Arizona weekly citizen., 1894-08-18
Al INTERVIEW
With Governor Hughes on the Admission of Arizona
TO STATEHOOD
He Pronounees the Constitution
 NOtoriously Bad.

It would be very long while, in deed between drinks if the Governor of Arizona were to meet any other Governor in the Astor House, where the former is at present staying. For Gov. Hughes of that territory neither drinks nor smokes, and he has idea on all subjects which he does not hesitate either to express or to put into practice.
 "That," sad one of his constituents yesterday, MT. Fair, who is gifted with characteristic Far Western energy, but also with polIteness that would do Boston credit, ''is the very best Governor Arlzona ever had. He isn't enormous physically, and his voice is soft and kindly, but he has rescued the Territory from semi barbarism and overthrown the gamblers and the rumsellers who at one time held 1t by the throat, just as courageously as if he were six feet in height and could shout like froghorn."
 Gov. Hughes is truly not large man but an exceedingly pleasant-mannered one, who wears glasses soft, full beard, and white necktie. Indeed, he has the ar of clergyman, which impression IS much heightened by his bread white forehead, his clear-cut fashion of speech his earnestness ana candor, and agree able quality of voice.
 The Governor is not preacher, how ever but proprietor and editor of The Tucson Star, and has held various offices in the Territory in the past twenty-five years, having been, among other things District Attorney of Pinal County, where his fearless and uDquailing cour- age Tn prosecuting the worst sort of criminals made him SO famous that President Cleveland appointed him Chief Executive of the Territory.
 "I have been East about 6 month," sad the Governor yesterday, ''snd have spent three weeks of 1t at a watering place on the Jersey coast. 1 arrived here, however, from Washington, where have been lsboring in the interest of measures looking to the admission of Arizona to Statehood, There is, as you know, bill at present in the hands of the Senate, favorRbly reported by committee, admitting us to that dig nity."
 ''There is some opposition in the Senate to the bill in question, is there not?' Gov Hughes was asked.
 'Yee," replied the Governor. "The bill IS not of the nature of an enabling act but provides that Arizona shall become State on the basls of Constitution which was framed three years ago. That Constitution is incorporated in the bill now before the Senate, and the bill merely asks that our Statehood shall be founded on that document as 1t has been adopted. Some Senators, however, have caused it to be ueder- stood that Arizona must come into the Union under the same sort of enabling act which regulated the admission of Utah and New Mexico. That will com pell us to adopt formally new Con- stitution."
 "Will that imply the cancellation or withdrawal of the constitution iIcor- | porated in the bill now before the sen- ate?"
 ''That constitution" replied Governor Hughes, "is subject as 1t stands, to the | approval or disspproval of congress. Senators who are opposed to the admis- | sion of Arizona on such terms, and who | are resolved not to entertain such con- ditions, claim that the constitution now | subjected to their approval is too am- | biguous. They say it was thrown to- | gether too hastily, and not with the | consideration due to such measure as | the organic law which forms the basis | of new state, and which it ought by all | means to have received. Another point 1 made against the bill by those senators | who disapprove of it is the undeniabie | fact that not more than one-third of the | population of the territory voted in the | election at which it was adopted. That, so it is claimed, shows that the people | were not sufficiently intareated and dId | not realize the vital importance of what | lay before them.
 Another series of objections is made