New-York tribune., 1910-11-30
OPPOSITION IN ARIZONA
Pc pie May Reject Constitution
Now Being Framed
FEAR WASHINGTON ACTI0,.
Document, Ultra Progressive aa.-
Socialistic, Disappoints Four
Glasses in the Territory.
lBy Telegraph TO The Tribune. ]

IBy Telegraph TO The Trfbune.l
Phoenix, Ariz-, Nov. 29-Throughout Arf-
zona the belief Is rapidly gaining ground
that the constitution Of the new state, being
drawn up by the convention now in session
here will not be accepted by the people
and viii never be passed up to President
Taft and Congress for their approval
The convention is now drawing TO
close II is supposed 10 complete its work
by December T. and thirty days thereafter
the people will vote either 10 accept or
reject the constitution it offers them Dis
approval Of the propositions which have
been adopted by the delegates for em5odts
ment is freely expressed
A large majority of the delegates ars
Democrats Out of ffty-two there are only
twelve Republicans. In the election ths
Democratic majorities We're far above nor
NAL This was because the Democrats
threw out a dragnet and by promising
everything asked by the woman suffrasistz
Prohibitionists, Socialists and Progressive
Republicans captured everything but the
straight Republican votes.
The promises to the Socialists and ultra
Progressives are being kept. but the sut-
fragfsts and Prohibitionists claim that the
convention has not kept faith with them
A proposition to provide in the constltu-
ton for woman suffrage has been voted
down and another to leave IL to the voters
to say whether there shall be statewide
prohibition in Arizona has met the same
fate.
"Drys" and suffrasisss Sore"
Every Prohibitionist and every sufragist
In Artzona-and there are many OF them
is sore" and thousands are openly de-
claring their intention to vote against any
constitution which the present convention
may submit to the people. They voted for
the Democratic candidates for seats in the
convention, they say, with the distinct IN
derstanding that women should vote in
the new state and that the people should
have the opportunity to make Arizona
dry" upon its entrance into the Union
Only the Socialists and ultra-Progressives
among Democrats and RepuoAcanS are
satisfied with what has been done Old line
Democrats say that the delegates are going
too far In their desire to frame 'proSres-
sive' constitution The convention has even
tried to improve on the Oregon plan" OF
government. which, in the beginning. it
took as a model. The initiative, refer
endun and recalI-even TO the recall Of the
tudiciary-have been embodied
The recall of the judiciary was the straw
that broke the back of many a Democratic
camel. They stood by the convention and
Loyalty voiced their approval Of its actions
until the proposition TO provide for the re-
call of judges was adopted Now they are
either joining in the chorus OF dtsapproval
or maintaining an ominous silence
Aside from the belief that TO place judges
In constant fear OF the recall would de-
naoralize the judiciary system. the feeling
a
sanction constitution providing for the
initiative. the referendum or the recall
When the President was here last spring
he referred to the Oklahoma constitution
as "a geological garden of cranks and
warned Arizonans, IN the event Of their
adrntttancs TO statehood, not TO adopt any
thing similar.
When the enabling act for Arizona and
New Mexico was passed IT was provided
that the territories should not become
states until their constitutions had been
approved by both the President and Con-
gress. This provision was direct result
of the Oklahoma constitution Even
Roosevelt objected TO approving the Okla
homa constitution. but he had no choice
and Congress had nothing TO do with tHe
matter at all The Southwestern terri
tories received their offer of adnittance
upon terms radically different from those
ever before rendered a territory
Speculation as to Mr.. Taft's Stand.
Taft will never approve a radical con-
stitution." the Republicans have said from
the first. He won't dare disapprove the
Democrats shouted in reply. But since
the recall of the judiciary was adopted
the opinion has become generally preva-
a Judge. will dare disapprove. Since the
recent elections. which made the next
House Democratic. the delegates nave
made the claim that any kind of const-
tuition Arizona sends up will be accepted
But the Republicans reply that this does
not dispose of Mr.. Taft and the Senate
There are four classes which will vote
against the constitution in the form IL
seems certain TO be submitted. These are
the woman suffragists, prohibiuonlStS'
"spand-pat' Republicans and conservative
Democrats Many OF the Progressive Ae-
pubItcans and Democrats Will vote no
because they think the constitution is 100
radical and stands no chance of confirnna-
ton at Washington
Even the Democratic newspapers are
coming out in opposition TO the present
course of the convention, advising tnat
the delegates be more moderate Two OF
three are openly hostile and in their news
columns are paying little attention 20 the
convention. declaring that whatev er con-
stitution il adopts is Of no tnportance
and Of no interest except as a curiosity
for Il can never be approved by the peo-
pie. by Congress or by the President
From the first there has been much dis
satisfaction with the manner in which the
convention went about making a cOnstitu-
ton Words have been spilled with reck-
less prodigality, and whole weeks have
gone by with nothing accomplished Many
Of the delegates did not seem 10 under
stand the difference between a constitution
and a code. and scores OF proposit tions were
introduced for embodiment IN the constr
tuition which properly belonged in the
statutes.
4 remarkable fact in connection WIN
this convention is that there has not been
a corporation lobbyist IN the city since IL
met. At every territorial Legislature tH0
railroad and big mining companies ha'0
had their representatives on hand. ou'
they seem not to have thought II worm
while 10 send any one 20 the consutu
tionaI convention Republicans eha's0
that this is because the corporations aFs
convinced that the convention VIII Ho'
adopt a constitution Mr.. Taft can a'