The herald., 1895-04-04
A Reply to Francis J. Heney's Structures on
Arizona's Governor

A Reply to Francis J. Heney's Structures on
Arizona's Governor
| To the Editor of The Herald KNOW
| ing that The Herald is staunch Demo-
cratic paper, and also being aware OF the
| fact that its circulation is large in Ari-
zona, it can become the medium of in
formation for goVd or evil to many resi-
dents of this much abused territory. 1t is
not the purpose of this communication to
convey the impression that your CORE
spondent by any means entertains the
idea that The Herald would insert in it's
columns an Intentional representation
of Arizona, her public men or her party
policy, but there are occasions when mis-
information leads the most consistent
journal to engraft in its pages matters en-
tirely at variance with justice and facts.
Such communication as l refer to ap-
peared in the issue of The Herald on
March 10 under the signature of Francis
J. Heney, ex-Attorney General OF this
territory in which he attempts to repre-
sent to your readers that the Press Asso-
citation of Arizona is standing hand in
hand with the governor in a scheme to
filch the treasury.
He grossly insults and misrepresents
the members of the press of Arizona i'll
the following language:
This immigration bill is intended for
one purpose, and for one only. and that
purpose is to strengthen the hands OF a
weak and avaricious governor. who is
anxious to get his hands deep into the
pockets OF the taxpayers of the territory,
while he is crying economy with loud
voice. The plain intent of this bill is to
enable the governor to appoint one news
paper editor in each county as an immi-
grafton commissioner, and to thus sub
sidze eleven newspapers in his interest
at the expense OF the territory and of the
various counties. Each of these news
paper editors is to receive salary. each
is to have fling at the county treasury,
as the board of supervisors of each county
is compelled by the law to appropriate
certain amount OF money, to be
printing pamphlets and in dis
tributing them. Every dollar of this
county appropriation would go into the
commissioners pocket One who does
not know the caliber of these Arizona
newspaper fellows might be led to believe
that they would be satisfied with these
rich morsels, but he would be sadly. mis-.
taken. The real ''nlgger in the woodpile"
of the bill is contained in the latter part
of section 6. That section innocently
starts off by providing that the commits
sioners shall meet at least once year
the capital of the territory, and section
provides that the commissioners shall re-
ceive no per diem or mileage for attend
ing said meeting. This is a huge joke.
The idea Of an Arizona newspaper editor
spending his time and money without ex-
pecting any reward therefor!
"Are the taxpayers of Arizona deaf.
dumb and blind? Must brick house fall
on them before they wake up to the neces-
sity for protecting themselves? Does it
require unusual acumen to discover the
reason which has caused every newspaper
in the territory, except the Saturday Re-
view, to endorse this bill? Do the people
Of o. Rrnthnr
Hughes would not make all he could out
of it? Do the people of Yavapai county
think that Brother Martin would not
make all he could out of it? Do the peo-
pie of Yuma county think that Brother
Dorrington would not make all he could
county think that Brother Bagg would
not make all he could out of it? The
questions are answered in the asking.
Every editor present will endorse the
sentiment and Brother Dunbar or Brother
Wolfey will second the motion, and the
worthy chairman will ask Brother Dor
rington or Brother Martin to take the
cnair while he takes the floor (and every
thing else in sight) to make a few well
chosen remarks in favor of the motion.
1t i. unanim ously carried and a similar
motion prevails in favor of each OF the
other editors in proportion to his pull and
influence. 1t afterwards leaked out that
was all arranged at a caucus held in the
governors Office before the meeting.
In other words. the governor S organ is
beginning to educate the people of Ari-
zona up to the proper point where public
opinion will again tolerate the gross vio-
lations Of the law which resulted in an ex
penditure of over $52, 600 for clerk hire by
the Legislature. which was known as the
"Thieving Thirteenth The outrag geous
decision Of the New Mexico court will
have no influence in Arizona.
The animus of the gentleman can be
observed in every line OF the quotation.
He attributes avariciousness to his excel
lency, and this in face of the fact that for
two years he has been a member of his
official household, his confidential friend
and legal advisor and only since the
time of his forced resignation has he been
able to discern that the Governor has been
anything but paragon of publicS virtue,
and a m asterpiece of executive perfection.
While Governor Hughes has not many
ardent admirers who will defend him
officially or personally, it can be said with
candor, he is a bright example of personal
probity, official dignity and manly bear
ing, when compared with the coterle OF
disaffected individuals, who at this late
day in his gubernatorial career assail him
because they could not use him to their
personal advantage.
In reference to his gratuitous insult
to the press of Arizona, it can be truly
said of such men as j. w. Dorrington, J.
o. Dunbar. S. g. Bagg, J. c. Martin, and
T. ]. Wolfey that they had for years
antedated Mr.s Heney's arrival to the
sun kissed land, and since their advent
worked harder for the interest and well
fare of the territory and received smaller
remuneration for their services to the
people than any other class of professional
men. The benefits conferred by the press
in placing before the world the ad-
vantages and resources of the West has
been incalculable, and it is just such
men as the gentlemen named who made
it possible for their traducers to discover
their route to the murky waters OF the
Colorado. Were it not for such pioneers
of information Mr.. Heney would not be
known beyond the confines of the county
in which he practices his profession.
The whole article is mass OF misstate-
ments. The newspaper fraternity held
no private audience with the Governor on
the immigration bill, nor ON any, other
measure pending in the Legislature.
Many members of the Press Association
were strongly opposed to the bill.
Heney also refers to the "thievlng thlr-
teenth' Legislative Assemb bly,, and states
that $50, 600 was spent by that body for
clerk hire. This statement is in keeping
with his other accusations. The record
shows that $26, 500 was the amount. So in
this item he hardly reached half the
truth, even with data to refer to. The
latter amount was of course extravagant
but it must be admitted that the Thir-