Arizona republican., 1899-10-06
THE BEAM IN HIS EYE.

Gazette. He has occupied this
unenviable position since the summer
of 1895, when the then governor of the
territory, L. c. Hughes, and associates
induced him to buy the Gazette. Mr..
Leftch had but lately become terri
torial auditor by virtue of appoint
ment by Governor Hughes. Up to that
time the unsophisticated auditor had
edited a cattle ranch in the eastern
part of the territory. No one had
ever suspected him of breaking into
journalism That probably explains
why the willy governor 50 readily
landed his victim.
Previous to Mr.. Leitch's ownership
| the Gazette was violently opposed 10
Governor Hughes administration, and
was daily engaged in ''jolting' the gov
ernor and his appointees. The man
who is now posing as editor Of the
Gazette and presumably drawing pay
from it's owner is the same person
who was doing the 'tjolting' in 1895.
He is also, the same person with whom
The Republican declined to enter into
discussion recently for good and SUI
ficient REASONS, which were given at
the time. This mans association with
the Gazette was discontinued within
fifteen minutes after Mr. Latch
bought the paper that summers day i'll
1895. In fact, his departure is said TO
have been hurried. After four years
we find him as Mr.. Leitch's second in
attacking legitimate business enter
prises behind "a mask of protecting
suckers" No matter what Mr..
Leitch's need Of protection" may be
since he became owner OF the Gazette,
he should not force his attention upon
others. Neither should he permit his
hirelings to malign, libel and villify
indiscriminately simply because they
are responsible to no one and particu-
larly net to- themselves. All Of these
things would be bad enough if Mr..
Leitch was himself qualified by cx-
ample to act as public protector"
That he is not so qualified it requires
but one instance to prove. Mr.. Leitch
was territorial auditor from 1895 to
1897. He was also a member of the
board of control. During a period of
year or mere the Arizona Gazette,
owned principally by c. P. Leitch,
printed the proceedings of the board ot
control. The work was paid for by
territorial warrant signed by the
auditor. The records of the board Of
control show that the Gazette was Sc
lected to print its proceedings. The
auditor paid the bills. The same c. P.
Leitch, who then as now is reputed, the
principal owner Of the Arizona Ga
zette, accepted work in his capacity as
proprietor from a board CT
which he was a member and paid his
newspaper in his capacity as auditor OF
the territory.
The laws of Arizona prohibit such
transactioEs and no statutes are palmer
than these quoted below.
Paragraphs 1862 and 1904, chapter % |
of the revised statutes OF Arizona, IN
der the title Of "Offcers not to be in
terested in certain contracts" reads as
follows:
Members Of the legislature, terri
torial,, county, city and precinct Off
GERS must not be interested in any
contract made by them in their official
capacity, or by any body or board Of
which they are members.
Every contract made in violation
Of any proviion of the two preceding
sections may be avoided at the in
stance of any party except the officer
Paragraph 1O4 under the title OF
Grimes by and against the executive
power Of the territory reads as fol-
ows:
Every officer or. person prohibited
by the laws of this territory from
or being interested in CON
.racts, or from becoming a vendor Or
purchaser at sales, or from purchasing
scrip, or other evidences CT indebted
hess, who violates any of the proyis-
ons of such laws, is punishable by a
Inc Of not more than one thousand
1ollars or by imprisonment in the ter
'itcrial prison not more than five
Tears and is forever Disqualified from
holding any office in this territory
Was ever proof or penalty more
lear? And yet the man who has laid
himself liable, permits almost daily
he publication in his organ of dam
aging attacks upon the business of
others. Apparently no individual
cooperation or organization is exempt
That such methods are tolerated in
my self-respecting community IS
lmazing. That newspaper issued
lnder such auspices as the Arizona
iazette, is permitted to take such lib
rites is monstrous.
The Columbia and the Shamrock
10Th made brilliant efforts again yes