Bisbee daily review., 1909-01-08

nor Kibbey's plan seriously. As a freak" 1t discounts anything in the Oklahoma constitution ana should be regarded simply as joke. We are in full accord, however, with the propo- sition that the framing of a constitu- ton for a state is a matter for the people of the state, and they alone. They have a right to make 1t just as "freakish" as they please. and neith- CT the congress nor the president has anything to do with 1t, further than to see that it does not at any point run counter to the supreme law of the nation, but beyond that the character of the instrument is positively, and in the strietest sense, rone of their busi- ness. Neither is it she business Of any other persons or power on earth. and to submit its provisions to the appro- bation of congress. the president. or even the supreme court. would be an insult to every citizen of the new state Mir. Mabry writes as follows:
 Editor Morning Iournal:-In your issue of January 2d there Is contained an extensive article upon the plan Of Governor Kibbey, of Arizona, for the admission of Arizona to statehood at the present short 8 ssion of congress. The plan as outlined by him is copied from the Phoenix Gazette. I am glad to note that the Journal gives space. beneath this article to editorials of other Arizona pape $. some of which are loud in their condemnation of the plan which the governor proposes. The Tucson Star shows plainly its displeasure at seeing instituted a scheme by Governor Kibbey by which the will and work or the people as might be expressed In the convention, called to frame the constitution by which they and tkey only would be governed, may be ignored and reject ed by one lone man.
 Governor Kibbey's plan pertains to his own territory only but, should this meet with ready approval at Washington, no doubt the same plan would be made to opply to our ter ritory. Therefore, as a citizen of the territory of New Mexico. and as one interested in its welfare, take this opportunity to express myself against such a plan as the one proposed. Like the editor of the Star, I believe that the framing of a constitution under which a people are to live Is a ques- ton only for the people of the con- eerned territories, and that their | wishes should not be so endangered as to allow the possibility of having them revoked and cisregarded by the Tresident of the United States so long as the instrument does not conflict with and is not out of harmony with the organic law of the nation. Why. in the name of good government, | should the president more than any other good authority upon govern ment. be allowed this unusual and un, precedented power?
 If Mir. Kibbey's clan should be adopted and should bc made to apply equally to New Mexico, we would be greatly hampered in the selection of the men who are to write the consti- tuition. And, in framing an instru- ment that should meet the approval of the people to whom it was to apply. it would have to be borne In mind that at the same time it must be- made so as to meet the approval of a man who is not 2 citizen, and who is bound to be more or less ignorant of the general conditions and unfamil- far with the needs of the new state. Besides being a plan by which the people could-and no doubt would-I be coerced into selecting a particu- lar class and party of men for the constitutional convention. this plan, If adopted, might work untold injury by he effect which 1t might have upon these members by forcing them to prepare details nf the document which they hoped to meet the approv- al of the president, yet which they might feel that ir their workings i would be a real nf mace to the insti unions of the state. which would be obliged to live within It's bounds"