Arizona republican., 1910-02-12

The following interesting corres- pondcncc between Hon. M. G. Burns. the territorial democratic leader. and Governor Sloan with reference to feature Of the senate statehood bill, follows:
 Tucson. Ariz.. Feb. S, 1910. Hon. Richard E. Sloan,
 Governor of Arizona,
 Phoenix Arizona.
 My Dear Governor
 Some days since statement ap- peared in the public press purporting to be an interview with yourself in which you are quoted as having stat ed that you had examined the state hood bill as introduced in the United States senate by Senator Dillingham;, and that it met with your entire 3D. proval
 In the issue of the Tucson Star of February Sth appears What purports 10 he verbatim copy of the bill as introduced in the United States sen ate.
 X portion of section l5 of this bill as published. provides that qualified clector within the meaning of the sec tion shall be any male citizen of the United States of the age of 21 years. who shall have resided in the territory six months next preceding the date fixed for the election of delegates to the constitutional convention. and who shall possess in other respects the qualifications of an elector as prOVid- cd py title 20 of the Revised Statutes, August ?, 1901.
 The act as published also provides that the Great Register of the year 1908. with such additional names as may be registered under the provisions of this section. shall constitute the Great Register for the purpose of the election of delegates to the constitu- tional convention; and the bill as published further provides that these qualifications shall apply to all voters at all elections for the ratification Of the constitution for state officers, members of the state legislature, rep resentatives in congress, and all other officers named in the constitution of the proposed state. or in any manner provided in the bill
 It will be seen that the proposed bill ignores the various statutes of this territory enacted subsequent to the Revised Statutes of 1901. looking 10 the requirement. of higher grade of intelligence and higher qualified tions of voters, and specifically re- stores the provisions of the Revised Statutes with reference to those mat ters. as well as prescribing q shorter period of residence for voters even than IS provided by the Revised Stat utes.
 In view of the general tendency of this couItTy toward requiring a high standard of intelligence as d pre-re- quisitc to voting at elections, which has found expression in the statutes , of many states. and especially in the act prescribing the so-cailed educa- tioraI qualifications passed by the last territorial legislature. it would seem that the carefully prepared provisions in the senate bill looking to the doing away of these requirements. as well as shortening the period of residence re- quircd from one year to six months, must have escaped your attention in NOur examination of the proposed statehood bill. 70
 I would therefore appreciate it if you would advise me whether these provisions meet your approval. and whether as chief executive of this ter ritory you intended by your cxpres- sions of approval of the seratc bill. to include a statement that you ap- prove the provisions above referred to.
 I will be at the Adams hotel, Phoe- nix. on February 10th. where T shall be pleased to receive your reply. Yours very respectfully.
 NJ c. BURNS. Chairman Territorial DemOora tic
 Campaign Committee.