Arizona republican., 1901-05-01
THE CoLORED VOTER
A Reply to An Anonymous Com
 munication.

To the Editor of The Republicans My attention has recently been called to an article in the Daily Enterprise, purporting to have been written by some colored man. advising the colored voters of Phoenix to vote the demo cratic city ticket this year. for the reason that our republican friends did not concede us any office last fall. and l want to take this opportunity to suggest that tO take such a course to emphasize any disagreement or dis appointment. or grievance fit to- wards the territorial republican ad- ministration would be irrelevant and inopportune.
 I will say at the outset however, that I believe today. as l have al ways believed that while political par 1ies are necessary 10 the successful adjustment of political affairs in a republic. yet municipal politics should be separated from national politics. In other words l believe that the resi- dents Cf every city should decide for themselves individually which men Of either or both political parties they should cast their ballots for. l be- lieve that this decision should not he based on friendship or favor or party ties. but that 1t should find it's in- spiration and judgment in the ability, and ths eXperieree and the moral courage cf the uDrinees to do the right as the interests of the taxpayers point them to the right.
 m thus looking at our duties as ffr ..e .tss .sff f.. fan n not forget that as general thing re. publican officials whether of munic ipaiity or a county or a state or the nation at large. have demonstrated a peculiar ability to administer public office as a public trust. for these are the kind of men the republican party aims Co nominate. When through trickery or fraud at the primaries an incompetent set Of officials is nomi- mated. then [ believe the highest du ties of citizenship impel Us to forget party ties and rebuke by the power of the ballot such an unholy selection.
 Now. then. if there b- one republi- can in this city. whether black or white. who honestly and conscientious ly believes that the ticket headed by the 'icc man" is the better ticket; Q who honestly and conscientiously be- lieves that his interests as as a tax payer. as a ,abOger. as a mechanic or as a business man justify him in for saking his party ties and aligninG himself with the democrats. for him l have no word of ceusure or condem- nation 10 offer. But, for the man who honestly and cons -ientiously believes that the republican ticket is the better ticket. or is at least as good as the q mecratir ticket: who cannot deny that the men on his party ticket are upright and honorable and are capable Cf administering the affairs of the city in an economical and a progress sive way: who believes that under a republican administration the affairs of every department of the city gov ernmcnt will be renovated and placed upon a business-ike footing; who be- lieves that under a republican regime the streets and the alleys of this city will be cleaned and that the money spent in doing this will be so spent that the result will be permanent and lasting and visible; who believes that under republican administration po;ism with its accompanying evil of high salaries will be wiped out. and yet refuses to support his party's