Arizona republican., 1902-10-06

1 induced to give us the roads, the terri tory should now publish to the four quarters of the earth that the offers of exemption were part of huge bunco game; and now that most of the roads covered by the exemption have been completed. it is the purpose of the ter ritory to "cinch" them, and form ally confess that the people of Arizona care nothing for private or public hon. esty; that the good faith of the terri tory is a myth, and that no regard is had here for contracts deliberately and formally entered into by the citizens through their legislative assembly.
 This is the Wilson platform.
 To say that the Wilson programme has thrown the democrats of Maricopa county into consternation, would state it mildly. What the attitude of demo- crats elsewhere in the territory may be. we are not yet advised. But in Phoe- nix, at least, democrats by the dozen have angrily announced that they do not approve the Wilson policy of at tempted repudia ton, and Wilson is bit terly denounced for placing a handi- cap upon the whole democratic ticket.
 Wilson is a lawyer-at least he is lawyer enough to know that his prop osition is idiotic from a legal stand point; that the territory could not re- pudiate it's sacred contracts, even if it so desired. It follows, therefore, that the Wilson scheme of repudiation could have effect in but two directions: It might, possibly, appeal to such few peo- pie as have no sense of personal or pub lie honor-the flotsam and jetsam of humanity which is at enmity with every form of financial success, and thereby make Wilson a little more solid" with the few men of this class in Arizona The second, and chief ef- feet of the policy of repudiation, if se- riously undertaken, would be forever to disgrace Arizona in the eyes of all mankind.
 Within the near future the exemp- tion enjoyed by the roads hitherto con- structed will expire, and such lines will go upon the tax rolls. But other rail- roads of vast importance to our terri torial development, notably the Phoe- nix & Eastern, have complied with the terms of the last exemption law enact ed, and have been placed upon a finan- cial footing ready for construction. To complete these lines will require one or two years. They are projected to cross districts which are now undeveIoped and unproductive, but potentially rich. Their early construction has been as sured largely because of the indirect subsidy voluntarily held out to them by a democratic legislature through the statute book.
 It would be interesting to know just how many democrats there are in Ari- zona who are willing to stand up and be counted. in favor of the Wilson scheme of repudiation
 It won't do, Colonel Wilson. It might do in Arkansaw, your former home. but the people of Arizona will not stand for it. The citizens of this territory di- vide on normal political lines, because there is reason for honest difference of opinion on many questions. But be- fore being democrats or republicans, the solid citizenship of this territory is for Arizona, first and last. When the good name of Arizona is assailed, republi- cans and democrats stand together. There is only one kind of repudiation that they favor-they are for the re- pudiation of the demagogue ;they are for the repudiation of the interruptions office seeker who for the sake of office would cover Arizona's honor with filth and this J. Frank Wilson will learn to his sorrow on election day
 What Has Been Learned.
 Ono Of fha concictap+ of o,-