Arizona republican., 1908-01-17
PHOENIX ARIz., JANUARY 17. 1908.
MIR MoRRIsoNs INTERVIEW


 Hon. Robert E.. Morrison's rather vigorous way of putting if has not snly met the approval of republicans generally but has brilliantly illuminat- cd the situation with respect to the selection Of delegates to the next na- tional convention. Mir Morrison has swept away the sophistry with which the opponents of Mfr. Foraker in Ariz- ena had sought to cloud their opera tions and he has left barely exposed. the only possible result of their sue cess-an exhibition of public ingrsti- tude for which there would be no com pensating advantage to the territory or the great mass of the peopie.
 Those who had viewed the matter with apathy. as something that con- cerned only the politicians. have been made to see that any movement in favor of Secretary Taft is a movement in favor of a candidate with whom Mir. Foraker is now engaged in a deadly political conflict. In presenting this
 
 tains the highest regard for Mr. Taft. He recognizes his superb abilities. his qualities as a statesman and those qualities which would make him an ex- cellent president. In this estimate of the secretary of war all Arizonians will agree. But Mr. Morrison. holding Mir. Foraker to be equally well quali- fled. throws into the balance in his favor the deep obligations of the ter ritory to him.
 NIT. Morrison puts forth a little more plainly than it had been done before. that the only disqualification which the opponents Of MT. Foraker have urged against him. is the disapproval of President Roosevelt-a disapproval incurred in the first place by MT. For aker's fight in behalf of this territory: his stern. successful opposition to the presidents pet scheme-joint state hood
 Tn some quarters there is profess cd misunderstanding of some of the utterances of MT. Morrison: it is as- sumed that he has attacked all the federal and appointive officials. That is not the case. He doubtless had in mind the solid opposition of official dom of low and high degree, to MT. Foraker, when he hinted that its sub serviency to the will of the president in the matter of selecting delegates was moved by the wish to remain in officialdom. Mir Morrison obviously did not include Governor Kibbey and Chief Justice Kent. for both these gentlemen had already manifested their manly independence of the presi- dential will while the jointstatehood fight was in progress.
 Some of those who have been iden- flied with the Foraker opposition have complained that Mir. Morrisons em- ployment of the word "curs" was rather harsher than the circumstances warranted. It must appear 10 these complainants. on second thought that the word was not used in a personal sense, nor could il have been meant to apply to disinterested republicans who might honestly believe that the party in Arizona would be better served by an instructed delegation for Secretary Taft. Nor was the word used by him in reference to any one individual or any faction of the republican party, but it was employed as briefly descrip- tive of the attitude in which the whole party, even the territory itself would be placed. if it should appear that MT. Foraker had been deserted in time of need.
 Down deep in his mind. Mir. Morrison may have had sense of an appropri- ate personal and direct application of the word to those Arizonians and Arizonian newspapers who are irdulg- ing in personal and insulting attacks upon the territorys chief benefactor.
 THE METAL STATEMENT.