Arizona republican., 1910-09-01
Platform of Maricopa County Republican
 Convention

struggled. has been given us by re- pubIican congress We recognize with gratitude the loyal and earnest sup port given statehood by President Will liam H. Taft, who since his visit to the territory last fall, has been our most powerful advocate, and the faithful, untiring and successful work of our delegate to congress. Hon. Ralph H. Cameron. and of Governor Richard E. Sloan in securing statehood. We heartl- " endorse both the national and terri torial administrations.
 We believe in making a constitution which shaH be a credit to the high character, ability. courage and good Judgment of the people of Arizona. Such a constitution should, we believe, follow closely those lines of simplicity and clearness of the national consti- tuition. and should illustrate that the people of Arizona have ben inspired hv the highest ideals. moral courage and great common sense of Theodore Roosevelt.
 In making such a constitution we recognize clearly that to secure stabili- ty and effectiveness its provisions should be confined to the structure of fundamental functions of government and should not endeavor to work out governmental details, which should properly be left to the legislature of the CIV state, and we, the republicans of Mericopa county, in convention as- sembled. hereby declare our uneQuivo- cal support to the following principles, and we do hereby pledge the nominees of this convention, if elected as dele gates to the constitutional convention, to earnestly and steadily advocate. support and vote for the incorporation of said principles into the constitution of the state of Arizona,
 We believe in the republican form of government, guaranteed by the consti- tuition of the United States and to each state of the Union, and look with disfavor upon all proposed experi- mental substitutes therefor. We hold that extreme caution should be exer- cised in the introduction of any inno- vation upon the time-honored and time-tested principles of representative democracy established by the fathers of the republic, and the wisdom of which has been demonstrated by one hundred and twenty-three years of beneficent operation; and that no in novation of doubtful or uncertain value to the people of the state ought to be incorporated into the fundamental.
 Recognizing that the primary and esentieI purpose of the constitution should be the safeguarding of the lib- critics. of the people, we hold that 1t should contain such limitations upon the legislative power of the state as experience has shown to be needed to protect the inalienable rights of the individual citizen from nasty, oppres- sive or harmful legislation. Subject only to the constitution of the United States and the recognition of those basic rights which the declaration of independence declared to be the en- dowment of all men, we favor the full retention by the state of it's legislative powers, with proper restrictions only upon the surrender, barter or giving away of any of it's rights of regulation and control.
 We declare in favor of direct pri- maries for the nomination of state and county officers and we favor the selection of United States senators by popular vote.
 The power of taxation shall never be suspended nor surrendered All taxes should be uniform, and the constitution should provide a method of securing a comprehensive, just and effective system of taxation. No property should be exempt from tax ation excepting that belonging to the United States, the state and the counties and municipalities therein, and the bonds and obligations there of, public cemeteries. institutions of purely public charity. public hospi- tais, and houses used exclusively for worship. household goods. tools and implements of trade to each head of a family in an amount not exceeding in value five hundred dol lars
 The constitution should empower control. restrain or prohibit. through statewide prohibition or local option, the manufacture and sale of intox- icating liquors.
 The constitution should also em- power the legislature to extend the elective franchise to women.
 We favor the non partisan election of judges.
 We oppose the granting of exclu- sive franchises and believe that no franchise should be granted except by general law and then for a term not exceeding twenty-five years. Grants of corporate and other fran chises should be forever subject to the regulation, amendment. or repeal. as may be provided by law.
 We believe that all interests, indi- vidual or corporate. should be equally protected under the law and should be equally held amenable to the law. 2 We believe that a system of well arranged and economically construct ed highways should be built and we favor the creation of a non- partisan commission to have charge of this important public work as may be provided by law
 A great trust is conferred upon the people of the state in the gift of public lands provided for in the enabling act. and ample provision should be made in the constitution for the honest, economical and eff cient management and disposition of those public lands, to the end that the burden of taxation upon the peo- pie of the state may be reduced. In the ease of ureSent OccunaDtS audI