Graham guardian., 1907-01-04
FOR A CIRCUIT COURT

passage of a bill creating a circuit
court for Arizona has been urged
by people in different parts of the
territory. This measure is again
being agitated and the idea that
such a law would result in great
good to the territory seems to be
almost universal, Such bill will
be drawn and the legislature asked
to pass it.
The bill will provide for the
election of our territorial judges,
giving them the same jurisdiction
now exercised by our present dis
trict judges.
No doubt such a measure would
meet with some opposition from
certain quarters, but it would re-
suit in great benefit to the people.
It would enable them to elect their
own judges, who would be answer
able to the people for their acts.
Those elected would be residents
of the county and not sent here
from other states. They would
not have to bow to the notion,
whim or fancy of one individual
in Washington.
We believe the people of this
county would favor such law al
most to a man. They have bad
an object lesson recently that
teaches them that eastern influence
has . mighty weight on federal
appointees. There were two resi-
dents of this county applicants for
the clerkship of the district court
Of Graham county. Both these
gentlemen were thorough republi.
cans, in perfect harmony, politi-
cally, with the judge. both compe-
tent men TO fill tho position, both
highly respected and both well
indorsed by our people, Yet Judge
Nave, having the power, instead
of appointing resident of this
county, appointed man from
Illinois who never saw the terri
tory and who has nothing In com
mon with our people. No doubt
the appointe is u gentleman and
competent, but our people resent
the power to appoint man from
some other state to hold Office tnat
our residents are entitled to and
whom our people pay. With a
territorial circuit court such action
as this would be impossible.
The democrats as a rule are in
favor of such law and we believe
the republicans are also. To show
their temper in the matter, we
print below a remonstrance to
Judge Nave which is now being
circulated throughout Ora b a m
county, and signed;
ave the undersigned, republi-
cans of Graham county, most re
spectfully, but earnestly, protest
against the appointment of non
resident of the territory to the
Office of clerk of the district court
of Graham county.
"We call your attention to the
declaration of the republican party |
in national convention assembled,
that All federal officers appointed |
for the territories should be select
cd from the bonitide residents
thereof, and the right of self gov
ernment should be accorded as far
as practicable
''If there can be found any ex-
cuse for deviating from this rule
in the federal positions where the
compensation is paid by tho
United States, certainly none can
be found where the Office is one
created by act of the Arizona legis
lature and is supported by the tax
payers and litigants of the county
where located We consider this
a violation Of principle dear to
the hearts of all true Americans
a principle repeatedly recognized
and recommended by the national
conventions of our party. We
feel certain that your action was
taken without a full consideration
of the principle involved and that
your sense Of fairness will, after
more mature consideration, dictate
different course. We have no
desire TO dictate as to who shall
receive the appointment, but most
earnestly request that some one
be named who is a resident of
Graham county, or, at least, resi-
dent OF the territory of Arizona"
THE GUARDIAN desires. in the