The copper era., 1902-12-18


 now being agitatcd to- some extend in eastern Graham county, but we are in- formed that q number Of the heaviest tax payers do not favor the scheme. There are q good many points ID favor of county division and d good sany against it. II division will be bene- fit to q majority of the tax payers of the county. the people who have made it wha: it is, we will favor the measure, but fl division k for the benefit of few people who must be in office in order 10 live, then we are de- cidedly against it. County division has never been seriously considered by the tax payers of the county, and il would be entirely wrong to attempt to pass such d measure until at least q majority Of the people or the county have bad an opportunity or studying its effect. From political standpoint division at this time would rob the eountV-n F. .r- b. 8 ft@rs stand today, but if division should be- come q fact that power would be en- tircly lost. Since the Era has become the Republican organ or Graham county it is just possible that In US advocacy Of division it has the weak enino or the democratic party in mind. But be this as it may, the dl- vision of Graham county Is a serious matter and should not be attempted until the matter is thoroughly under stood.
 THE ERA has always been in favor of division, and will continue to be un- til the people Of the east end of tine county secure the relief to which they are so justly entitled. The supcrvis- ors, by their action in issuing certifi- cate of election to Justice Settle, have recopnizcd Morcnci as having popu- lation of five thousand. Clifton has larger population than Morenci, which with Metcalf, and the balance ol the proposed new county, would give the east end population of at least fifteen thousand, which is certainly two-thirds of the population of the entire county Is it right, therefore, that two-thlrds of the people of the county should be put to the great inconvenience and eX- ponse Of attending court at the present county seat, in order to accommodate the other one-:hird of the people who reside in the lower valley? Will the Guardian please answer this question fairly and honestly, or will 1t try to avoid it in the future as it has done In the past? Is the Guardian aware that the Commercial club of Stafford passed resolutions favorable to division, pro- vided the people of the east end of the county assisted them in moving the county seat from Solomonville to Sal ford? If the people of the east end of the county were not entitled to division
 .y---.>,.r-e5 nruUtcr, put it challenges Mir BirdnO, who expects to be appointed assessor of the county for four years, to say as much. Should the county be divided Graham county would soon cease to be a county Of the tirst-class, and Mir. Birdno would therefore lose good fat position, which he Is most anxious to fill. The ERA has many times stated that it made but little difference to the peo- pie here where tho county scat Of the new county be located so long as it be at or near the center of the population. Clifton is more accessible to the entire population of the new county than any other town, and should be selected as the county scat, but if the people of MorenCi arc anxious for it no doubt they could secure it without much effort.