The Arizona sentinel., 1897-03-06
McCORD FOR GOVERNOR.

there has been quiet though deter mined fight to prevent the appoint ment of Myron H. McCord as governor of Arizona. It was as- sumed, and we think very properly, that having led the fight for the Mckinley delegation to St Louis, and afterwards for the sound money declaration in accordance with the St. Louis platform, he would be the logical candidate for governor in the estimation of the president. Like all energetic, aggressive 'men, Mir. McCord has strong friends and of course strong enemies. He had been connected with the administra- ton of Governor Hughes as the Republican member of the Terri torial board of control during a time when large expenditures for public improvement were made and when an important contract for working the prisoners of the Terri tory upon an irrigation scheme was entered into. It was not a difficult matter to make charges with a semblance of truth of misapprlation of public funds and also of malfeas- ance in making a contract for the prison labor. MT. McCord'S enemies were not found alone in the Democratic party. Some of his bitterest opponents are of the same political faith as himself. It was hoped by his enemies that the supreme court would not sustain the prison contract, aud thus by implication smireh, or severely reflect upon him. But the court handed down decision affirming the decision of the court below up. holding the contract. Charges against MT. McCerd were presented to a grand jury, and were com- pletely and entirely ignored. As a last resort legislative investiga- tion was instituted, A committee consisting of five Democrats and two Republicans was appointed with authority to send for persons and papers, administer oaths, employ an expert and 8 stenographer to investigate the doings of the Terri torlal board of control while MT. McCord was a member thereof. Not 6 single member of this committee was the personal or political friend of McCord, though they were all fair and so far as we know impar- tial men. Perhaps this is putting it rather strong, for 1t is claimed the entire committee were biased against MT. McCord. Be that as 1t may, the committee has been in session now over three weeks, has gone to the bottom of every transac- tion, and investigated thoroughly every charge. It has had the benefit of the able services of the attorney general of the Territory to examine witnesses and conduct the prosecu- tion, or persecution, as some call it. It has had the benefit of the services of MT. Frank Meador, one of the shrewdest and most capable experts in the Territory. The committee has about concluded it's work and will soon make it's report. That report wall completely exonerate MT. McCord from all malfeasance or misfeasance, but it may censure some of the methods by which the board of control transacted the business and kept the books. But if It does this it should be remem- bered that not only a majority of the board were Democrats, but the cle rkand bookkeeper were Demo- crats and selected by a Democratic majority.
 MT. McCord's friends never for a moment had doubt of his entire innocence or of his ability to dis prove every charge, but of course a partisan and unfair committee could have made a damaging report that would have caused him some trouble Now that he has come out entirely unscathed we look to see him commissioned as governor
 of the Territory, not later than the
 9th of April, which will be just
 four years from the date of the com.
 mission given to Governor L. c.
 Hughes.-Phoe'sir Repobticae.