Bisbee daily review., 1910-10-30
BE CAREFUL: WE WANT STATEHOOD.

If this constitutional eonVen-
 tion will put in the initiative and
 referendum. the bill of rights
 and as few other things as IS
 possible and close up their
 work, neither President Taft nor
 congress dare turn it down. The
 trouble will be with an overload
 ed constitution.
 The above is taken fro man edlIcr- iaI in the Arizona Democrat; Il IS full of wisdom and it is hoped that ii will be needed by the delegates ro Lhe constitutional convention- notwithstanding the assertion od republican newspapers, both before and since the election. that to in clude the initiative and referendum in the constitution would cause its disapproyal in Washington. there is iitt,e danger of such a knockout (blow. A conservative provision which will reserve to the people the right of direction legislation will not, to our mind, endanger the constitution, though we admit that republican editors are more in the confidence to the powers in the national capital than we are.
 The danger of losing statehood through a failure of the consultation to meet with approval is to be found in the attempt bein gmade by many delegates to have inserted in the constitution many matters which are pur,ly legislative and should be de termined by future legislatures from time to time. or by the people them selves in the use of the p9wcs which the initiative and referendum will give them. S If all the propositions which have been offered were included in the constitution of course statehood un- der the pres,nt enabling act would be at an end. for should such doc ument be ratified at home it certain ly be turned down in Washington. The delegates to the constitutional convention were not chosen to pass laws, but to frame a constitution as a foundation for future law mak- ing. This constitution should provide a state executive department and what officers are required to handI, such as governor. lieutenant govern or, secretary, treasurer, auditor. a railroad commission, etc, and the legislature should have power to creat such other offices of cimmis- sions as may in the future be deem ed necessary. A political department should be provided for it includes oourts, judges. oetc- A legislative system should be provided, consisting of an upper and lower house and the initiative and referendum.
 A bill of rights should be included guaranteeing freedom of action ana contract to every individual citizen.
 The objection to the Oklahom. constitution raised by Presiden Roosevelt and the present executiv was because that document wa. filled with a lot of stuff which shouI, have no place in an organic lav which is intended to provide a wa, for self-gpvernment by the people
 The Democrat is right; the con stitution should be short and strict ly confinyd to the fundamentals This is all that it is necessary. a. with the initiative and referendum the people will hold the power tt enact all the legislation which the- may desire in the future.
 The people of Arizona desire state hood and. they do not want to mis- Ehis opportunity by including a To of unnecessary provisions which ar purely legislative and available whe, even desired in the future.