Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1906-03-28
SOME PERTINENT QUESTIONS
lt'rom wednesday's DaiIy.l

I ~"iN'" WV f""'i' J'S''i""S ~ WV ~
markable statements made by Colonel
J. +. Wilson concerning his eleventh.
/ hour interview with r. G. Norris, the
attorney for the United Verde Copper
company, and would loo "boss" of
the Democratic party Of Yavapai coun.
~.
/ On the face of the interview there
was seemingly nothing compromising
or questionable but beneath the sur.
/ face there lurkcd subtle scheme, 10y
which apparently Norris hoped to In.
ducc Colonel Wilson TO commit himself
: 10 certain policies in the matter of the
taxation OF mines, for the larg-s. Of
which Norris is the rcputcd political
agent and Acknowledged legal repre-.
sentative. KS Colonel Wilson SAYS,
ono direct proposition or demand was
made upon me, for Norris knew that
I | was not the kind of man who would
submit 10 that" but the public cannot
help but conclude that had his express
sions of policy been favorable to the
interests represented by Norris. Col.
Wilson would have been appointed as
district. attorney the following morn.
ing.
IL is prepostcrous to assume that
Norris through n third person called
Colonel Wilson out Of his bed NJ late
hour of night for the sole purpose Of
engaging in friendly and academic
discussion of the policies 81 county gov
eminent, or the manner Of taxation.
Mr.. Wilson was n sick man at the time.
being laid up with broken shoulder.
and the exigcncics of the occasion
must have been 81 extraordinary inn
portancc to Justify requesting a man
thus 10 discommodc himself.
In view of these facts, concerning
which there can be no dispute, several
pertinent questions arise, upon which
the public seeks enlightenment.
Why was Colonel Wilson metaphor.
ically dragged out of bed, on the night
before the day when the supervisors
were to make m appointment Of dis.
trict attorney, unless there was some
prospect that the Colonel could be
sppointedi
Why was Colonel Wilson requested
to appoint Charley Herndon as his de.
putty in ease the former received
the appointment, unless the man who
made that request was not sure that
he could "deliver the goods
Why was Colonel Wilson "put
over the hurdles" in Norris private
office, through series Of questions
on vital county matters, unless Norris
wished to satisfy himself that his wish
tor would "stand" with him, in the
event that Wilson was given the Of.
ncei
Why did Norris, knowing that Col.
Wilson was an honorable gentleman,
an upright citizen, and n man with an
unblemished record as n public official,
seek to have him commit himself on
county government matters, unless II
was FOR an ulterior motivei
Why did Norris tell Wilson that
he would like TO see him accept the
position IL offered to him, IL this
was not an indirect means OF inform.
ing the colonel that he (Norris) had
the power to control the appointment
How gould Norris control the ap.
pointment unless he owned the major.
ity Of the board Of supervisors, as 10
the general suppositionf
II he does own them, what potent
influence does he use that he il thus
able TO enslave men who are supposed
TO be free and moral agentsf
10 IL true that few men have been
elected to any office of Importance in
Yavapai county without the support
Of the United Verde company
IL this be true, IL it any wonder
that county Affairs are in deplorable
condition, that taxes are high and
oppressive, and that the county has