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) 

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:08

Bienvenidos. This is Today in New Mexico History a project of the Enchanted Chronicles. Today is January 14th. Back in 1912, when New Mexico first became a state, on January 6th, there was a long list of things to do, beginning with the inauguration of our first governor. William C MacDonald had defeated future Senator Holm Bursam back on November 7th 1911, knowing that he would have to wait to take office for well statehood. He was inaugurated finally on January 14th, but would not deliver his inaugural address until January 15th. He had won with a plurality of 3,000 votes.

Speaker 1: 0:54

After having moved to New Mexico, from Kansas, to the town of White Oaks, he became a clerk and later a mineral surveyor, and he had helped to tutor local boys, including one, morris B Parker, who recalled that he had tutored him in geometry for a semester in order to qualify him for admittance into a school in New York. As a member of the territorial legislature, macdonald had pushed for the Pauline School Bill in 1891, which had established public schools throughout the state. He also pushed back against the perception of New Mexico as a wild and lawless frontier, recalling of his time in White Oaks in one letter. I did not see a single revolver in sight. The peace and prosperity were visible everywhere.

Speaker 1: 1:50

By 1910, he was the chair of the Democratic Territorial Committee as governor, in his inaugural address he spoke to the importance of internal improvements, including irrigation and education, saying a fair public school education is due every child in his, of the utmost importance not only to the individual but to the welfare of the state. He established the creation of the permanent school fund, with 5% of state land sales benefiting schools, a fund that continues to benefit New Mexico to this day as our oil and gas revenues stem from that fund and in fact fund about half of the public education bills for the state of New Mexico. He also passed a bill requiring that there be at least seven months of education for all children between the ages of 7 to 14, and bills requiring that there be civic education and education on the effects of alcohol and narcotics included in that schooling. He also created several of the first highways in New Mexico, connecting our rural communities to some of the growing urban centers which were developing along the rail lines. He would eventually be defeated in 1917 by a plurality of just 856 votes, but would help continue to serve on war boards until his death of Breitz disease in El Paso in 1918. Thank you for listening.

Speaker 1: 3:33

This has been Today in New Mexico History. Thank you.