Arizona republican., 1904-04-23
A COUNTER MOVEMENT
Dr. Ford's Suggestion for Parrying the Statehood Jointure Bill.

Dr. J. M. Ford, who Is sometimes re- sourceful in times of emergency. has studied out a plan to defeat the state hood jointure-a plan which he thinks hasn't a single blowhole in it, and he comments it to patriots generally but more especially to the democracy, as the operation of the plan depends main " upon that party.
 There is no haste about the matter, for the plan becomes available only af- ter the United States senate has done it's worst by passing the statehood bill admitting Arizona and New Mexico as one state and providing among other things that the election for state off, cers shall be held at the same time the people with their ballots pass upon the constitution.
 The premises of the plan are that the bill having passed. each party, fearing that the constitution might be ratified, will. of course. naturally make a strug- gle for the offices that they may be in power when the new state begins busi- ness. Naturally each party will select its best men and naturally when once nominated they will strive for election. Each candidate will, therefore, urge his friends to support the constitution that fle Hldy StCuIe d JOD NllH llC Ssiidl attachment, and there will be scores of politicians and wire pullers, even in Arizona, who are now opposed to jointure, but who would be induced to change their minds with the pie coun7 ter in sight for them personally. Add ing together these pie counter hunters in both parties in Arizona, and the New Mexico contingent already supporting the c m fhinp that the constitution would not be ratified thinks the doctor, and if ratified there is a grave question about which party would get the offices, but strong prob ability that 1t would be a job lot of New Mexico politicians in any event.
 That is the logical sequence if the outlined order of things is carried out, according to Dr. Ford.
 The republicans, he says, would nom mate a state ticket. as would the dem ocrats, for the reason that even though all AriZonians were united in condemn ing the jointure. if they refused to run for office, New Mexico might still out vote Arizona, adopt the constitution. and elect a republican ticket nominated by the New Mexico republicans. Therefore, the republicans of Arizona should, according to pr. Ford, unite with the republicans of New Mexico in choosing the best possible state ticket Then when they go to the polls all the Arizona republicans and as many of the democrats as>could overcome their nat ural antipathy to such a course. should vote the republican ticket. Then all the democrats in Arizona and their New Mexico brethren who stand no show for the pie counter. together with such re- publicans as are opposed to the joint ure. could unite in voting against the constitution. That would insure the election of a republican, ticket, but it would. of course, be an empty honor. for the rejection Of the constitution would cause the vision of the offices to vanish. r. would also make a mighty good showing for the republican party in Washington, says Dr. Ford. q. showing that could be pointed to as a further argument for single statehood in subsequent legislation.