Weekly journal-miner., 1909-02-17


 "Under your administration the 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 Terri tory who have better opportunity for knowing of the efficiency of the Rang er Force, and of the work that 1t does, than do the county sheriffs. As there is pOpularly believed to be some de- gree of hostility between the offices of Sheriff and the Ranger Force, the tes- timony of the Sheriffs cannot be i'm pugned as self-serving or eOlOred 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 observation.
 The District Attorneys of many counties have also testified in writing to the efficiency of this force and to the good that it aceomplishes. For the reason that I do not copy into this or attach hereto copies of the letters of the Sheriffs, l do not copy the letters of the various District At torneys or attach copies of them here to.
 I may quote from one, however, to illustrate the tenor of all:
 of ntffgn as the District Attorney of CoeOnino 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 of ten in Northern Arizona, particularly, that it is almost impossible to com mend their work too highly.
 "The Rangers travel through the remote sections of the Territory and perform duties and functions that or diuary peace officers, in the nature of things, cannot perform. The Rangers travel constantly and go to the haunts of criminals and not only effect ar rests put ODldlu lut tNluChtV hiVh which convictions are based.
 "Your force is composed of sober. honest men and snail ever feel grateful to you, and each of the force, for the great assistance you gave my office in dealing with the classes"
 It is with entire unanimity then that those who have the best opportunity 10 know and to judge of the efficiency If the Rangers for good and its ac- by them, those who do .estify, unhesitatingly testify to the for their retention. And [ have not had single testimonial rom a Sheriff or a District Attorney directly or indirectly the 'oree.
 Not only from Sheriffs and other peace officers, and from District Attor- leys, but from all other sources l lave like testimony, and there has not .ome to me out of the many letters, elegrams, petitions and resolutions of -arious organized bodies throughout he Territory, single suggestion that
 should approve this bill abolishing he Ranger Force. Il
 It seems inexplieable to me that if here were in fact a demand by even considerable number of the people of his Territory for the abolition of the fanger Force. that as against hun reds of protests that I have against ts proposed abolition, that l have not
 single request to sign this bill.
 There are no doubt some people who | re opposed to it; I have heard of l ome. I have suggested the opposition Y those who are, or would If 1t were ot for the Rangers, be violatOrs of | he law themselves, and of these 1 ave heard of some who claim some | egree of responsibility, but who nave elf the annoyance of the interference | f the Rangers with their at least eul- | able purposes. Of course l would ot be addressed by those people and ave not been.
 It has been advanced by small nd I hope unimportant element, that hose counties in which the Rangers re not of frequent use should not be eduired to contribute to the mainte- anee of force whose principal ae- vities are largely confined to other OunrleS; that III lndI IeSpeCt coCh 1untv should look after itself. l can ot aeeede to so narrow and bigoted Dnsideration of the matter.
 Every good citiezn of Arizona Is 1n- srested in the development of the re- 1urces, the growth of an intelligent, rderly and law-abiding population Tn very part of the Territory and in the impression of crime and lawlessness , its uttermost confines. It ought ot to be said, and I trust that 1t can ot be truthfully said, that the people f any given section of the Territory re indifferent to the maintenance of ood order and the suppression of rime in every other part of it.
 Inconsistent as it may appear the view is entertained by some f those whose concern for the con uct of their neighbors and zeal for agislation for the regulation of that Onduct, are peculiarly conspicuous.
 I have heard, too, the argument that he retention of the Rangers in some egree advertises the lawless condi- ion of the Territory; that because -a ra+oip Sueb a fOrcp the inference