Arizona republican., 1910-08-19
Platform of Maricopa County Republican
 Convention

The opportunity for separate state hood, for which we have SO long struggled, has been given us by re- publican 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, untirng and successful work of our delegate to congress, Hon. Ralph H Cameron, and of Governor Richard F. Sloan in securing statehood. We hearti- ly endorse both the national and terri tOral administrations.
 We believe in making a constitution which shall 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 by 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 new state. and we, the republicans of MaricOpa 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 expert
 mental substitutes therefor. We hold that extreme caution should he 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
 
 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 essential 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 1 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 the legislature to license. regulate, control, restrain or prohibit, through