Arizona republican., 1911-09-24
The Legislature.

The Republican has already called
 the attention of it's readers to the
 importance of electing well quail fled men to the legislature; and il now feels it would be remiss in it, duty if it did not again impress up- on the mind of the public the great responsibility that devolves upon il in this matter.
 It is time to ask whether common sense or frenzy is to govern in this election It is time to ask whether the candidates for these important positions, whose incumbents. more than any other officials, will shape the destinies of the new state, are to be chosen for their fitness. or whether they are to be elected on an issue that has no existence save in the dreams of frenzied politicians.
 It can hardly be said that the Arizona constitution is an issue in this campaign. No man, who is both honest and sensible, will say that. The constitution is the supreme law of the state and as such it is ac- cepted by all good citizens. And whether these citizens approve of all its provisions or not has absolutely nothing to do with the case.
 As an illustration, there are some millions of people in the United States, who do not believe that all the provisions of the federal con- stitution are the best that could be devised. Even now, there is a propo- sition before the state legislatures to change our federal organic law so that the taxing powers of congress Of people who believe that change should be made; but as good citizens, they nevertheless support the cOnsti- tuition as it is until it shall have been modified.
 There are also some millions of people in this country who think the constitution should be changed in an- other particular so that United States senators shall be elected by popular vote. But so long as the present law prevails it must be respected.
 So, here is the point: It would be just as reasonable to say that the people who demand a constitutional amendment providing for the direct election of senators are unpatriotic as to say that the people who favored a constitution for this state different in some particulars from the one which, in fact, was adopted, are un- patriotic It strikes The Republican that there is such a thing as free dom of thought and freedom of speech in this country
 So it does seem that it is time for | us to get down to a basis of req son, justice. and common sense. Be cause a man supported all the pro- visions of our constitution can hard ly be said to be a guarantee that he | will make a good official any more | than it can be said that because a | man opposed some of the provisions | of that instrument would disqualify | him from acting as such official. As a matter of fact it would hardly seem | that those considerations should enter into the matter at all. It would seem rather that merit and efficiency are the things that should count
 Now, a number of gentlemen have been proposed for the legislature whom every reasonably prudent man knows should not be elected, especial ly at this time. There is no ques- ton Of their honesty and there is no question of their sincerity. But all to their election. For one thing. they are absolute without experience in public affairs; and for another thing. it is quite certain they have no ade- quate grasp of the problems that will have to be solved.
 The work of legislatures is always important The work to be done by the first legislature of Arizona is doubly important, because that lcgis- lature will fix precedents and estab- fish policies that will control for years, possibly for decades. The legislature will in a measure handle the business of the entire state of ness man in Phoenix who would consent that some of the candidates should have a guiding hand in the