Arizona republican., 1911-08-21

We understand that the resolution
admitting Arizona and New Mexico
to statehood makes it the duty of the
president to Immediately" notify the
governors of the two territories of his
action as soon as he has approved
the resolution.
Assuming that Mr.. Taft will ap-
prove the resolution today, Governor
Sloan probably will receive within
the next ten days the necessary Of
fetal information of the presidents
action, and the governor may as soon
thereafter as he chooses issue his
proclamation calling the general cleo
ton
The governor will, of course, as
certain the wishes of the various po-
litical parties, so far as practicable,
concerning the date of the election.
The election will not be earlier than
November, and may be in December.
1t will be necessary to elect a full
COinlltlitlll VI SNeiNC anu NCHAANs VI
ficers, a legislature, member of the
house of representatives at Wash
ington and Cby the legislature) two
United States senators.
We find that a belief prevails in
many quarters that the state and
county officers will be elected for
full term. This belief is erroneous.
Under the provisions of the first sec
ton of Article V of the constitution,
the various officers elected shall hold
office for two years,
d" Except that the terms of office Of
those elected at the election provided
for in the enabling act approved June
30, 1911, shall begin when the state
shall be admitted into the Union, and
shall end on the first Monday in Janu-
airy, A. D. 1913, or when their success
sors are elected and qualify"
The state and county officers and
the members of the legislature will.
therefore, hold office from the date of
the presidents proclamation admit
ting the state, to the first of Janu-
airy, 1913. In other words, the men
elected to office this fall will hold Of
flee for but twelve months, approx
mately In the month of November
next year the regular" election will
occur, at which officers will be elected
for two years.
This limitation of course does not
apply to our congressman and sena-
tors. The congressman elected this
fall will hold office until March 4,
1913. so that his term will expire on
the same date with the other mem
bers of the national house of repre-
sentatives But at the general cleo
ton of next year, we shall elect a
congressman again, who will take his
seat with other congressman on tie
4th of March in the following year.
1t cannot be determined in advance
how long Arizonas senators will
serve A senatorial term is for six
years, of course, but this applies
only to senators who are elected af-
ter the first senatorial election. The
terms of the first senators elected are
determined automatically by the
senate rules.
This is because the federal con-
stitution requires that, so far as prac-
IL, &c tof
membership shall be elected every !
two years. Arizona and New Mexico |
will have four senators, all told. Not |
more than one of the four can get |
six year term, in all probability; and |
two of them may get two-year terms |
while the fourth wins four-year |
term. AS to whether Arizona or New |
Mexico shall get the best of it in this |
regard will depend upon the respec-
in the two states. And at this time |
it is impossible for The Republican
to say whether ii would be a disad
vantage or an advantage for Arizona
to elect her senators ahead of New
Mexico, inasmuch as it is problem
which will have to be worked out
by the secretary of the United States
senate.
The senators are to be elected by |
the legislature on joint ballot of the
two houses, but if the legislators ad-
here TO the provisions of the consti-
tuition their work will be perfunctory.
1t will merely carry into effect the
wishes of the voters as indicated at
the polls in the advisory" election
a device which follows the Oregon
plan.
Candidates for the various state and