Arizona republican., 1909-02-16

decided, which, in this case, was to vote for the passage of the bill.
 'I am a democrat, and believe that in the principles of the democratic party will the best interests of our territory be conserved. I, therefore, supported the party caucus, as did all other members of the party in this legislature. No member of the party will so far stultify himself as to vote with the few republican members to sustain the governors veto, should one be made"
 It would seem almost futile, in view of all these things, for me to return this bill without my approval; and that it might have been the better course for me to. have remained si- lent, and to have permitted it, passed, as it appears from. the journals of the respective houses, by the votes of two-thirds of the members of each house, to have become a law without my signature. But I deem the public welfare to be of incom-
 parably more concern than any deli cacy of hesitation I might feel in writing this message of disapproval, and I cannot permit myself to appear
 
 of this legislation or the motives that prompted it.
 As to the imputation that the
 Ranger force has been used or thas any attempt has been made to use it by the appointing power as a politi- cal instrument, I have this to say in defense of that force:
 When I became governor, Captain | oF ha T did not then know what his po- litical affiliations were, and I did not inquire. Later, when a vacancy oc- cured in the office of superintendent of the territorial prison, I appointed Captain Rynning to that office. Cap tain Wheeler was then the lieutenant
 of the Rangers. I did not then know to what political party Lieutenant Wheeler belonged. Upon investiga- ton, concluded that Lieutenant Wheeler was well qualified to be captain of the Rangers and I appoint ed him to that office. For more than two years after that I did not know what his politics were, and then only casually learned them. I have every reason to believe that he was and is democrat; I never discussed the matter with him, directly or indirect ly. Never at any time has there been made a direct or the most remote suggestion by or coming from me or by him to me or by any one with my knowledge, consent or approval, to Captain Wheeler as to his opinions, his attitude, his action or his speech, past, present or future in relation to his politics or those of any other per son.
 Lieutenant Old was at the time of his appointment a sergeant of the Rangers. Upon the recommendation of Captain Wheeler, I promoted Ser geant Old to be lieutenant. I knew nothing then Of Lieutenant Old's po- litical affiliations and l know only by reputation that he was and is a dem Ocrat. I never have said or written to Lieutenant Old a word on the sub ject of politics, directly or indirectly, nor through any agency whatsoever.
 I do not think I know personally a half-doZen of the Ranger force, and I never had any communication with any of them in any way upon political matters.
 The Ranger force consists of about twenty officers and men and I do not know the political utilization of a half-dOzen of them. Upon inquiring since this matter has been discussed, I have been advised that out of the twenty at least seventeen are demo- crats. l personally do not know of a single republican among them.
 The appointments to that force and the discharges from it, while the commissions and discharges had to have the signature of the governor, have always since my incumbrency been made by Captain Wheeler with out suggestion, recommendation or interference by me in any way what ever. I do not even consider appli- cations for appointments to that force-such as may come to me are transmitted by me to the captain without suggestion of my wishes, if I had any in the matter. And no Ranger or force of Rangers has ever