Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1903-06-18
The majors Real Grievance.

Major O'Brien Moore OF tucson con-
tinues to criticise the action OF Act
ing Governor Stoddard in requesting
the presence of United States troops
at Morenci during the late strike ii
might be supposed that Maio" Moore
has given way to fit of cap;:ousness'
for he is usually captious, but we know
that this time he is really aggrieVed.
He does not. however, state his griev-
ance. He wells it behind the assertion
that the regulars were not needed, that
the comitatus and the militia were able
to meet the exigency and that tie in
vited Intrusion of the United States
trocrs was a dampener on statehood,
in that it proves that the territory is
unable to take care of itself.
We happen to know what is the mat
ter with Major Moore. If his heart
beats for one thing more than another
ii is for the national guard, not only
of Arizona, but of all states. He cares
nothing for the mere calling out of the
regulars. He does not believe that the
chances of Arizona for statehood have
been put in jeopardy. The wound he
nurses is the affront which he imagines
has been put upon the national guard.
1t was as a national guardsman that
Major Moore won military distinction
and a title. 1t will not be forgotten so
long as there is n memory of the war
with Spain that Major Moore COM
manded a battalion of the West Vir-
ginia militia We believe the militia
did not take an active part in the con-
ed beyond the boundaries Of the state.
but it was always more than willing to
20 TO the front.
The miscalculation Of Cervera and
the precipitateness of the American
fleet rendered it's presence at the scene
of conflict unnecessary. The disap-
pointment of Major Moore and the
members of his command was one of
the fortunes of war. The doughty
deeds that the West Virginia national
guard would have performed must be
taken for granted, and we do not be-
lieve that grateful American people
will withhold from that organization
the reward for the glory it would have
earned if it had been given an oppOr-
tunity We believe that Major Moore
and every brave follower of his during
that momentous period in which the
call to arms was awaited are eligible
to membership in the Spanish War vet
Grams
But Major Moore was "grouched" by
the inactivity which was forced upon
him, and he has come to think that
any obstacle thrown in the way of the
guard is thrown in malice. with the
object of preventing it from display
ing its efficiency.
We are certain that Acting Governor
Stoddard had no such purpose in view
At the time the request was made for
the sending of the regulars to Morenci
1t was believed there and everywhere
that the local authorities could not
meet the situation. The officers of the
guard did not think so, and the sheriff
of Graham county did not believe so.
Nobody doubted the efficiency and the
bravery of the Arizona national guard
but it seemed to lack numerical
strength to successfully stand against
more than three thousand strikers, fif-
teen to one. 1t is apparent now that
the national guard could have handled
the strike without assistance. But
when things were seething at Morenci
it was no time for an experiment
We do not believe that our prospect
for statehood has been darkened by
the presence of the regulars at Nor
enci. We remember that United States
troops were once called out at Chicago
and again at Couer d'Alene. There
was no threat in consequence to make
territories out of Illinois and Idaho for
the reason that they were unable to
protect themselves. Neither will Ari-
Zona be kept a territory for the same
reason alone. We do not believe that
Beveridge will even aliude to the affair
at MOrenci