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éajjk 1 voi,. i. no. n. SILVER CITY, N. 3L, WEDNESDAY, .1ANTAUY 2, 1895. PRICE 5 CENTS CATJiON INTERVIEWED. New Mexico's Delegate Gives Elkins a Character. Catron Talked Freely to a Went Virginia Newspaper Alan While lie Was Kant Keeently. Hon. Thomas P.. Catron, delegate elect from New Mexico, the leading at- torney of the territory and foi nierly at torney general and United States dis trict attorney, was in this city this week, lleing asked by a reporter ahout the election in New Mexico, he replied that it was "carried hy the republicana, and that his majority was 2Ó00." And added that he was the first republican delégate elected in eight years." living asked what was the prospect for the admission of New Mexico as a state, Mr. Catron said: "This brought ine east, and I am glad to tind the prospects so good. Ido not think there is any doubt about the passage of the bill. New Mexico is clearly entitled to admis- to the time he moved to West Virginia, one of the ablest lawyers in the west. He also practiced law in Washington after going out of congress, both before the supreme court of the United States and in the departments. Mr. Elkins was president of the first national bank of Santa Fe for thirteen years, during which time it enjoyed un exampled prosperity and success. It was then one of the most successful banks in the west." "What official position did Mr. Elkins hold while lie resided in New Mexico?" "lie was a member of the legislature, district attorney, attorney ( gen eral, United States district attorney under President Johnson and Grant, and was twice elected to congress, the last time while he was in Europe, and in the his face of declination to be a candidate. In all these positions Mr.Elkins acquitted himself with ability and honor. I think it may be fairly said that Mr. Elkins, during the time he lived in New Mexico, was the most popular man in the terri tory, lie was esteemed, respected and admired by members of his profession, It should have been admited and the people in general. lie was an sum. twenty years ago when Mr. Elkins was flu delegate. He made the most able ami exhaustive speech on the subject that has ever been made, and carried the measure though both .the house and the senate by two-thirds vote, but the bill received au amendment in the senate, there was no time to take it from exemplary citizen, public spirited ami exerted a wide influence in public affairs. When he was made secretary of war by President Harrison, there was rejoicing all over New Mexico at his promotion. The leading business men of Santa Fe, without distinction of party, the board of trade, chamber of commerce, all the the speaker's table in the house, and the I federal and territorial officers joined in measure was lost." "liy the way," the reponer asked, "since you have mentioned Mr. Elkins' name, how long have you known him? I see he is now a candidate for a seat in the United States senate from West Vir ginia. Tell me some thing about his life in the west, his standing as a laywer, citizen and business man out there." Mr. Ca; ron replied: I have know Mr. Elkins intimately for more than thirty years. We graduated in the same class ! at the Missouri university. In college Mr. Elkins was studious, and a hard worker, popular w ith the professors and students; though the youngest man in the class, he took the highest standing, lie began life without anything but his education and profession. 1 luring his residence in New Mexico I was intimate ly associated with him. Mr. Elkins en joyed the largest practice of any lawyer in the territory, and was considered, up u hearty telegram to him of congratula tion. After his marriage to Miss Davis, now nearly twenty years ago, he always claimed West Virginia as his home. He begun his investments in West Virginia in 1879, and has never voted elsewhere." "I notice in connection with his can didacy that some of the opposition papers are attacking him and making some insinúa: tons or charges against ! him during his slay in New Mexico, es pecially in connection with Mexican land grants and the star route cases." Mr. Catron replied: "Yes, I have seen some of these statements. They were also made in a vague and general way about the time he was appointed secre tary of war. Mr. Elkins, however, never took anv notice ot them. Mr. Elkins nobody believed them, nor do they now." The reporter asked : "Do you know anything about these insinuations or charges against Mr. Elkins, and if there is any foundation for them?" Mr. Catron replied with some empha sis: "I know there is no truth in then! and no foundation for them whatever. I will state further, and every member of the bar and every good citizen of the ter ritory who lived there then will bear me out in saying that during the time of his residence in New Mexico, Mr. Elkins was never guilty of any wrong doing, ir regularity or impropriety in the practice of his profession or in private life, and no reputable person will be found to say that he did. It is so easy to make vague and general charges against public men, and especially men of positive convic tions like Mr. Elkins, about matters claimed to have occurred more than twenty years ago,atul 2000 miles away. I have often thought that Mr. Elkins should make some denial of these insinuations, but he said he had no answer for mere generalities." Mr. Catron further replied "that there is no foundation for the charge about star route matters. During the time Mr. Elkins resided in Washington, after his second term of congress, he practiced law for two years, and while doing so he became the attorney for a number of estéril corporations and people, among them mail contractors and corporations engaged in transporting the mails, and as attorney, argued their cases before the department, ami, when it was necessary, in the courts, but he never had any in terest directly or indirectly in any con tract fr carrying the mails; he simply discharged the duties of attorney in con nection with the interests of his clients, as any other attorney would have done, and nothing more, and neither the post master general nor the attorney general, nor any oth-r official of ihe government, ever claimed that he was even in any way guilty of any irregularity in connec tion with the star route matters, or Mexican land grants." The reporter asked : "How about the Mexican land grants?" "I am very glad you ask thisipiestion, as I am able to set this matter at rest. Mr. Elkins, during his residence in New was confirmed by the.-cnate immediately Mexico, purchased a number of Mexican and without objection. Had there been land grants, but m no instance did lie do any foundation for the,c charges, this so except where there was a good title, would have been impossible. Indeed, and where the grant had been con-