Bisbee daily review., 1910-10-07
CONVENTION BEGINS NEXT MONDAY

NEXT MONDAY
 The delegates elected in Arizona three weeks ago to make constitu ton for the new state will assemble m Phoenix on Monday next to be sil the public duty assigned to them by the voters of the territory. No other body of men have ever been chosen for such important work and the constitution prepared and sub rnitted to the people for ratification rill demonstrate the wisdom of our people in choosing delegates for this york.
 While the delegates to the consti- tuional convention were chosen on political lines in every county in the territory, still the main issue on which the democrats won the large majority involves a principal of gov ernment which has grown popular with republicans as well as demo- crats througncut the country and in Arizona. We do not hslieve that any portion of tte voter3 of Arizona de- sire to see any political favor-seekins mark the work of the Arizona consti- tutional convention. Both parties have some able men in the conven- ton and they should work harmoni- ously for the best results.
 The one oyer-shadowing issue which elected the large majority in the con vention was that demanding the in itiative, referendum and recall be placed in the constitution. This pro vision will be written into the consti- tuition perhaps without opposition, as republicans throughout the territory fully recognize that the principle of direct legislation has the endorsement of fully 90 per cent. of the voters of the territory, irrespective of their po- ntical afiliation on other questions. It will be work of detail in the con vention to frame the initiative and referendum along the most modern lines. Different states have adopted the initiative and referendum and no two are the same. There are many who think that the North Dakota plan for direct legislation is preferable to the Oregon plan and many prefer the Oregon plan.
 This paper wants to see substan- tiaI provision for direct legislation in the constitution and one that will place in the hands of the people the practical power for the absolute con trol Of legislation at all times, through both the initiative and ref erendum. We are of the opinion tha. it would be better to require that all initiative petitions should be directed to the legislature. with the provision that the legislature must either pass the law petitioned for CT submit it "a vote of the people; by this plsa if the legislature agreed that the law asked for was desirable one ard enacted it the expense of submitting it would be obviated. unless 1t shoBid be objected to by sufficient refer endum petition.
 The question of percentage is Gue to be decided by the majority of the delegates. In the conventions which selected delegates no mention was made of the percentage. except in this county, where range Of from to is per cent was declared for. To oar mind tho actual percentage is not @ impo-tait as provision which would discourage sectional or class iegisia- tion by requiring that signature. should be obtained from more than one county or locality in the ter ritory.
 Arizona wants modern and pro gressive constitution. but it does not want one saturated with purely iegis. lative provisions, inserted with main purpose of playing politics Make the constitution short and strictly fundamental and all will be well with Arizona