Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1908-10-14
MARK SMITHS EgoTIsM.

Of his inexpcricncc is one Of the oft
repeated statements Of Mark Smith
against the Republican nominee for
delegate 10 congress, Ralph Cameron.
same frame of mind ~ when he made
his now famous statement At Prescott.
Ariz.. Sept. -, 1905. as follows:
"Thcrc is not man in this audience.
no matter how highly educated he may
be, who can 20 to congress and face
tne responsibilities trcmblnglv as
sumo in framing the dcstinies Of u new
state. y Evidently, according TO Mark
Smith, the constitutional provision
which requires biennial elections for
representatives in congress is all
wrong; that he, Marcus Aurelus
Smith, should be sent 90 congress be-
cause Of his great ability and long ea.
pcriencc in craftsmanship and that We
should declare this position his for
life.
II IN fortunate. however. for the
Amcricanism OF the people Of Arizona
that they still continue 10 believe as
the fathers. fresh from the fields of
Trenton and Of Valley Forge. believed
when they sa, in the constitutional
convention, that in order to maintain
this ~ free government, ii would be
essential that elections occur al least
once in two years 80 that men who
were in touch and sympathy with the
people could and would be elected.
knowing full well the tendency Of an
individual grown bold with long power
~ an official. 10 usurp to himself the
functions Of Omnipotcnce. both in in.
'elligcncc and in cgotism. and TO get
into a monarchial idea Of perpetui,y
OF office. We supposed that in Ameri
ca today the idea that the people shall
rule was 80 thoroughly grounded in the
minds OF men that 1t was a fundamen
tai and automatic thought in the poll
Gle, of ID. country.
/, has been some time since We have
had display of such egotisiic AFRO.
ganec in America. One Bacr claimed
to be tac snuointcd ~ God to rule the
destinies of the coal fields. Kings
throughout medieval times also be.
lieved that the destinics of men were
dependent upon them and that they
represented God in the world. This
doctrine, however, is hardly acceptable
TO the frecdom.loving spirit of the
great west. Neither the man in the
alfalfa fields nor the man in the mines
is willing TO surrender to any one man,
regardless OF ais length of servitude,
his rights and his freedom. Every
American citizen believes too much in
himself 10 feel that we are prepared
today for monarchial form Of gov.
erumcnt. In order to keep our gov
crnmeut pure and democratic. II IL ali
solutely essential 10 have an election
I
become SO far removed from III,
thought and spirit of the masses as "a
declare against our form of govern
ment, TO feel that he j. the Amounted
one. the time is ripe 10 look out in oui
community and find some young an'
vigorous representative in Arizon'
who Is in sympathy with the though
and spirit of the times that one o
US whose daily endcavor has brough
him in constant contact with the pro
gfcss of Arizona. one who is in toucl
and sympathy with the problems tina
are daily presenting themselves in III
solution of Arizona's greatness; on
who. in his daily duties, toucaes elbow
with his ncighbors and knows hi
neighbors' aspirations and ambition
in life. Such man is Ralph Gamer
on, and such man can more trul
and honestly represent Arizona.
No wonder Mark Smith believes h
is the only man to represent Arizona
interest, He was nominated by sell
appointed convention and n machin
controlled absolutely by himself an
mis- friends. Not u single Democrat
, the territory outside of this machin
; had voice in the selection Of III
man who should represent them in tn
campaign. On the other hand, Ralp
, Cameron is the choice Of duly electe
. representatives of the rank and file {
, the people Of Arizona in conventio
? assembled Bisbee Miner.