The Arizona champion., 1891-01-17
COCONINO COUNTY.
" Spectator" Gives Some Startling News to
 the Natives.
(Communicated.l

As there has, recently been consid
 erable comment upon the action o individual Republicans and Demo crats in forming slates for officers to be appointed for the prospective county of Coconino, it is desirable that the public should understand the methods by which the socslled citi- zens committee has undertakep to remedy the action of cliques. That committee was originally appointed for the purpose of conferring with a like committee from Prescott upon the terms of division of Yavapai county. At that tune the present office seeking mania had not became so extended as now, and no attention was paid to politics in the selection of the committee. It happened to be composed of men two-thhlrds of whom were Democrats.
 The committee subsequently, called public meeting, at which 1t was moved, seconded and carried by members of the committee, that the committee should select a list of off cers, irrespective of politics, to De recommended to the Governor for ap pointment.
 On last Saturday evening the com mittee reported to a meeting of about thirty persons, including the com mittee, that the commiite had agreed upon the terms of the county division bill, and selected a list of officers to be recommended to the GoveFnoF for appointment. A member of the committee then announced in sub stance that the meeting had been called only for the purpose of hearing what the committee had determined upon, and that their action was final and not subject to change by the meeting. Spectators, although won- dering for what purpose they had been called together, remained to see what the committee were going to do, and found that the committee (who doub,- less bore Tn mind the action of the last Democratic governor, who in formed Republicans from Flagstaff that if they Wante4 his signature to the Coconino bill when passed, they must not so form the bill as to take away from him the patronage that belonged to him in the appointment of oficers) proposed to coerce Hon. J A, Vail Qhe only member of the legislature from within the bounda- ries of the proposed new county) into pledglng himself to support with his influence the slate proposed by this committee. The attempt, however, was disastrous, as not only did MT. Vail refuse to commit himself to be bound by the committees state, but the disinterested spectators heartily supported him in his refusal. The fact that the slate indicated that the private interests of individual mem bers of the committee governed in its formation. as we'll as the further fact that the efoTt of the committee to dictate to the Governor whom he should appoint, and in effect to take away from him this patronage which he is entitled to exercise, IS likely to jeopardize the very existence of Coco nino, doubtless influenced MT. Vaii's action. In his action MT. Vail is en- titled too, and receives the hearty support and approval of the com munity irrespective of party lines.
 The query is now pertinent, wherein Is half-breed slate selected for Re publican Governor to act upon by clique, two-thirds of whom are Denrti7 ocrats, and for their individual and party ends preferable to such ap- pointments as the Governor, without any local prejudices or interests at stake, might make after due delibera- tiop from. amongst our best citizens.
 22 SPECTATOR.