Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1911-02-09
ARIZONA WILL
Be STUBBORN
Despite President Tafts
Wishes Constitution 1t Is
Being Ratified
OPPOSITION TO RECALL BITTER
Republicans Merely Hope to
Keep Down the Affirmative
Majority

Phoenix, Ariz., Feb. 9.-Voting on
the ratification of Arizona's constitu-
ton, under which it is intended that
Arizona be admitted to the Union, is
in progress throughout the territory
today. 1t is admitted that the con-
stitution will be approved, its oppon-
ents, the Republicans hoping only to
hold down the affirmative vote. Sixty
per cent of the total opposition is
based on the initiative, referendum
and recall, which are included in the
proposed constitution, the opposition
to the recall applied to the judiciary
being especially bitter
Looks Black for Arizona.
Washington, Feb. 9. Politicians
here who would like to see it defeat
ed, say the Arizona vote will be over
whelming for the constitution Thurs
day They claim, however, Congress
will reject it because of the referen-
dunn and recall clauses, While Tafts
friends say the recall is distasteful
to him, he will not refuse to sign it.
What President Taft thinks of the
Oklahoma style of constitution is al
ready known to the people of Arizona.
When there, in October, 1909, he
warned them against doing that
which this deplorable convention, in
famed with EXTREMIST and most vio-
lent notions of Organism, Bryanite
populism and socialism, has now ac-
complished and thrust upon the peo-
pie for a Eyes" or a mo" Mr.. Taft
besought the people of the territory
to consider seriously the instrument
of their statehood
At the territorial capitol at Phoe-
nix he said on October 13, 1909; "If
by caution | can restrain the desire
of those who are most full of the idea
of having limitations on government
from making the constitution other
than a fundamental law, with simple
rules of limitation; if l can halt and
induce the people of this state to take
time and deliberate over the instru-
ment that is to follow them so long
in the history of their state, | shall
not have let the day go without
profit"
Two days later, at Albuquerque, in
New Mexico, the President continued
his good advice to the people of the
two territories: You want to trust
your legislature, and you ought to
follow the model of the constitutions
of some of the other states, which
have also modelled after the constitu-
ton of the United States. An
amendment to the constitution is a
difficult thing, as we are finding out
now in attempting to amend the fed
eral constitution, and so you will find
it in the state constitutions. There
fore put there only general principles
and don't attempt to legislate every
fad of every man who is voluble and
gets into your constitutional conven-
ton.
Il say this with a great deal OF
fervOr, not as a partisan, not as a
Republican or a Democrat, but in the
interest of your state, whether you
vote the Republican or the Demo
cratic ticket. l want, if we are re-
sponsible for your coming into the
Union, as | am willing to be, and as
the Republican party is willing to be-
that you should justify the admission
by making yourselves a progressive
but at the same time conservative
community"