Arizona republican., 1903-05-03
PHOENIX, ARIZONA. MAY 3. 1903
What CAM and Bennett Stand for.


from the Phoenix election; neither are
Theodore Roosevelt. William ]. Bryan
and Grover Cleveland lying awake
nights worrying over the bearing
which the election may have on the
politics of the nation. Indeed. 1t seems
safe to say that Phoenix itself will
continue to exist, no matter who IS
chosen for mayor.
But there is, nevertheless. a great
deal OF Importance attaching to this
mnyor and retired from office only two
years ago. The people know what he
il. Judging from their actions near
the close of his term. they have sad
knowledge of Mr.. CAM. For weeks
the people had demanded that the
mayor and council call an election to
give the citizens a chance to vote on
the question of municipal water works.
For weeks Mayor CAM and majority
OF the council refused to take action.
Their function in the matter was pure
~ mechanical, and they had no right
whatever to interpose their will against
the will of their constituents. The mo-
tives which controlled these officials
were well understood. The popular in
dignation was, however, based not
only on a knowledge Of these motives
but on the attempt to dictate to an en-
kire electorate what it should do, and
! fourths of the city. regardless of the
position of voters on the watcr ques-
rights. One of the most notable mass
meetings ever held in Phoenix de-
tors in words heretofore unheard
against any official in Arizona. A reso-
lutte leader probably could have led the
vast crowd to wreak personal violence
on CAM. Orators employed on behalf
of the administration implored the as
sembled citizens to refrain from
move which, as one speaker expressed
1t. meant the social ostracism and bust
ness ruin OF these officials but with
q grim determination to have its way
the crowd adopted resolutions whereof
the sting will remain so long as they
are Remembered.
Who then would have believed that
Emil CAM would have the hardihood
ITO ask again for the office of mayor
within two short years? 1t is true that
Mr. GAM claims today that he faces in
a direction opposite to the way he
faced when mayor before, but we do
not consider it very material to know
what his real Views are on the water
question.
The great point is that he has shown
himself to be man incapable Of COM
pretending what is due the people from
him as mayor.
But this is not all Of the CAM record.
It was during the two years Of his adj
ministration that the mismanagementI
Of city affairs reached an appalling
state. CAM was completely under the
domination OF corrupt bosses and ward
heelers if he did not actually stand in
with them. The city was plunged into
debt thousands upon thousands of dol
lars for the benefit Of a ring which still
has its clutches on the city treasury.
CAM Is personally honest, we take
It. but he is exactly of the type of
mayor most beloved by the political
CRATER. Responsibility. ignorance, and
placid acceptance of orders from the |
achine-these are the qualities which |
beal to the friendship of the men |
% are in politics for the graft there |
in 1T.
rhe record of Mr.. CAM shows that |
stands for all that Is worst in mu-
cipal politics.
On the other hand, Walter Bennett,
start with. is a man of exceptionally
Ugh intelligence. He is subseryient to |
nobody. Nobody can control him. He
knows nothing of the practical poll
Kraft He is not only a man of great
bIIity and force of character, but his
II men. however powerful, would un-