Arizona republican., 1910-11-05
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, NOV 5, 1910.
Awkward Position of the Majority

Awkward Position of the Majority.
 If an angel from Heaven, accompa- nied by a messenger from the White House and an emissary from congress, were to appear in the constitutional convention and foretell the failure of statehood as a consequence of the in clusion of a direct legislation pro- vision fin the constitution, the visita- tion would probably not alter the pur- pose of the majority.
 Therefore, it might be supposed that the warning of Judge Doe and MT. Kingan yesterday was a waste of words. But 1t was not. Immediate results were not expected. When those addresses receive serious con- sideration by the people, as they will some weeks or some months hence, it will be recalled that they were uttered by earnest friends of statehood, and it will then be understood that the republican managers and party in the late campaign were trying to serve no party purpose, as was all legged, but that they were thoughtful only of statehood, the thing which Arizonians, regardless of party, de- sired more than any other thing.
 They believed then, and they more strongly believe now, that a direct legislation provision would be fatal to statehood. At that time it was only urged that the president was known to be hostile to that principle, and that the republican majority in congress would oppose 1t.
 Constitutional objections to it were not much dweIt upon, but it is now made quite clear that congress and the president, in view of the fact that the question of the constitutionality of direct legislation is now pending in the United States supreme court, whatever might be their opinions re- sarding the merit of such legislation, could not with propriety and with a proper respect in which the various branches of the government hold each other, undertake to approve system which is on trial. Congress and the president would be the less likely to lend such approval, since such ex- pressions of the supreme court as have been made are interpreted to be against that system.
 During the campaign we heard ire quently that the president would not dare to turn down the constitution, and that the republicans in congress who might be expected to oppose 1t on account of its progressive" char acter would be overwhelmed by the democratic members and the so-called insurgents.
 One fact has been overlooked, and that is that there are no more stub- born sticklers for the constitution and accepted interpretations of 1t than the southern senators, who have looked askance upon the progressive" movement within their own party.
 As to what the president would do, if is not on record that he has not dared to do what he believed to be the right thing.
 Messrs Kingan and Doe yesterday disclaimed any purpose to discuss the merits of direct legislation. That with them was a theory, to reach which they would have to surmount an i'm mediate and menacing condition.
 We believe that the people of the territory understand this better than they did two months ago, and that they, will come into a fuller realiza- ton of it as the months go by. Messrs. Doe and Kingan have thrown bright light on the situation.
 We have found no fault with the democratic delegates for steadfastly trying to fulfill their pledges to their constituents. They could not have done otherwise. Though they might have later become convinced that statehood would be shipwrecked, they would naturally have feared the early resentment of their constituents But the delegates are to be blamed for whatever part they had during the campaign in minimizing the peril Of statehood
 They have been placed in an awk- ward position, for if statehood Tall as a result of their fulfillment of their pledges, they must encounter resent ment, because of failure. Somebody must be held responsible for every disaster which cannot be called hn act of God. +