Arizona republican., 1910-08-31

cal support to the following principles,
 and we do hereby pledge the nominees
 of this convention, if elected as dele gates to the constitutional convention,
 to earnestly and steadily advocate,
 support and vote for the incorporation
 of said principles into the constitution
 of the state of Arizona.
 We believe in the republican form Of government, guaranteed by the consti- tuition of the United States and to
 each state of the Union, and look with disfavor upon all proposed eXperi
 mental substitutes therefor. We hold that extreme caution should be eXer cised in the introduction of any inno- vation upon the time-hOnored and time tested principles of representative democracy established by the fathers of the republic, and the wisdom of which has been demonstrated by one hundred and twenty three years of beneficent operation; and that no in novation of doubtful or uncertain value to the people of the state ought to be incorporated into the fundamental. Recognizing that the primary and esential purpose of the constitution should be the safeguarding of the lib- critics of the people, we hold that 1t should contain such limitations upon
 the legislative power of the state as experience has shown to be needed to protect the inalienable rights of the individual citizen from nasty, oppres- sive or harmful legislation. Subject only to the constitution of the United States and the recognition of those basic rights which the declaration of ! independence declared to be the en-
 dowment of all men, we favor the full retention by the state of its legislative powers, with proper restrictions only
 upon the surrender, barter or giving away of any of its rights of regulation and control.
 We declare in favor of direct pri-
 maries for the nomination of state and county officers and we favor the selection of United States senators by | popular vote.
 The power of taxation shall never be suspended nor surrendered All 1 taxes should be uniform, and the constitution should provide a method of securing a comprehensive, just and effective system of taxation. No property should be exempt from tax ation excepting that belonging to the | United States, the state and the | counties and municipalities therein, and the bonds and obligations there | of, public cemeteries, institutions of purely public charity. public hospi- tals, and houses used exclusively for worship. household goods, tools and implements of trade to each | head of a family in an amount not l exceeding in value five hundred dol | lars.
 The constitution should empower l the legislature to license. regulate, | control. restrain or prohibit. through | statewide prohibition or local option. | the manufacture and sale of intOx- i icating liquors.
 The constitution should also em- | power the legislature to extend the | elective franchise to women We favor the nOn-partisan election | of judges.
 We oppose the granting of eXclu | sive franchises and believe that no | franchise should be granted except 1 by general law and then for a term
 not exceeding twenty-five years. 1 Grants of corporate and other fran i chises should be forever subject to ! the. regulation, amendment. or repeal. as may be provided by law. We believe that all interests, indi- | vidual or corporate, should be equally protected under the law and should | be equally held amenable to the law. | We believe that system of well
 arranged and economically construct
 ed highways should be. built and we i favor the creation of a bipartisan | commission to have charge of this | important public work as may be provided by law.
 A great trust is conferred upon the | people of the state in the gift of
 public lands provided for in the enabling act, and ample provision should be made in the constitution | for the honest, economical and eff l cient management and disposition of | those public lands, to the end that | the burden of taxation upon the peo- ! pie of the state may be reduced. In | the case of present occupants and | holders of leases of school lands 1 provision should be made in the con ] stitution for their reimbursement for l the actual value of the improvements
 thereon and appurtenances there
 to, to be ascertained by an impartial | appraisement whenever said lands
 shall be sold as may be provided by 1 law.
 | Provision should be made in the | constitution to prevent and prohibit
 combinations and conspiracies in the | form of trusts or otherwise in re- 1 straint of trade or commerce within | the state.
 | In conclusion we favor the framing 1 of a constitution for the state of 1 Arizona. which shall be truly pro
 gressive, simple in expression, easy
 of common understanding, broad | enough to protect all classes of so-
 ciety. elastic enough to meet new
 conditions as they may hereafter arise, and which may be amended by
 a majority vote of the people. | Department of the Interior Tinted