Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-12-06
ARIZONA CONSTITUTION.

L.. BIZ 4satr - .H-H - = y s. .a q.
The lawmakers of, Arizona have
managed to frame n constitution which
1t is supposed the people themselves VII
refuse to rntify.
1t provides that no man shall be Il
voter in the state who cannot read the
constitution in English. and write MS
own name; This would exclude many
thousands OF Mexican voters, and 1t Is
assumed that the entire spnnish-Amer-
lean vote In Arizona will be cast against
ratification.
They have also placed in the constitn-
ton clause providing that no doctor
shall be allowed to practice medicine
in Arizona, unless he is a member of
one of the regular schools of mcdi-
cine. This bars not only Christian
Scientists. but also osteopaths, nature
doctors, and other doctors not classcd
as regulars" That is a very illbcrai
provision, in view Of the fact that
opinions are very much divided on the
merits Of the different schools.
Railroads, mining, banking and other
corporations have been hit hard by dis
eliminating legislation, and so have new
corners by a clause excluding all who
have notlived In the proposed state for
five years, from all public offices.
But one of the most peculiar provis-
ions is one relating to the primary cleo
ton. 1t provides that thc"primary can
vassing board shall consist of the secre-
tary of the territory. cx-oliicio, and
two members of the convention to be
appointed thereto by George w. p.
Hunt as president of this convention
1t further provides that in ease of the
| resignation or inability to serve of any
such member appointed, the said
| George w. =. Hunt as president of this
| convention, shall fill the vacancy by
| appointment and further
'Whenever the secretary of the ter
| ritcry has imposed upon him duty
| by the terms of the laws of the ter.
ritOry or this ordinance, connected with
| the primary or the election herein pro-
vided for, but which duty shall not be
| Imposed by the terms OF the enabling
act. and the said secretary Of the ter
| ritory shall for three days after said
| duty shall become incumbent upon him.
| refuse or neglect to perform such duty
| then George w. =. Hunt, MS president
| of this convention, shall perform such
| duty, and his act shall have the same
legal effect as II the secretary Of the
territory had performed such act"
This is an extraordinary piece of leg
islation. The Arizona Republican COM
ments MS follows:
! "posslbly Mr.. Hunt deserves this
great honor and since his own modesty
| prevents him from raising nm objection,
nobody else is likcly to make an M
| roar about It, The feature OF the sitil-
alton proposed which does deserve more
than casual mention, however, Is the
extraordinary faith which the conven-
ton has manifested in the lOgevlty OF
Mr.. Hunt and two members OF this
convention At best tho state
election IS some two years away; and
II the president and Congress do not
arbitrarily reject the constitution 1t Is
| certain to provoke prntracted debate
and pOstponement of statehood, as was
the case with the first constitution
| presented by Kansas What would
| happen. NJ the time Of the proposed
primary election, were 1t to develop
that one or more of tho important
cogs of the machinery We're missing
through the calling Of Mr.. Hunt on
1.-TWO members OF this convention" to
their heavenly home?
Lawmakers elsewhere have in their
foolishness guarded against such pos
sibllties as this by the uniform pro-
vision that specified duties should be
performed by officers not individuals
The OFFICER Cor his Deputy is always
available, although lncumbents OF the
office may come and go"
The Republican seems to take 1t for
granted that the people will refuse
TO ratify the proposed instrument but
commends the members for the seri-
BUSINESS with which they are applying
themselves to the task before them.