Arizona republican., 1903-02-02
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, FEB. 2, 1903,
senator Bard's Fresh information

delivered of his maiden speech. IL IS an unwritten rule in the senate that a new senator shall make no set speech until after he has served two years. except in cases where the interests of bill or when eulogies are pronounced upon deceased senators. Senator Bard has observed this rule with sufficient fidelity to relieve him from adverse re- mark in the senate-on the 4th of March next he will have served two years. He chose the statehood bill for his initial effort, and judging from the synopsis of his remarks as furnished by the dispatches it cannot be said that he covered himself with glory. His fame would have suffered none had he waited fer another question to come before the senate, for he had the ex- ceedingly bad taste to assail his near est neighbors-the people of Arizona.
 It is generally assumed that the Los Angeles Times exercises somewhat of a direct control over Senator Bard; at any rate. that paper certainly cannot be charged with unfairness toward the junior senator from California. and it Is evident that it would take particular fore. 1t is from the special dispatches to the Times giving the senator's words on the opening day of his speech CThursday) that we take the subjoined extracts. It is evident that Senator Bard feels keenly the criticisms to which he has been subjected in Ari- zona and California for taking a posi- tion so antagonistic to the interests of that state and this territory, for he opens with this explanation and apolo- gy;
 ordinarily, I would subordinate my own judgment to the opinions of the people of my state. when they are fairly and definitely expressed. with the full knowledge of all the facts, es- pecially in regard to policies affecting their vital interests alone, but in a matter like the pending question. in volving the consideration of my duty to the whole people of the United States, I recognize no higher authority and direction than my own judgment and conscience.
 T may be pardoned for referring to the aspect which the consideration of the measure has assumed to me per sonally, when I state that my action in joining with a majority of the com mittee on territories during the latter part of the first session of this con- gress. upon the motion to fix a date for consideration of the omnibus statehood bill, and also my action in joining a majority of the committee in its adverse report on the bill, has been severely criticised by many Arizona newspapers and by some California newspapers. for what they consider my disregard for the interests of that sec tion of the country, and because of this criticism I am more desirous of briefly indicating the convictions which have governed my action in the mat ter'
 Having made this explanation, it was naturally expected that the sem ator would proceed to show that his special facilities for gathering inform atlon concerning Arizona-as he passes through the territory in a Pullman car at night-have enabled him to learn facts which prove that his constituents and the citizens of Arizona are entirely wrong, and the reader looks for some astounding disclosures discomftting to the Arizonian. Breathlessly we pro- ceed to read, accordingly. that it would be improper to admit Arizona into the union-because- there are Mormons in Arizona. Ignoring the fact that the great progress in this territory-the marvellous development of business en- terprises and the increase in popula- tion-has been chiefly during the last ten years, he turns to reports made by Governor Murphy in 1890 and by Gov ernor Hughes in 1S93-ten years ago to show the large percentage of Nor mons in the total of church members in the territory These are the words of the senator as quoted by his next friend. the Times:
 The governors of the territory of Arizona at various times in its his tory have found occasion to refer specifically to them. In 1890 Governor Murphy estimates the number of Nor. mons in Arizona at 12,000. which, he says, is one-fifth of the popula ton un- der the census. and in view of restric tive legislation in Idaho and the prob ability of similar action in Utah, it is more than likely that immigration of that class of people to Arizona wifi rapidly increase, and in his concluding remarks he devnteG considerable space in stating the facts as they appear to him in reference to the Mormons.
 He says the influences of the Nor mon church upon the progress of west ern civilizat ton and their effects nor ally are vexatious. It seems to be gen. erally accepted by the highest modern intelligence that the public welfare and the general good of our people will be