Arizona republican., 1906-07-26
WHAT CONSTITUTES A POLICY?

Ut is certainly edifying," says the Las Vegas Optic, with perceptible irony, ito see the republicans of Ari- zona uniting with the democrats to de- feat national republican policy"
 The Republican has asked until it has become tired. without receiving a reply, when and how joint statehood be- came a national republican policy. It could not have been made one by the president in his message, for months afterward, the Optic, which is sturdily and steadily republican, opposed joint ure with as much vigor as any news paper in either territory
 Admitting for the moment that the president or congress, or both of them, may create a party policy, will the Optic inform us what official utterance or act since the transmission of the message to congress may be regarded as a declaration in favor of joiTIure either as a policy or a proper exigency?
 It is true that the house passed the Hamilton bill, practically forcing joint ure upon New Mexico and Arizona. But that act was never completed. The senate, which certainly has as much to do with outlining party policies as the house, declared that there should be no jointure for the two western territories. But that was also an uncOmpleted act.
 Finally, both houses agreed unani- mously upon an act which was decla- ir,e.+ frNff, ,fTTY-e It provided that the people of both New Mexico and Arizona might decide in their own way whether there should be jointure. The president approved this act and so completed it.
 The only policy, therefore, before us, if it may be called a policy, is per mission to exercise our choice in this momentous matter. We know of mo- body. democrat or republican. who is trying to defeat this policy"
 The Optic and certain other jointist newspapers may have received an err roneous notion that joint statehood is a republican policy from various unoffi- cial expressions by President Roosevelt of a preference for jointure. No sane man can believe that the president re- garded, or desired to be regarded, his more or less casually expressed wishes as policies and principles of his party.
 A year or more ago the president enunciated certain views regarding a need of a revision of football rules, and even invited a conference of football experts at the White House to see what could be done about them. The revision plan was not accepted by the the lead ing universities and colleges, yet it is not pretended that they and the game are in cOntraventiOn of the principles of the national republican party.
 On a later occasion the president, in a public speech, delivered an Utterance which has been generally interpreted to be a wish to see national income tax law enacted. Nobody believes that the republican party will enact such law, and, if it does not, nobody will contend that it is in contravention of itself
 A few years ago the president, in a public address. lamented the tendency toward race suicide, inferentially urg- ing upon the country an increase in the production of American boys and girls. We do not know whether there has been such an increase in consequence of that unofficial but excellent recom- mendation, but certainly no member of the presidents party who has since neglected to multiply and replenish can be accused of being a recreant repub- lican.
 We know nothing of the domestic af- fairs of Brother McNary of the Optic, but if he has not complied with that casual declaration against race suicide, let him not cast the first stone at the republicans of Arizona who may not comply with the presidents view of statehood.