Arizona weekly citizen., 1889-08-17
STRONG ARGUMENTS
Against the Constitutional Conven- tion--A Comprehensive Expression
 from Total Wreck--Other Views

ED. CITIZEN: In response of your m vitation for an expression of views or the proposed constitutional convention I am decidely opposed to action being taken for the object of making Arizona . state. The four great prospective re- sources of Arizona, mining, cattle rais ing, horticulture and agricultural, arc yet in state of probation, their pro motion to prosperity mostly depending upon the aid of outside capital. Any increase of taxation which the territory becoming a state would certainly cause, { would prevent and retard the invest ment of this necessary capital in Ariz- ona, and as undoubtedly the change from territory to state would largely Tn crease taxation, to agltate for such a change, or advocate it would, in my opinion and judgment, be suicidal policy for Arizona's present and future. have with ssed the evils of prema- ture statehood in Nevada, which would have suddenly driven that state into bankruptcy only for the unprece
 I cannot by any method of reasoning arrive at the conclusion whereby the people of Arizona would be benefited in their present embryo condition by becoming state, except the few who would occupy the expensive governing position which state entails upon the citizens. Respectfully,
 JOHN O. DoUGHERTY.
 MT. NJ. G. Samaniego is strong Tn his opposition to the proposed convention. Said he: What We need now is progress for Arizona. We are not able to afford state government. If we will pass good wholesome laws to encourage the invest .ment of capital in Arizona, the territory will soon advance to that position in po- pulation and wealth, that will render statehood desirable and necessary" NIT. Samaniego gives views at more length to-day,in an article written for the Fron terizo.
 Mir. Julius Goldbaum opposes the scheme and says he can see noi good in 1t, but much harm. II am in favor of letting the government take care of us until we are able to take care of our selves" said he.
 Mr. Geo. J. Roskruge would not say whether he was in favor or opposed to it, but confined his remarks to The cost of the proposed convention. He says many people are enormously high in their figures, and places the total cost of elections and convention at S30,COO.
 The constitutional convention is cer- tainly now the one question up for dis cussion in this section of Arizona. The views so far published are decidedly un- favorable to the proposition, still there are few who believe in holding the and knocking for statehood at once.
 ANOTHER VOICE FROM GLOBE.
 GLOBE, Ariz., Aug s.
 EDITOR CITIZEN am opposed to the effort now being made for the creation of the State of Arizona, because we have not the population to justify the hope that congress will favorably enter tain the proposition, and for the further reason that Arizona is financially una ble to pay the additional expenses at tending the advanced position of state hood. Other reasons might be stated, showing the absurdity of the proposi- tion, but it IS useless to multiply req sons why the taxpayers should not be come the dupes of professional office and, therefore, those above given are entirely sufficient, so far as l am concerned, to negative the scheme.
 Yours Respectfully,
 w. A. HOLMES. Mir. Holmes is prominent Gila coun ty Democrat.
 IS IN FAVOR OF IT. Gen. Owen T. Rouse, Ex-United States Attorney, and a Democrat, was questioned this morning regarding his | views on the Constitutional convention. MT. Rouse said: "The act authorizing the holding of Constitutional conven- ton, having become a law, must be exc ,uted. 1t may not have been wise | measure, but that will not warrant the | lullification of it. It may be true that l the people did not expect or desire the | making of such law, but the law hay ng been passed, there is nothing to be l lone but to observe it. The cost of q | will be considerable. but te | refuse now to hold 8 convention and | 70 frame a constitution and to ask for | will advertise our Territory | n an unenviable light"
 A DEMOCRAT SAYS NO. District Attorney Ben Hereford is emphatic in his opposition to the hold | ng of the convention. We don't need | any convention" said he, until we are able to afford a state government. The | If tafn mt Arfz na, under present conditions, would ! burden the people beyond endurance. and the convention should not be held"
 FT. BOWIE, August 18th, 1889. ED. CITIZEN: Are you not little last in condemning all the movements towards constitutional convention and the election of delegates to the same. First, Should the great body of the people ignore the election, would not the few elected members be the lawful body to frame constitution. True the could be rejected, but is it not better to meet the matter squarely and frame a constitution Tn accord with the principles of republican democratic
 
 I am in favor of self government at the earliest moment and in favor of it now if pressed upon us. 1 have seen what Judge Barnes has to say about the sub ject, and he and I are exactly opposite or at the antipodes in our thinking of this matter; besides Federal judges could no longer, were we state, extort from us extra compensation. Therefore would say elect our able men to the and present our constitution, be accepted as sovereign state of the Union and get out of leading strings. The lame apology has been put up it would cost too much, We could not pay our officials, etc., etc. As to this We should be relieved of the Federal cor morants for one thing, and in the second place we can find honest men to serve that will not be requisite to make rich each year. Byron the immortal has said: Great men have always scorned great recompenses," Epimanandes saved his Thebes, and died, not leaving even his funeral expenses etc.; it IS only the small fry who wish to plunder, and