The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-22
Contains Initiative, Referendum ami
Recall for All Unfaithful Servants
of People, Including
Judges.
1t Was Drafted in Spite of Opposition
Big Interests-Will Taft
Approved
BY q. r. GURlEY.

men HbHLluR lot It's duOpllOu ods IL
contains more safeguards for popular
government than does any other state
constitution.
These are the salient points OF the
instrument as drafted:
The initiative and referendum,
WORKABLE.
The ,ecall for all elected Off
GERS, INCLUDING JUDGES.
The constitution may be easily
amended by legislature or by
people.
Voter, must qualify by measur
ing up b an educational standard.
No suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus.
IL is being fought bitterly. The
privileged interests Of the territory
are behid the opposition. The one
argument Is that the president will
never a,prove-and without his APP
proval, lrizona cannot become state.
There will be no statehood for Ari-
IONA f0 at least year. The consti-
tuition must go to congress. and II
will MT be reached the present ses-
sion. IL will go before the Democratic
body year hence.
"
claim any purpose TO have matters
thus. They are defending Taft. They
asset that they believe that the pres
idcn will recognize the right of the
peote to live under laws OF their own
making and as "a lawyer and presi'
deniwill recognize that fundamentally
in arepublic all law depends upon the
will of the governed.
he convention which drew IL was
as representative OF every walk OF
If, as the diversity of interests and
inNstry in the state could make it,
he chairman OF the committee
witch drew the final draft is "a gradu-
al of Harvard. Five years ago he
WIS one of the editors Of the Worlds
work. Working with him was a law
vr, cattleman, q machnist and a
bnker.
The latter's title is recent. He was
oce miner at Cripple Creek. again
acowboy, then workman in mine,
ad later a prospector He found. to
se his language, pay dirt, and made
is pile
I'm for the boys with the dinner
buckets" he said. IL can't forget
some Of the problems we faced when
| worked with them. We were never
looking for the best of II. We wanted
only square deal, and an even
break"
No locked door sessions OF party
caucuses, under the lash OF party
bosses, produced this document. When
IL Games 20 the drafting OF the docu-
ment. every clause vas fought out
openly and in public. The convention
passed a rule barring all but mem-
hers from the main floor, but the gla-
leries of the little chamber were
thrown open to all.
The most potent argument on any
proposal was my people want this,
or THE people from my county will
never stand for that
Arizona has had bitter experience
with privileged interests. The rail-
roads and the mine operators have
ruled through the usual tricks oil leg
;slatiCn and the ownership OF petty
officers. Out OF the experience OF
these tyrannies came the. document
which the president OF the conven-
ton declares contemplates only That
the people shall ever be in the saddle.
The Republican organization. con-
trolled through federal appointees, Is
lighting the adoption OF the constitu-
ton. That wing of the Democratic
marty which is controlled by the
Southern Pacific under Epes Randolph,
is knitting IL in secret. II has the
support of an insurgeIt Republican
paper and one progressive Democratic
paper. The other papers OF the ter
ritory are against IT.
The constitution has its keynote
in its measures on the initiative ana
referendum. The percentages ere
small. They are workable. They are
designed for use.
The recall, applicable to all cleo
tive Offices. including the judgeships,
is the next in line as an instrument
10 attain efficiency and honesty In OF
flee. The constitution provides Tor
the adoption of its provisions by cities
and counties.
The constitution is made easy OF
amendment. The legislature, by
majority vote, may suggest amend
ments. II they fail, the people. by
a petition OF 10 per cent, may submit
changes.
II provides for an educational quail
HCaflOn IOr NOlSTS. ClNlLchS ihhcN "
able TO read the constitution in ENG
LISH and to sign their own names
The reason for this lies in the fact
that the great copper interests fire.
auently carried elections by import
ing Mexicans from across the border
II provides that tax commission
shall see that al! property is taxed
the same rate.
Its bill OF rights is direct AND
simple. An incident OF the adoption
of the clause on the writ of habea'
corpus shows the intent OF the draft
ers as to personal liberty.
THE writ OF habeas corpus shal
never be suspended" reads the draft
I'VE ought to add an exception al
TO times OF invasion or rebellion,
suggested the attorney for the Cop
per Queen.
HAS the gentleman ever heard o
Colorado and Cripple Greek? Has M
ever heard how real revolutions some
times spring from q denial of tho
rights OF trial by courts" inquired
the 'banker," who had been there
The suggestion was dropped.
The battle cry OF the convention II
equality and the plea Is made tina
Arizona become a state with thu
weapons for maintaining real Democ
,yscx or not at all.