Arizona republican., 1891-02-06
THE COCONINO BILL.

ScNerul udSs dSO dil Ol'i 'N'"Ni "''' addressed to the members of the Legls- lature upon the CocOnino bill, wherein an especially vicious attack was made upon Hon. w. G. Stewart, because that gentleman sought to have the bill amended so as to do away with the spe- cial election feature and thus save great bill of expense to the taxpayers. In this we believe Mir. Stewart is work ing in the best interests of the people, for in the creation of new county eX- penses are incurred that place more or less of burden upon the people, and whenever saving can be made 1t IS for the best interest of all. This letter charges Mir. Stewart with being the leader of a clique which proposes to get control of the offices, and atirms that he and the many other gentlemen work ing with him here are not representa- tive citizens.
 As to the first charge it is easily dis posed of by the fact that by the pro- posed amendment Governor Irwin would have the appointment of the officials, and thus far the Governor gives evidence that he is not man to be controlled otherwise than by his own sense of right and justice.
 The second charge is equally false with the first. In the election last fall Mir. Stewart received 32l votes of the 449 cast in Flagstaff, his own town, running over 100 votes ahead of his ticket.
 Again this committee says in it's open letter, that if it can't have the bill passed it's way it don't want the county created, thus showing a dog-in-the- manager spirit, not Creditable to enter prising and progressive citizens. This rule or ruin spirit they have shown is something that can not be charged to Mir. Stewart in all the work he has done for CoCOnino County. Almost alone and unaided he made the fight before the Legislature two years ago, and ThE RE- PUBLICAN can assert upon the best of in formation from Flagstaff, that he and his co-laborers represent the majority O! the people of Coconino County. As eyi- dence of this we quote from letter just received in answer to queries sent TIE REPUBLICAN's representative in Flag staff:
 The alleged "open letter" has not been pub lished in the home papers, and after diligent inquiry l have been unable to find any person who has possession of or who has seen copy Of it. Infer that the letter, notwithstanding it's alleged open character, has been kept put of the Flagstah papers either because the editors re fused to publish 1t or because it's authors de sired to deprive those attacked of any oppOr- tunity of exposing the ialsehoods contained in the letter until their object had been attained As to the charge that stewart and his friend, are not representative citizens," have only to say that at the last general election M' Stewart was a candidate for the OunCll and, nutwith- standing the opposition of several of the mem bers Of the committee, who signed the "Open letter." received q majority O1 2JO in FlaSstGn precinct,
 The statement that Mir. Stewart is seeking to hold office until the next general election is not only ialse but known tO the signers of that letter to be so, for before the COmmitte slate was finally announced, members Of the committee informed Mir. Stewart and his law partner, NIT. Doe, that 1t Was the wish Ol the committee To recommend one or the other of the firm for District Atlor ney. Both refused to accept, as Mir. Doe inform. me, as their private business was such that they could not ahOrd to take the office ii tendeTed,
 On the other hand find the committee sign ing this "npen letter slated us follows; D. M Riordan disappointment on the Board Of Super. vIsOrs; J. F. Daggs for the same position; a brother to David Rabbit, of the COuTI,tee, for County Treasurer; F. R. Nellis, of the com. mittee, for sheriff clerk of C. E. BOyce, Cf the committee, for the third Supervisor; brother in-law of T. c, Norris, of the committee, is listed for Probate Judge MT, HOskin', another member of the committee, desired the appoint ment as Treasurer either for himself or MT Worries, who is in the bank with him, but, as Mir. Hosklus tells it, owing to the absence of two of his friends at the time the committee decided the matter, MT. Rabbit was placed on the slate in his stead. It will thus be seen that the committee itself is not slow in preparing to divide the loaves and fishes in the interests Of the dear people."
 This letter is from one of the most conservative citizens of Flags.af and shows plainly that the present attack is simply for the purpose of personal gain by the persons making it. Let the bill be amended to do away with the special election and thus save a heavy bill of expense for the new county,