Arizona republican., 1909-02-16

fered nor been at cross purposes with any of my deputies. I am personally acquainted with at least half of the present Ranger force and know them to be capable and efficient officers They are, as a rule, stationed in out of-the-way places where there are no local peace officers or where the local officers are incompetent and their presence is needed.
 Under your administration the Rangers have enforced the law with out fear or favor in all parts of this territory. I should regret very much to see any action taken by the legis- lature to the injury of the Arizona Rangers"
 The others are of like import. do not know of any persons in the territory who have better opportunity for knowing of the efficiency of the Ranger force, and of the work that it does, than do the county sheriffs. As there is popularly believed to be some degree of hostility between the offices of sheriff and the Ranger force. the testimony of the sheriffs cannot be impugned as self serving or cOlored to favor the Ranger force.
 Of another class of officers who have exceptional opportunities to know of the efficiency of the Ranger force, are the district attorneys. Their official duties bring the working of this force directly within their obser- vatiCn.
 The district attorneys of many counties have also testified in writ ing to the efficiency of this force and to the good that il, accomplishes. For the reason that ICdo not copy into this message or attach hereto copies of the letters of the sheriffs. do not copy the letters of the various dis trict attorneys CT attach copies of them hereto.
 I may quote from one, however, to illustrate the tenor of all:
 ''I cannot permit frny term of office as the district attorney of CocOnino county to close without expressing to you my sincere thanks for the splen- did. efficient, practical and honorable service and support the Rangers have given to my administration.
 The Arizona Rangers have proved their value and their usefulness so often in northern Arizona, particu- larly, that it is almost impossible b commend their work too highly.
 "The Rangers travel through the remote sections of the territory and perform duties and functions that or dInary peace officers. in the nature of things, cannot perform. The Rang CTS travel constantly and go to the haunts of criminals and not only eff feet arrests, but obtain the evidence upon which convictions are based
 Your force is composed of sober. intelligent, honest men and I shall ever feel grateful to you, and each of the force, for the great assistance you gave my office in dealing with the criminal classes"
 It is with entire unanimitv, then, that of those who have the best op- portunity to know and to judge of the efficiency of the Rangers for good and it's accomplishment by them. those who do testify, unhesi- tatingly testify to the desirability for their rentention. And l have not had a single testimonial from a sher- if or a district attorney condemning directly or indirectly the force.
 Not only from sheriffs and other peace officers, and from district at torneys, but from all other sources have like testimony, and there has not come to me out of the many let ters, telegrams, petitions and resolu- tions of various organized bodies throughout the territory, a single suggestion that I should approve this bill abolishing the Ranger force.
 It seems inexplicable to me that if there were in fact a demand by even a considerable number of the people of this territory for the abolition of the Ranger force, that as against hundreds of protests that l have against it's proposed abolition, that