bee or consideration whatever. dco both be would it It is at once a challenge and an invitation which and cowardly a to decline, though it offers the unpleasant alternative of a troversy with you, or submission to the impeachment of my integrity at y hands without an effort to defend myself. that a ‘As a preface to what I must say, it should be stated that I regret ae i os eee the convey not did you, to telegram to Mr. Pinchot, when shown hoped to convey. I did not intend myself to express moval would be a calamity, as you seem to think I did. the opinion t : eee It should ae wane that I do not expect any revision or change by you in your action in dem Te As far as I am concerned all question a and accepting my resignation. governorship is a thing of the past. I cannot rest quietly and aes ‘f you a You would not : a under the stigma which you would put upon me. 7 I have the right, however, to expect and ask 0 ia were in my place. | Bene public make you that justice and fairness matter of common of the fact, when convinced of it—and that you will be convinced doubt if you take the time to give the matter as I present 7 nae it, a calm an 5 to the examination— that I have been unjustly treated, and that my ae oo was Pennsylvania Development Company deeds for which I was removed by you, commendable and not blameworthy. ‘eply to your ‘Due regard to your exalted station forbids that I should rep Pen if be i letter in language which would be justifiable under the provoceipnul you were not President of the United States, but I am not perm! : myself. sense of propriety to forget what is due to your great office as well a "| because I hope, however, that my reply will not be considered the less forcelv of the absence of harsh language. hose ‘“ At least four newspapers in the Territory controlled b y Mr. Bursum, whos removal by me as superintendent of the penitentiary you also approved, 70m ause 0 the time of my removal persistently asserted that I was remove oo d that the refusal to be subservient to Mr. Bursum and his political machine, od nientpublic pre Pennsylvania Development Company transaction was merely a Con bei text. You have minimized, if you have not utterly destroyed, @ a sentiment in the Territory in favor of an honest administration ie ablic af affairs fairs. In the opinion of many of the best men of New Mexico pers is seriin the Territory have reached such a crisis that its material ee eanaeel an ously threatened, and therefore, at some sacrifice of personal ee and an pride, I appeal to you to leave out of consideration my persona ful consider mistakes you may think I have made, and to give grave and reer these people ation to political conditions in New Mexico from the standpoint 0 f their (and who have loyally supported me in my efforts for the realization 0 559 used by President Roosevelt have been available but the language quoted is alone sufficient to condemn it and arouse suspicion, in the light of subsequent events, that some motive not disclosed was a controlling cause in the selection of the language employed in passing judgment upon the conclusions of a fellow member of the profession. Mr. Cooley was shortly afterward appointed an associate justice of the supreme court of New Mexico, to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of the term of office of Associate Justice Edward e own) ideals of good government. As a republican, I cannot but feel that 6 future of my party in what is to be a great state of this Union, is at stake, and that I would fail of party loyalty as well as in the duties of good citizenmp, unless I did everything possible to impress upon you these conditions. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, ‘*H. J. HAGERMAN.’’ : See te ) William C. Reid was born in the state of Indiana, December 16, 1868. He received his early education in the schools of his native state. He read law The following year he came to admitted to the bar, in Ohio, in 1894. . and, locating in Las Vegas, was employed as business manager of .. ptic, a newspaper ie Cwspaper city. in that upon he entered In of law. with of one year After a service the practice 1896-7 ‘the served Clerk of the house of representatives of the 33rd legislative assembly. appointed . thas eptember, 1904. d In “nes Roswell, assistant and United States attorney, which position this as chief In 1901 he resigned Prior to tendering his resignation he had taken up his resibecame a partner in 'the firm of Richardson, Reid and The large practice enjoyed by this firm made it necessary for him to This firm 1S connection with the office of the United States attorney. retained by the elder Hagerman in all his business in the Pecos Valley and et th ‘ough this connection Mr. Reid became acquainted with Governor Hagerman. June, 1898, responding to the call of his country, he organized a company i. eo. 48 Vegas, which afterward became Company F of the Ist Ter. Inf., which He ns mustered for the Spanish-American war, but never saw active service. _ moned captain of this company by Governor Otero. oo 1906, he was appointed attorney general of the territory by Govgee . He 1. J. Hagerman, a position which he filled with credit and ability. isc a . va with the Hagerman administration and resumed the practice of law, being member of the firm of Reid and Hervey. ‘tae or the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railway He is an assistant attorCompany in New Mexico, Ymg charge of the trial of causes in the courts of southeastern New Mexico. |