Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1903-01-21
WHAT VOTERS MAY EXPECT.

In its last issue the Journal Miner intimated that voters would watch with interest the action of the pres ent legislature to see how many brok- en promises would be made by it. Demagogues who have no interest in the public welfare of the territory dictated the platform adopted at Tue son, caring nothing for what it con- tained, aside from whatever utter ances might be made to deceive the unwary voter into supporting it. Democratic newspapers now through the dictation and inspiration of these self same demagogues are engaged in framing excuses for the democratic members, whereby they may absolve themselves from carrying out the measures they pledged themselves to support prior to election. The Jour- nal-Miner has always claimed that a democratic platform is as sounding brass or tinkling cymbal, meaning nothing and not intended to be taken seriously after the close of a cam paign. As an illustration that the party never intended to redeem its platform pledges and also as an illus tration of the excuses furnished the members of the legislature for ignor- ing them the following is quoted from the Globe Silver Belt, a paper which championed democracy at the last campaign. Under the caption of Party Platform and Pledges" it says:
 "Some of our contemporaries keep harping upon the allegiance demo- cratic members of the legislature owe to the Tucson platform, as though that parody of democratic principles was entitled to any consideration from self respecting democrats. The platform which the Yavapai delega- tion forced upon the convention was simply an expedient to catch the la bor vote and insure the election of Wilson. After all, it seems not to have been good bait, since the demo- cratic majority was considerably re- duced, suggesting that few horny handed sons of toll voted for Bob Morrison.
 But other considerations aside, a majority of the legislative candidates were nominated prior to the assembling of the territorial convection, and are bound if at all, by the promises made to the people in the respective county platforms. However, it is safe to con- clude that not one in ten of the dis tinguished gentlemen chosen to legis- late for us could intelligently state what the platform he was nominated on promised.
 ''What we hope to see in the ap- preaching legislative session is less politics, and an honest and intelligent endeavor to legislate in the interests of the whole people. "
 The Tucson Star, edited by Ex-Gov- ernor l.. c. Hughes, and which is considered the ablest exponent of democracy in the territory, and which also exerts a greater influence in shaping the policy of the party, than any other paper in the territory, says:
 ''The legislature which will meet next Monday will have a stout job on its hands if it attempts to carry out all of the pledges of the Territorial platform. It has been urged so to do by one of the radical members of the | Arizona press. Several of the pledges | of the platform are all right, the others must be greatly modified be- fore being enacted into the law of the | territory. The coming legislature will have a hard task on its hands to keep off the breakers. while passing | through its legislative term
 From the above expressions, which | have also been voiced by other papers in the territory, it is apparent what | voters may expect from those whom they elected to the legislature on the democratic ticket.