Arizona republican., 1906-07-09
THE HIDDEN LAID BARE.

HE f1l1lJI--N L4<AIl DAME.
 The world now knows precisely what Dr. Rodgers said to President Roose- welt and what President Roosevelt said in reply to Dr. Rodgers. It is deplor- able that an effort was made by some one to put the president before the people in a false light. It is regret table that pr. Rodgers was not given the first opportunity to correct the mis- take that has been made after his at tention was directed to the seriousness Of it. We cannot believe that he was an active party to the scurvy trick which has been played on the president in a silly effort to fool the people of this territory. It could not have sue ceeded even if 1t had not been promptly discovered. Its only effect could have been to irritate Arizonians against the president.
 Now that it has been laid bare, two main facts are presented for considera- tion. The first is that no means are too desDicable for the advocates O. joint statehood to employ in their hope less attempt to ruin the territory Nothing meaner than the lie which has been sent broadcast throughout the country could have been conceived. The meanness of it is intensified by it's futility. It was not possible that it could long escape detection It" was wholly lacking in the genius of wick edness which sometimes affords it an appearance of responsibility. Al least, some people may respect trick cry if it is cleverly devised and sue ceeds.
 Another thing to be considered is the mental makeup of the executive committee" of the Joint Statehood as Fociation, of whomsoever 1t may con- sist, as disclosed by the letter of Dr. Rodgers. The committee, the doctor wrote, desired the removal, or. at least, the suppression of all federal officials in Arizona who could not be brought into camp. One offender was the pro- prietor of newspaper, who had dared to assert that joint statehood would be detrimental to the territory Another was a member of the supreme court. who had, doubtless, expressed a sim. liar sentiment. It could not be charged that either of these appointees had employed their official positions against jointure. They could have had no opportunity to do that. They were to be denied the right of free speech in a matter which they believed involved the safety of the territory
 What kind of an opinion of the pres ident could the executive committee have formed, that it should urge him to a violation of the spirit of the con- stitution? We are surprised that the reply of the president. though it was :. 'slap in the face" was not still more vigorous.
 That reply ought not tc be without effect in New Mexico, where many of the federal officials appear to have formed an estimate of the president similar to that of the executive com mittee." In the beginning they were violently opposed to jointure and put forth unanswerable arguments against it. They gradually gave way. until now we believe all of them are in favor of it. some of them violently SO They evidently assumed that a change os opinion was the price of continuance in office, and they paid it without being asked to do so.
 It would be interesting to know tie presidents comparative opinion of the federal officials of New Mexico and the federal officials of Arizona. who have maintained a respectful but firm an- tagonism to joint statehood