Today in New Mexico History--January 14, 1912--William C McDonald becomes the First Governor of the State of New Mexico

Embark on a time-traveling adventure with us as we commemorate New Mexico's inaugural governor, William C. MacDonald, a man whose triumph in office reshaped a state's destiny. Through this episode, you'll witness MacDonald's remarkable evolution from a Kansas clerk to a visionary leader, his strong advocacy for education, and the establishment of a legacy that reverberates through New Mexico's corridors of learning to this very day.

Tune in for a historical journey as we recount Governor MacDonald's earnest efforts in the territorial legislature, his battle against misconceptions of a wild New Mexico, and his pivotal inaugural address that set the stage for progress and connectivity across this enchanting state. Learn about the impactful legislation MacDonald championed, how it laid down the roads to future prosperity, and the enduring influence of a school fund that continues to underpin New Mexico’s education system. Join me, your guide through the annals of time, as we honor a leader whose service extended beyond his tenure, shaping the narrative of a state that proudly bears the fruits of his labors.

• Born in NY, moved to White Oaks, NM from Kansas in 1880, later recalling ““I did not see a single revolver in sight, that peace and prosperity were visible everywhere…”
• Elected first Governor Nov 7 1911, defeating future Senator Holm O Bursum, inaugurated Jan 14, speech Jan 15
• Democrat, won with a plurality of 3,000 votes, worked with Republican legislature.
• Became a mineral surveyor after a year as a clerk. Helped tutor local boys, including Morris B Parker, who needed a semester of school
• Passed “Pauline School Bill” in1891, establishing public schools throughout state.
• As Governor, he created several highways to rural areas, pushed irrigation and education
• Reserve fund for Districts who couldn't operate for more than five months.
• 1910 Chair of Democratic Territorial Committee
• Required Civic education and education on effects of alcohol and narcotics 
• Defeated 1917 by plurality of 856 votes, but continued to serve helping War Boards until death in 1918 of Bright’s disease in El Paso.
• Education: All children 7-14 receive at least 7 months of education. “A fair public school education is due every child and is of the utmost importance not only to the individual but to the welfare of the state.”
• Creation of the Permanent School Fund, with 5% of sales benefiting schools (two parcels out of 36 in every township are so delegated) 

 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:08):
Bienvenidos.
This is Today in New MexicoHistory a project of the
Enchanted Chronicles.
Today is January 14th.
Back in 1912, when New Mexicofirst became a state, on January
6th, there was a long list ofthings to do, beginning with the
inauguration of our firstgovernor.
William C MacDonald haddefeated future Senator Holm

(00:31):
Bursam back on November 7th 1911, knowing that he would have to
wait to take office for wellstatehood.
He was inaugurated finally onJanuary 14th, but would not
deliver his inaugural addressuntil January 15th.
He had won with a plurality of3,000 votes.

(00:54):
After having moved to New Mexico, from Kansas, to the town of
White Oaks, he became a clerkand later a mineral surveyor,
and he had helped to tutor localboys, including one, morris B
Parker, who recalled that he hadtutored him in geometry for a

(01:15):
semester in order to qualify himfor admittance into a school in
New York.
As a member of the territoriallegislature, macdonald had
pushed for the Pauline SchoolBill in 1891, which had
established public schoolsthroughout the state.
He also pushed back against theperception of New Mexico as a

(01:36):
wild and lawless frontier,recalling of his time in White
Oaks in one letter.
I did not see a single revolverin sight.
The peace and prosperity werevisible everywhere.
By 1910, he was the chair of theDemocratic Territorial
Committee as governor, in hisinaugural address he spoke to

(02:00):
the importance of internalimprovements, including
irrigation and education, sayinga fair public school education
is due every child in his, ofthe utmost importance not only
to the individual but to thewelfare of the state.
He established the creation ofthe permanent school fund, with

(02:20):
5% of state land salesbenefiting schools, a fund that
continues to benefit New Mexicoto this day as our oil and gas
revenues stem from that fund andin fact fund about half of the
public education bills for thestate of New Mexico.

(02:41):
He also passed a bill requiringthat there be at least seven
months of education for allchildren between the ages of 7
to 14, and bills requiring thatthere be civic education and
education on the effects ofalcohol and narcotics included

(03:01):
in that schooling.
He also created several of thefirst highways in New Mexico,
connecting our rural communitiesto some of the growing urban
centers which were developingalong the rail lines.
He would eventually be defeatedin 1917 by a plurality of just
856 votes, but would helpcontinue to serve on war boards

(03:25):
until his death of Breitzdisease in El Paso in 1918.
Thank you for listening.
This has been Today in NewMexico History.
Thank you.