Arizona republican., 1908-09-01
THE PARTY ISSUE.

 can should be elected this fall as Arizona's delegate to. congress would form Q list so long one could not hope to make another list of equal length. except it were to recite the reasons why Mark Smith should not be elected. In either of such lists the personality of the candidate would figure materially. But there is an issue which, involves the fate of both candidates and concerning which the personality of either, in respect of political facts, is of secondary inn portance. That issue is statehood for Arizona.
 The partisans and personal friends of either candidate may be expected to leave no stone unturned in pre- senting their party nominee in the most favorable light. Such a pre- sentation will-in either case include an emphasizing of the personal vir- tues and magnetism of the candidate. It is mainly in pursuance of such plans that the republicans and dem
 ocrats of Arizona have heretofore fought their biennial battles, and the usual democratic victory has been due to the numerical strength of that party, Iessened from time to time by the personal popularity of the repub- lican candidate.
 That a republican delegate, sent to a republican congress, which will be co-Operated with by a republican president at least during the short session of congress and it is sincere ly believed, for four years thereafter, all being politically pledged to give Arizona statehood, will be able to secure it, no one can doubt for a minute. The best that democracy can say is to hope that a democratic delegate, sent to congress as a fresh testimonial that the territory is not in political accord with the nation, will be able to accomplish the same result against the embarrassing han dicap. Argument on this phase of the question could be further in dulged in and will be later.
 The point sought to be impressed now is that the republican party has an issue, on which it can stand like the rock of Gibralter, invulnerable to the democratic guns and the perpet- ual prayers and tears of the demo- cratic candidate and his faithful fol- lowing for To these many years. There is a voting strength in Arizona without the inner councils of either party, though it may be made up chiefly of members of both, that in it's patriotism for Arizona conceives the statehood question to be of more importance than the election of eith- CT man, and holds the balance of power that will determine the fate of both That this vote would instinct lively go to the republican candidate this year if conditions are permitted to normally shape themselves, is un- questioned. To insure it the re- publican leaders should make the statehood issue their foundation pol icy, a fortress the democracy cannot successfully assail and whose walls are broad enough to shelter every fighting squadron in the territorial 1 republican host.
 There are local issues of import ance as well, and capable men to de- | fend them. They should and will re- ceive due attention. Conditions ob- taining in the respective county gov ernments and the influence of the re- publican administration of territorial | affairs, all have an important bear ing on the result at the polls. But | over and above all, if Arizona has any interest in national affairs, or seeks to have any, it can be express cd in no. other. way than in the vote for delegate. next November, on the chief issue in which the national gov ernment. concerns Arizona and the | only political issue in which the na- tional government concerns itself Il about Arizona. Il