The Socorro chieftain. [volume] (Socorro, N.M.) 1902-1959, 1906-02-24
Which May Be Held to Frame Q
Constitution for the State Of
Arizona.
SHALL IT BE NON PARTlSAN2
Col. Hopewell Thinks 1t Should,
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Thinks It Should Not.

lt lOliOWihE 1hiAOAAoi lAOii 81
recent issue of the Santa Fee New
Mexican is commended to the
readers of the Chieftain as ex-
pressing a sensible and practical
view of the subject of politics
and the constitutional conven-
ton:
THE New Mexican in anoth-
er column publishes an interview
with Hon. w. S. Hopewell,
leading citizen of this Territory
and a staunch Democrat. Mr..
Hopewell has served his party
we'll and acceptably as chairman
of the Democratic territorial CEN
trail committee and has also rep
resented the county of Sierra in
the legislative assembly. He
favors non-partisan constitu-
tional convention, should the
n-Beveridge joint state
hood bill become law. Mr.. Hope
wells position is doubtless well
taken from his standpoint, but
only this and nothing more, in
the opinion of this paper.
From the very organization
of this government, constitu-
tional conventions, and in fact,
any and all bodies whose duties
it was to make or change the
fundamental law of the state
which they represented, have
been of partisan character, that
is, one of the great political par
ties of the country had a majorl-
ty of members and controlled the
deliberations and actions of the
body. In the most advanced
states of the Union this has been
the case universally. In the
great state of New York there
has never been a constitutional
convention whose members were
not elected upon a political plat
form and by the existing polite
al parties. There have been
numerous constitutional conven-
tions held in the south since the
Civil War. When these had
majority of Democratic members
there has always been action en-
bodying the principles of the
Democratic party i'll government
tai affairs. In conventions held
during the past forty or fifty
years in other states of the
Union, the stronger political
party has more or less eugraited
its principles into the constitu-
ton. In addition there are many
important political items to be
adjudged by such bodies and to
be put into. fundamental law to
be created by them, and after
wards to be approved by the peo-
pie.
IF New Mexico were to come
in as a separate state there is no
doubt but what the Republicans
would carry it this or next year
by majority of 10000 and over.
In the Joint state OF Arizona, the
situation will not be as favorable
TO the Republican party, but fa-
vorably enough TO make sensible
and we'll informed Democrats
look with favor upon the idea
advanced by Mr.. Hopewell. The
Republicans will not take to il
very kindly and there is no good
reason why they should. A ma
jority of Republican delegates tC
the constitutional convention ot
the new state, may be depended
upon to formulate the right anC
proper kind of document TO b,
submitted to the people. AS ;
fixed and we'll established party
principle it would be extreme
political folly for the Republican
party to give up its vantage
ground in this contest and ALLOW
the forming of the constitution
by its weaker political opponents
and enemies. Advantages of tn,
kind now possessed by the Re
publican party in New Mexico
: are not given up voluntarily
and there is no case on record il
the history of this country wher
any political party has done so
A majority of the Republican
delegates to the constitutions
convention, if it comes, will b
elected and then, and in tina
case, the people of the new stat
will be sure that a constitution
which will be fair, just and equit
able TO all men as nearly as II
possible under our system of gov