Arizona republican., 1910-08-30
Platform of MaricOpa County Republican
 Convention

| The opportunity Tor separate state | | hood, for which we have so long l struggled, has been given us by re- | publican congress. We recognize with 1 gratitude the loyal and earnest SUD- 1 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 F.. | Sloaa in securing statehood. We hearti- | ly endorse both the national and terri torial 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 these 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 it's 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, Ito 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-tes principles of representative democracy established by the fathers of the republic, and the wisdom of | which has been demonstrated by one
 
 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 esentiaI purpose of the constitution
 should be the safeguarding of the lib
 critics of the people, we hold that 1t should contain such limitations upon l Of state
 experience has shown to be needed to
 protect the inalienable rights Of the individual citizen from hasty, 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 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- tals, 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 . 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 nc
 franchise should be granted except $ by general law and then for term f 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. Il We believe that all interests, indi- O vidual or corporate, should be equally e protected under the law and should S' be equally held amenable to the law We believe that system of wei
 arranged and economically construct : ed highways should be built and we : favor the creation of a non-partisar . commission to have charge of this . important public work as may bt | provided by law.
 A trust is conferred uDOQ the