Lots of concern about the backgrounds and activities of John McCain's father- in-law and his brother, back then. Even though now, McCain's sole nongovernment employment, political career, and personal fortune all came from James Hensley, and McCain willingly accepted all of them, there is almost no concern about how this related to McCain's judgment or his ehtical standards.
Why do you suppose McCain's father-in-law James Hensley, was the focus of attention of two governors and so many other state watchdogs? Why do you think the Hensley brothers chose to move from the wholesale liquor distribution business to the horse racing track business, and with a partner who they tried to conceal from the racing commission?
Quote:
Link to photo of newspaper page: http://home.comcast.net/~qvc/hensgov.png
August 5, 1955
Politicians Tee Off Over Bitter Ruidoso Race Track Situation
By the Associated Press
...The Rev. Bluford Finch, who has filed suit against the state seeking to end Sunday racing, called on, Gov. John Simms to "cancel all racing daes for the protection of the public."
Simms 'Apalled'
Simms has earlier declared two brothers connected with the Ruidoso track have court records and that he is "appalled" that former Gov. Edwin L. Mechem and the racing commission relicensed them in 1953.
Mechem, a Republican, at first delcined to comment and then said he would not engage in a debate with the Democratic Simms administration. "I am not going to answer questions asked by Simms through the newspapers," Mechem added. "If the administration wants an answer let them ask me personally."
Simms' reference was to Eugene Hensley, majority stockholder in the track amd his brother James, who once owned stock in the association but is no longer connected with it.
Court records at Phoenix, Ariz, show that Eugene V. Hensley and James W. Hensley were sentenced there May 3, 1948, Eugene to one year and James to six months, for making false entries to the government on distilled liquor sales, both paid $2000 fines.
James Hensley's sentence was suspended, Fugene served a term.
No New Mexixo law would prohibit a person with a prison record from operating a race track....
Link to photo of newspaper page: http://home.comcast.net/~qvc/hensgov2.png
Page Six Albuquerque Journal Our Slant by Ed Minteen Associate Editor August 13, 1955
....Recently Gov. Simms blasted his predecessor, Gov. Meecham, for not doing something while in office about the Ruidoso racetrack situation. The governor termed Mechem's lack of action as "appalling."
Mechem has refused to engage in a pro and con brawl on the matter with Simms. He has said that if Simms wants to confer with him and ask any questions he'll be glad to answer them.
It has developed, however, that Gov.Simm's tirade on Mechem about the Ruidoso track operation, at least, borders on an alibi and "get-out-from-under" maneuver.
The facts that we present here come not to us from Mr. Mechem who refuses to talk. But they come from an authentic and unimpeachable source.
Just before Mechem left office he had a conference with the Governor-elect Simms. Mr. mechem went into the Ruidoso situation at some length and considerable detail with Mr. Simms. Maybe that time Mr. Simms was so excited over his pending ascendancy into the governor's chair that his memory of the conference failed him.
Anyway, at this conference Mechem warned Simms that a bad situation could develop at Ruidoso and advised him to watch it closely. mecehm had send investigators to Phoenix to go into the ownership angle and he also sent investigators to Ruidoso. One person trying to horn in on the ownership was barred as a result of the Mechem investigation.
The current operators, the Hensleys now under fire, were under constant surveillance during Mechem's administration. No action was taken against the Hensleys because the investigation showed that as tracks go, all laws apparently were being observed. But Mechem prodded tghe Racing Commission to be one the alert because he "was worried about it".
That was the state of affairs when Mechem in his pre-inaugural conference with Simms placed the whole picture before the incoming governor. The facts are that Mechem was going out of his way to be helpful to the new governor. Simms came into office and for six months not a peep out of him about the Ruidoso track. Then suddenly the track operation and ownership came to the public attention.
Now all our governor does is to shout about how appalling was Mechem's handling of the situation. But during the more than six months after Mechem has warned him to "watch the situation" apparently he had done no watching.
Mr. Simms in trying to pass the buck and squeezing out of the jams of his own making is generally quite proficient in hitting below the belt.
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