Arizona republican., 1904-03-15
Why TIT. Roosevelt Is Popular in
 Arizona.


 The democratic papers and politi- clans that are trying to make political capital in this territory by abusing President Roosevelt will not make much of 0 success of the job. MT. Roosevelt is popular with the people of Arizona, and that popularity will not be diminished to any marked extent by his failure to advocate the admis- sicn of Arizora as state.
 Intelligent and fGir-minded Arizon- ians have no personal gri-vance against the statesmen who have been fair toward this territory while refus- ing to take up her statehood battle. From the Arizona viewpoint there is no "other side" to the statehood question, of course, but it is recognized that many honest and wise n1en at Washington have been unable to take our view of it. And with lawmakers and presidents who merely disagree with US we have no quarrel. Arizona's grievance is against the senators and representatives who-maliciously it has scemed-h0ve slandered our peo- present and future conditions and pie tured Arizona citizens as unfit" for statehood and have painted Arizona it. self as a desert waste.
 But whatever views Mir. Roosevelt may hold as to the wisdom of admit ting Arizona separately from New Mex ico, he has never been guilty of mak- ing statements hurtful to Arizona in peatedly expressed his admiration for the sturdy Americanism of Arizona's citizens. and has emphasized his con- fdence in the great agricultural and mineral development which awaits the territory.
 And, specifically, what MT. Roose- welt has done for Arizona's business interests accounts for the warm friend ship which our people entertain for him. It is not because he was a brave and gallant scldisr. not because he is a brave and honest president. that Arizonians have a decided liking for him. The qualities which he dis played in war are not rGre-personal bravery and cOolness i1 battle and willingness 10 fight for the hsg are personal qualities which can be found in abundance in every Arizona school district. The unflinching courage with h fa11 lN1 White House, his sagacious statesman ship, his democratic manners, his honesty, his determination to give the country an honest administration in every detail, his policy of giving every man a flair show and his efforts to execute the laws without favoritism to rich or poor, do appeal strongly to the people of Arizona, but it is not because of them that MT. Roosevelt is so ex- ceptionally strong in this territory -
 MT. Rocsevelt's great popularity rests upon the fact that he, more than anybody else, is responsible for the national irrigation law. He adopted the national irrigation policy for his own when it was yet little mere than the chimerical dream of few enthus- iastic men in the west. He pressed that policy vigorously upon congress and at the critical stage in the legis- lation threw all the powerful influence of the national administration in it's favor. Had he failed 10 give his sup pert to national irrigation it would not have succeeded in congress then. or for years and years thereafter-if ever.
 The people of Arizona appreciate what the success of this policy means for them. They understand that the eXpediture of millions upon the Tonto Basin reservoir is merely the begin ming of national reclamation work in this territory. They know that not only will the waters of the Salt river be stored, but there will be storage works on the Verde on the Gila and on the Colorado-provided that the democrats do not come into power and decide that this use of government funds is unconstitutional" And it is well understood that when this great programme as to Arizona is fully car ried out this will be one of the richest agricultural states in the union.
 IL was an innovation for the presi- dent of the United States boldly to advocate legislation fer the sole bene- fit of the far west, and MT. Roosevelt's practical help will never be forgotten b-' Arizona.
 Tor long time the late c. P Hunt