Arizona republican., 1910-12-02
PHoENIX. ARIZONA. DEC. ?. 1s1
Mir. Hunt and the Primary.

I ne duOpleu OTulndnCe oI the pro- posed constitution with reference to the primary election preliminary to The state election provides. among other things, that
 Such primary canvassing board shall consist of the secretary of the territory, eX officio, and two members Of this convention to be appointed thereto by George W. P. Hunt as president of this convention. The members appointed shall before en- Uering upon the duties of their office, take and subscribe an oath, or af- firmation. To support the constitution and laws of the United States. the terms of the enabling act. and this ordinance, and to we'll and faithfully discharge the duties of such office. In case of the resignation or inability 10 serve of any such members appointed, The said George w. P. Hunt as presi- dent of this convention, shall fill the vacancy by appointment.
 Whenever the secretary of the ter ritory has imposed upon him duty by the terms of the laws of the ter ritory or this ordinance. connected
 
 in provided for. but which duty shall not be imposed by the terms of the enabling act, and the said secretary of the territory shall for three days after said duty shall become incum- bent upon him. refuse or neglect to perform such duty, then George w. P. Hunt. as president of this convention. shall perform such duty, and his act shall have the same legal effect as if the secretary of the territory had per formed such act"
 Thus is proposed to be perpetuated the name of the Honorable George Washington Peter Hunt president of this convention Of all the constitu- lions ever written since men under took ID govern themselves in this country, the Arizona constitution. we believe, will stand unique as the only fundamental law of d state or pro- posed state which had written therein the name of any living man.
 But let that pass. Possibly MT. Hunt deserves this great honor, and
 
 from raising an objection, nobody else is likely to make an uproar about it. The feature of the situation proposed which does deserve more than casual mention. however is the extraordinary faith which the convention has mani Tested in the longevity of Mir. Hunt and two members of this conven- ton" Mir. Hunt himself is "a good man. weighing two hundred and fifty be rated as a satisfactory risk by life insurance agent. He is we'll meaning and useful citizen. and it is Jo be hoped that his days will be long on earth. But it is an unfortunate fact. beyond mortal understanding as to the reason, that frequently the un- commonly. good die young Canvass ing time may De far away in the future At best the s.ate election is some two years away; and if the president and congress do not arbi- trarily reject the constitution it is certain 10 provoke protracted debate and postponement of statehood, as was the case with the first constitu- ton presented by Kansas. What would happen. at the time of the pro posed primary election, were it to de- velop that one or more of the i'm portsnt cOgs of the machinery were missing through the calling of Mir. Hunt or two members of this con- vention" to their heavenly home?
 Lawmakers elsewhere have in their foolishness guarded against such pos abilities 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 incumbents Of the office may come and go. Ordinary citizens. less gifted with wisdom than the members of this convention, would insist that established offices should he charged with the performance Of the duties which the primary election ordinance sets forth.
 It may he that the expectant can didacy of Mr.- Hunt and of most of the other members of the convention for offices in the proposed state has led them to fear that their chances would not he so good in primary election if they could not themselves control the counting of the ballots. But we believe that this fear is with out reason. The people of Arizona are tolerably honest. and are inclined to give everybody a square deal