Bisbee daily review., 1908-02-12
INSTRUCTED OR CONSTRUCTED.

CONSTRUCTED.
 The Tucson Post, the spokesman for the republican party in Pima coun- ty, comes out this week in a strong editorial supporting the proposition to send a representative uninstructed delegation to the Chicago republican national convention. The Post says:
 From present indications the com ing republican territorial convention for the selection of delegates to the re- publican national convention will be the scene of Q very warm political battle. The lines are already plainly drawn, the gauntlet has been thrown down, and the fight is on. It is purely and simply a struggle of the federal officials of the territory, led by the governor. on the one side, and the re- pubncans generally on the other. The federal officers, who are prominent in the fight, naturally desire an instruct ed delegation. The reason for this is too plain to call for comment. They hold their appointment by the grace of the president, and, of course, self interest and future hope demands strict obedience to the will of their official maker.
 Let it be understood that the Post has no fight with any candidate nor with the federal officials. The presi- dential appointees in this territory are most satisfactory; they are con ducting the affairs of their respective chces in an able, efficient and digni-
 fled manner, with credit to themselves and to the administration. But are there no republicans in Arizona, out side the official circle, who are capa- ble of attending to political matters? If there are, shall they be relegated to back seats, or shut out entirely from republican conferences?
 There is little to be said in favor of instructed delegations at any time, especially in the territories, except from the standpoint of those who are holding office by appointment, and who seek to lay the foundation for the further extension of political fav- or.
 The coming national convention is of peculiar and particular interest in the territory. Much may be gained by careful and judicious management. and to jeopardize any chance of ad- vantage the territory might have by tying up her delegation with instruc- tions for any one, would be little short of criminal. Much activity is evident in political circles, and there are many aspirants for the republican nomination for president There is no one well enough informed at pres ent to say who will be the nominee. The literary bureaus are very busy in an effort to convince the people in favor of their several candidates, but no one man has the whip handle to the situation
 Tn this political game Arizona has a hand, and to play her cards before she gets a seat would be the height of foolishness. Let the republicans of the territory select able, level-headed men to represent them in the national convention, and send them absolutely untrammelled and unfettered; then, once on the ground, they are in posi- tion to become acquainted with the situation as it really is and use what ever strength they may have to ad- vantage. Who knows but that Ari- zona's delegates might hold the de ciding vote in the contest? Shall they lose every chance they have because of instructions which can serve no purpose save that already stated?
 The people of this territory are just s'loyal to the president as those of any other section of the United States, and they have good and sufH- cient reason for being so, but is there any more reason why the president Should say who shall succeed him than there is for the exercise of the same privilege by any other officer the sheriff of the county, or the treas urer, for instance?
 Summing up the entire situation from the standpoint of good sense, good politics, and more than all. the welfare of Arizona, there is absolutely no valid reason for an instructed dele gation, but a most urgent demand for a representation wholly free to exer- else it's best judgment for the inter