Albuquerque Morning Journal

IS BURKHART TRYING
TO HAVE INFANTRY
REMOVED ELSEWHERE?

(Special Correspondence to The Journal.)

Deming, N. M., April 19.-It is rumored that the present trip of United States District Attorney Burkhart to Washington is partly to secure the removal of the colored Twenty-fourth infantry from Columbus to some other locality, probably out of New Mexico. The recent federal grand jury, on the ground that the regiment had caused much smuggling of narcotics and whiskey from over the line, suggested to the war department that the troops be shifted. The democrats of Luna county are reported to be quite anxious to be relieved of the presence of soldiers that are alleged to be entitled to vote in the November election, because many of them have established residence within the state.

Of course if such voters are a source of danger to a local ticket they are dangerous in the election for state officers and mayhap might affect the general New Mexico electoral vote for president.

There has been more than a normal amount of crime in and around Columbus for some time and justification for complaint exists. But, even in Luna county politicians did not start this ball rolling, there are candidates here who are not uttering any protests against the shifting of soldiers, who are free spenders in the civil town of Columbus: and some men may be joyous if Secretary Baker finds that the prospective voters are needed elsewhere.