Arizona republican., 1910-12-23
The Whole Case.

cussion" of the statehood question by the people responsible for the pend ing constitution is their refusal to discuss or consider the one question of practical importance.
 The constitution may be the great est document ever written. It may be. as the proponents of the constitution strenuously insist, that the people are so careless of their own interests that they will elect incompetent men to the legislature and will at the same time be so careful of their interests that they will judiciously legislate for themselves through the initiative. It may be that democrats of such crooked character will be elected to office-Arizona is not likely to elect men of any other party-that the re- call is imperatively necessary to pro- tect the people from their crooked of- ficials.
 But of what consequence are these important facts, if this inspired con stitution will defeat statehood?
 Of what avail will this constitution be under the territorial form of gov ernment?
 It is asserted by the governor, and we believe him implicitly, that the president will disapprove this consti- tuition. The presidents disapprovaI puts an end to all pending statehood legislation. Everybody of ordinary in- telligence knows that there will not be another chance for statehood for years to come.
 In order to make sure of the facts for the information of the most doubt ing. The Republican has suggested that a committee of accredited demo- crats-we don't care who-be sent to- Washington to confer with the presi- dent and with democratic leaders and come back and report what they learn. But the very suggestion throws some unbalanced people into a mental frenzy.
 Meanwhile, if no pains are taken for corroboration or refutation of the governors clear statement on the sub ject, every sensible citizen must take it for granted that the ratification of this constitution is the end of state hood.
 Then why talk about the merits of the constitution? We might as well discuss the canals of Mars.
 If the constitution is voted down, the existing law requires that the delegates of the late convention shall immediately reassemble and frame another constitution.
 It would be natural to expect them then to eliminate the features objec- tionable to Washington, and frame a constitution which would assure state ! hood-and at the same time a con- stitution easy of amendment, which would enable the people to add such features as they desired in future years, after they had affairs in their own hands.
 Newspapers which pretend to keep their readers informed and at the same time have either garbled or suppressed the statements made by Governor Sloan on his return from Washington, do not deserve the name of newspaper. nor do they deserve the respect of intelligent readers. The Republican would have been recreant in its duty to its readers had it failed to secure and lay before them the exact facts as to the peril in which statehood now stands. The Repub- lican would have been recreant in it's duty to the people if it had failed to warn them that there was a con- spiracy on foot to Toad" the consti- tuition with features which would condemn it at Washington and thus defeat statehood. This conspiracy, formed in the early weeks of last summer, was duly mentioned in these columns. We hope that by and by