Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-12-28
ARIZONA NOT FOR STATEHOOD I?
1t Is Stated that Republicans In Con-
grcss VIII Make Trouble.

----------------
Washington, Dec. 26.-Since the
adjournment of the Arizona Consti-
| tutionai Convention on December 9th
the Republicans, ,of that territory have
been organizing quietly for fight
| against the ratification Of the constl-
| tuition, which will be put up to the
| people at an election called for the
| 9th Of February. II this fight Is sue
cessful statehood for Arizona will be
| delayed for some months at least,
and possibly may be deferred indefi-
nitcly.
That the fight will be successful is
| freely predicted by Republican lead
ers. They claim that the constitution
will fail Of ratification because it is
! too radical, and because, as they
charge. the Democrats broke faith
with certain elements in the State
| whose votes gave them a majority In
! the constitutional convention.
The constitution, in its final draft
| embodies practically all the radical
propositions OF what has come to be
known as the Oregon ldea" the in
itiative and referendum. the recall
OF all State officials, including Judges
aud popular primary for the cleo
| ton of United States Senators, which
shall be binding on the State Legis-
| lature. The initiative and rcferen-
dunn is not popular with Il certain
element OF Arizona politicians, it is
said, and the recall is even less pop
ular. Under the recall proposition
| If State official, executive or judi
| cial, does anything that does not
meet with the popular approval, a
| petition may be circulated and an
election held on the question Of re-
moving that official from office Es-
| pccial objections are raised to hav-
| ing the recall proposition apply to
! judges, as 1t is argued that it will
tend to make judges mere politicians,
interested primarily in rendering de-
cisions that Will make a popular hit
| Oregon Plan Opposed.
The Oregon plan Of selecting Uni
I ted States Senators is opposed Strcnu-
| ously by Arizona Republicans. This
plan contemplates the election Of Sen
ators by the people, instead OF the
| Legislature, and goes as far toward
/ conSummating that idea aS it is posi-
! bic for State to go under the l'cdc-
! raj constitution. Candidates for the
! Legislature are expected, and forced
by public opinion, to pledge them
/ selves to vote for the candidate for
. Senator who carries the popular pri-
! mary, regardless Of that candidates S
! political affiliations. This makes it
. possible for q Democratic Legislature
! to be forced into electing Il Republ-
, can Senator or vice versa AS the
plan has been in operation in Oregon,
! it has already resulted in the election
/ OF Il Democratic Senator by Repub-
/ lican Legislature. Senator Chamber
I lain being the lucky man
The Republicans are relying prima-
rily, however, in their fight against
| the ratification OF the constitution on
! tile support Of the diSaffccted clc-
mentS who formerly supported the
Democrats. Chief Of these is the tenn
! perancc element. 1t is charged that
the Democrats in the campaign pre-
! ceding the election Of delegates to the
constitutional convention, made the
specific pledge that II they gained a
majority in the convention they would
incorporate in the constitution pro-
vision for absolute State prohibition,
similar to that in the Oklahoma con-
stitution The constitution as fran
ed, however, is silent on the prohibi-
/ ton question, and the temperance
/ forces are up in aims.
! Advocates OF woman's suffrage were
also led to believe that If they help
ed to elect Democratic majority
in the constitutional convention, the
! constitution would give women the
right TO vote. They helped, and they
were disappointed
I The total vote of Arizona approxi-
! mates 10000, but it is believed that
not over 5000 votes will be cast at
the election to pass on the cOnstitu-
1 ton. The Republicans and Demo-
/ Gratis are said to be about equally
| divided in the Territory. with the
! Independents, temperance advocates
! ct al, holding the balance Of power.
IT the temperance people alone turn
against the Democrats, the Republi-
! cans say that the constitution Is GER
! tain to fail Of ratification.
- Q
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