Arizona republican., 1910-06-28

have stopped to consider of which O. I the United States we were citizens, wC | have felt some humiliation to recOllec I that we were citizens of none of them | Of what state of all the United state:
 were we residents of Arizona, citizens
 Of none Nor are we vet, indeed, citi- zens of any of the United States, but
 the sisterhood of the states has held out the invitation to join it, and has { told us to put our house in order that i we may become one of that sisterhood fully equipped and prepared for all the duties and the exercise of all the rights and for the enjoyment of all the privileges, advantages and bless ings of one of that sacred and glori- ous Union. There remains now but this work of preparation-it can be soon accomplished and then truly and in fact we become citizens of the United States-of one of them which we hold above all others in the high est esteem-the new state of Arizona. And 1t is the purpose, Governor Sloan, of this assemblage. and its object, to express and manifest to you our ap- preciatiOn of your splendid service in aiding us to obtain this invitation to frame a state government so that we may take upon ourselves the functions of statehood To manifest in some public and unmistakable way that ap- preciation, your fellow citizens have met here tonight to welcome your re- turn from the seat of the government of the nation, and to make known to you the feelings of gratitude which we entertain for you. In doing this we do not forget that others have rendered splendid aid, not only at this juncture, but in the years gone: but in no de- gree less we thank you. You had splendid opportunities and you splen- didly availed yourself of them, and in the accomplishment of our long de- ferred hopes we now heartily accord to you our thanks and our plaudits.
 It is no small thing, Governor Sloan, to have won the esteem, the gratitude and the thanks of the people of this new state of Arizona. May you live long to honor it as we now seek to honor you.
 This matter of the preparation of our selves for statehood is, of course, one of the things uppermost in our minds We cannot give it too much attention: we cannot bestow upon it too much care. nor give to its con- sideration too much of our most earn est and solicitous consideration. It seems fitting upon this occasion to say a word or two concerning it.
 I noted the statement in the news paper announcement of this meeting that I would take part as a represen- tative of the republicans. This recep- tion is rendered under the auspices of the mayor and common council of the city of Phoenix, as it might with great propriety be done as representatives of all the people of the capital city. But I doubt the power of the mayor and the common council to select any man as the representative of any political party to participate in this function cannot and do not, of course, ignore the compliment of the designation. No one here, I presume, IS ignorant of my party affiliatio hand predilectiOn. But. Mir. Chairman, l am not here as re- publican. nor as a representative of the republicans; nor would I presume to speak for republicans under these circumstances. I am here simply as citizen of the proposed state of Ari- zona am one of many thousands of citizens of this new state deeply con cerned in the work SD soon to devolve upon us of the formulation of the charter of our state government.
 I cannot conceive, MT. Chairman, how partisan politics can enter into consideration in forming our funda- mental law. We are to form a state government for all the people of this state, not for this or that political par ty. What can be inserted with any de- gree of prOpriety into our state consti- tuition that is peculiarly republican, or democratic. or socialistic? Our cOnsti- tuition will consist broadly of two parts, one establishing the form of the state government, providing for the selection and qualification of it's off cers, and generally defining their du ties. Of this part of our constitution we have so many models SD nearly alike that we cannot greatly err in a selection from them. Upon them there can be no good reason why mem bers of any of the political parties should seriously differ.
 The other part of our constitution,