Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1910-07-03

adopted the same provisions"
Mr.. President. this clause Of the
senate bill not only changes the ex-
isting Law with respect TO the suf-
frage in the terrieory OF Arizona
and fixes the qualification OF electors
who shall vote for delegates to the
constitutional convention. and who
shall vote to ratify the constitution.
but It takes one further and addit-
ional step. Il provides that the elect
ors who shall vote for state officers.
after the constitution has been rati-
fed and adopted by the people. shall
have the qualifications fixed in this
act.
Congress possibly has the power.
although II Is not In my Judgment
up TO this time undertaken to use
it 20 fix qualifications for the cleo
ton of delegates TO a constitutional
Iconvention different from those fixed
, by the laws of the territory, because
congress has the power TO approve or
disapprove OF the acts of territorial
LEGISLATURE. But after the delegates
have been elected to the constitu-
tional convention. after the consu'
tuition has been ratified by the peo-
pie. this bin undertakes 70 fix the
qualifications of the electors who are
to cast their votes for the state Off
GERS who are 70 be elected under the
constitution.
What right, ! ask. has congress 10
deny to the people Of Arizona the
right TO fix in their constitution the
qualifications Of the voters who are
to cast their votes for the state Of
fcers of that state after the const-
tuition has been ratified and approved
by the people? Il. in effect. proposes
TO take from those people the right
TO write a constitution with respect
to suffrage. because IL congress can
fix the qualifications of those electors
for the first set of state officers who
are to be elected why can II not
fix it for the next.
Mr.. President, such a proposition
was never heard Of in an enabling
act until this bill was presented in
the senate And why was il done;
What IS the reason? II there is any
one thing that is recognized in our
system of government. it is the right
Of a people Of a territory or a state
to fix the qualification Of their voters
II is a purely domestic question
congress has nothing TO do with II
lit does not affect the people Of the
nation as a whole. II does not affec
the government and the people ex
cept sa for as they may be residenti
of that territory. Congress has un
dertaken to invade thhe territory o
!, Arizona and 90 take from te peopl
the right TO FIX the qualifications o
their voters. say it is an unjus
= invasion. and the senate ought no
I to ratify it
= Why was It done? Is there an
reason for It? Is there any jusif
cation for il? The very bill abou
which / am talking. as to the teri
tory of New Mexico. provides tina
7 the qualified electors of that territor
/ shall be the electors who are :
elect the delegates to the CONVEX
b ton and to raufy the constitution
and elect the state officers afte'
wards: and yet in that part OF tn
bill relating to Arizona they chang
I the law and undertake to fix a di
! ferent qualification from that of tn
law as Il Is there now.
Now. why? Mr.. President. is
, proposed to do this? There can b
! only one reason and that reason
! supposed partisan advantage. 1t
, said that the act of the legislator
, OF Arizona passed by the last legisi'
, ture and vetoed by the territo-i;