Arizona republican., 1902-12-11
The Political Phase.

TIC
 It may be true that Senator Bever- idge and other republican senators in opposing the admission of Arizona are only doing precisely what the demo- cratic senators would have done under changed conditions. Delegate Smith and all other democratic speakers. an1 the democratic press in the last cam paign. assured the people of Arizona of Wilson, the democratic candidate, would cause the democratic senators Quay was of the same opinion, and he stated frankly that in his judgment the omnibus bill would be defeated by democratic votes, in the event of I republican victory in Arizona. But this does not justify Senator Beveridge and other senate in opposing the omnibus bill It merely begs the ques- ton to say that there is the highest authority for the statement that demo- cratic senators would have done the same thing had their party failed to carry the territory. Democratic mar rowness and partisanship furnish no excuse for republican narrowness and partisanship.
 As we have shown time and again, it is an absolute injustice to the residents of territory to determine their rights to self government on partisan consid- erations. But if the question is made political. one of two factors should gov ern: First, in the absence of a party declaration, the future complexion of the new state is a proper subject for inquiry. In the case of Arizona. there is abundant reason for believing that 1t will go republican at the first state election Notwithstanding the stupen- dous handicap created by the popular belief that a democratic victory was necessary to hold the democratic sena- tors in Hne-a belief accompanied by the assumption that the republican sen ators favorable to the omnibus bill would be broad enough to vote for the bill in any event-the republican candi tad INxy lacS than 800 votes. It is an admitted fact that great majority of the business men of the territory are republicans. Under territorial form of government there is no incentive for this class to take an active interest in politics. . With them about the only matter of importance is to see that the legisla- ture enacts no laws especially hurtful to business and capital. The profes- sional politicians are in the democratic party, and these politicians have ex erted their powers 10 the utmost. They would have much less influence under state government than they have now. On the other hand, the business element would take a practical interest in politics In short republicans would and on election day would go to the polls and vote. whereas now many of them habitually keep out of politics.
 Consequently. were Senator Bever- idge and his associates to confine them selves to q study of the political future Of the state of Arizona, they could find nothing but encouragement for repub- licans.
 But apart from all this there is a broader ground whereon a republican may firmly stand. To admit the three territories is to carry out the republi- can policy. To fail to admit them is to ignore the highest law known to the
 Senator Quay has very properly raised the point that a national repub- lican convention is higher authority than a caucus of senators, when :, question of republican doctrine is in- volved. The Philadelphia platform ex- plicitly declared for the admission of Arizona, Oklahoma and New Mexico and by that declaration the party stands committed as much as by any