Arizona republican., 1902-09-17
PHoENIX. ARIZONA, SEPT. r. 1SO:
A Difficult Choice.

Today will be notable in the history of the republican party of Arizona, for two reasons: the convention to nomin- ate a candidate for delegate to congress will undoubtedly be the last to be held under a territorial form of government. and the delegates are required to make a nomination when there is no avowed candidate for the honor. This is unique situation; especially so in view of the fact that there is substantial certainty that the republican candidate will be elected. The absence of can didates is due to the fact that there is little prospect that the delegate elected in November will have an opportunity to take his seat at Washington before the territory. is admitted as state. and the arduous task of making a can vass of the territory for the mere honor of leading the party on the eve of emancipation from territorial bondage has not the offsetting allurements of honors to be won at the national cap ital. It is this situation which makes it necessary for the party practically to command one of its members to take up the responsibility of leadership.
 As mentioned in these columns yes- ,Nfn nnScihla inees has been narrowed by common consent to two men-the Hon. w. F. Nichols of Cochise county. and tn" Hon. Robert F.. Morrison of Yavapai county, and since nobody was able to say with authority yesterday that either Nichols or Morrison would re- fuse the nomination, the assembling delegates will find it their first duty this morning to consider with great care the relative strength of these stall senting the party of the territory, have to consider the welfare of the party first-the wishes of MT. Morrison or Of MT. Nichols come as a secondary con- sideration. The party must be built up and strengthened. and great vic tory must be won, regardless of the fact that coming statehood will take away-for a time, at least-the compen- sation which belongs to a victorious leader.
 And it muzt be confessed that In de- ciding between Nichols and Morrison the delegates have no easy task. It is not the province of a newspaper to make nominations, and if 1t were The Republican would not eagerly avail itself of such a prerogative in this in- stance for when the searchlight is turned upon Morrison and Nichols they are found to measure up so equally that a good republican,, seeking only the welfare of the party and the terri tory and having no selfish purposes to serve. cannot say with certainty that either would be stronger than the other and vote-getting ability is the only test, for personally both men are abso- lutely unexceptionable.. It was a close observance of Judge Nichols many ex- cellent qualities thr9pghout many years which led Governor Murphy to call him to the office of auditor of the ter ritory last year and 10 suggest him lasi spring as an ideal candidate of the re- publican party for congress, and every body who knows Judge Nichols recog- nizes him as the peer of the best man that Arizona can produce. If nomin- ated. Judge Nichols would poll the full party strength. and would receive many democratic votes.
 And when MT. Morrison is considered it is seen that in him the party would likewise have certain winner Should he be named it would not be his first experience as an opponent of Wilson, the democratic candidate Most of the delegates to today's. con vention remember clearly that a few
  years ago Morrison and Wilson were rival candidates for the office of dis trict attorney of Yavapai county, and that Morrison drove his chariot to vic tory, dragging Wilson in the dust of the worst defeat ever encountered by the man from Arkansaw. To see Nor