Graham guardian., 1911-02-24
nA1Es or LEGAL ADvERTIsTNG
FEBRUARY "a, 1911.
THE ARIZONA CONSTlTU-
TON


The people of Arizona have rati-
fed their constitution and await the
approval of the authorities at Wash
ington. That approval cannot be
withheld; the constitution suits the
people of the new State and does
not violate the federal constitution
that is all that can be required.
The people of Arizona think it good,
but whether the Washington author
tiles like it or not they have no rea-
sonable excuse for delaying State
hood. If there is any provision in
the constitution which is objection
able to the people of Arizona it can
be easily removed through the in
itiative and referendum what more.
can President Taft ask?
During the recent campaign some
of the officeholders, who are about
to lose their salaries; some of the
corporations that do not like to be
regulated, and some of the news
papers that are controlled by for
elgn capital assumed to speak for
the president and threaten disap-
proval, but it would be reflection
on the chief executive to believe
that he would permit these self
appointed mouth-pieces to speak for
him. Mr.. Taft has read the consti-
tuition; if he had intended to disap-
prove it he should have said so and
pointed out the parts to which he
objected. 1t is hardly good faith
certainly not generous keep
silent until the people speak and
then withhold Statehood because of
personal objection to one or more
provisions.
If he thinks that any provisions
are Objectionable let him point out
those provisions and ask congress TO
authorize a separate vote on those
propositions at the time State and
local officials are elected.
This will give the people chance
to vote on those particular PROPOSE
tions, and he would hardly take the
position that the people should not
be allowed to have them if they de-
sire them. In every other State the
people can have a constitution that
suits them, why not in Arizona?
The initiative and referendum are
not new. They have been adopted
in eight States extending from Ore
gon to Maine and from Montana to
Arkansas, they will be submitted to
the people in at.least eight more by
the legislatures now in session.
The recall is already in operation
in several States and is rapidly
spreading.
The only living ex-president is in
favor of the initiative, referendum
and recall; the Progressive Republi.
can League is in favor of all three
reforms. Can President Taft af-
ford to deny Statehood to the peo-
pie of Arizona because of his op-
position to three constitutional pro-
visions? Let no friend of his charge
him with being so hostile to the
fundamental principles of self-gov-
ernment. The Commoner.
The above article states exactly
the position of the people of Ari-
zona in regard to the constitution
which they ratified by big maiori-
ty, They believe it to be the best
constitution ever written for State
and they are right in their belief.
They also believe that if the people
in other States can have constitu-
tions to suit them, they, as Ameri-
can citizens, have the same right.
With the initiative and referen-
dunn the people of Arizona are al.
ways in position to remove any
provision which may be objection
able to them, but the people of Ari-
zona must be the judges of what is
good or bad for them. 1t is not up
to corporations or politicians to tell
the people what they must do.
That time is past.
The people of Arizona want State
hood. They also want a constitu-
tion of their own making. If there
are any Objectionable provisions in
the constitution they recently rati-
fed, Congress can well leave it to
the people of Arizona to decide |
whether they want them or not.