Arizona silver belt., 1891-05-02
OBSTACLES IN THE wAysosrsrraooD

OBSTACLES IN THE WAY tfOsfsTEk0OD
 The expediency of em bodying an anti Mormon plank in the proposed State Constitution for Arizona is already being discussed in the newspapers, and the views expressed by the respective Republican and Democratic organs are So widely at yarience, as to fore shadow a heated debate when the ques- ton is broached in the convention, and, not unlikely, may prove the bane of the projected change of government
 The Mormon vote in the Territory numbers about twelve hundred which may be reasonably counted as Demo- cratic. Eliminating this vote, the strength of the two political parties in Arizona is admitted to be about equal, Should the Democrats consent to make a virtue of necessity by favoring an anti Mormon clanse, with the view of influencing Congress, what would they gain? Even with such a provision in- serted in the constitution, there Is but remote possibility that Congress will admit Arizona to the Unlon.
 It would be political suicide for the Democrats to abandon the MormOns. The party would be forever lost as Q governing factor in the politics of the Territory
 Mark Smith would have served his last term in Congress, and since he is likely to be member of the cons. ititutional convention, and in the event of his election as such, he will certainly oppose the adoption of ''the test oath, identical or similar to that embodied in the constitution of Idaho, against polygamy as at present taught in the Mormon church by lii ram Woodruff, Brigham Young's sue cessor.
 The BELT being an ayowed opponent of statehood for the often explained reason that Arizona is not in a eodi- ton 10 assume the increased obligation necessary to sustain astate government, for that reason, feels reioieed that the dilemma, so early presented in the can vass. will, if no other measure should prevail, give quietus to the whole scheme.
 Instead of indulging in dangerous political heresies, the convention should view with alarm the eXtraya- gance which pervades territorial, county and municipal affairs and, in view of our already oyerburdened common wealth, its first act should be to re- solve it unwise for Arizona, with in- sufficient population and under finan- cial embarrassment, to assume addi- | tional burdens without the prospective ability of discharging them within the
 
 present generation, The utopian idea that statehood would relieve us of our embarrassed condition should be aband | oned; but that cannot be expected so long as non-taxpaying politicians are not provided for, who are looking for ward and expect positions which will 1 give them bread and butter ntbe h3ped | for change of government,
 its fundamental principal of the federated States that when the settlers in Territory, having an adequate pop ! ulation, form q state constitution in | pursuance of law, the right of sovor- eignity commences, and that is what i President Harrison, in the following declaration to the people of Tucson, meant should be understood, and Loth- | ing more, which may be construed as wet blanket to the aspirations of adyo- l cates of statehood. Now mark what he said and if there IS comfort in hIs words . to those who hung up on the honey of his lips and misconstrus his language, | they are welcome to its subyersion. Here is the text: "When a Territory ! has sufficient population to give her Q good and stable government without undue taxation, believe in giving her the same consideration. If Arizona has the qualifications, and l am Presi- dent, shall take pleasure in signing bill admitting her as a state
 Under the new aportionment, based i upon the recent census, the ratio of representation in Congress is one to 173, 9Ol of population. Arizona's pop ulation is less than 60, GOO, so she has . little more than one,third the number of people to justly entitle her to repre- sentation, and large percentage of these are subjects of Mexico and other foreign countries.
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