Arizona republican., 1911-10-28

to declare himself in sympathy with
 the notions which for the moment
 appear to be the most popular.
 Thinking democrats-the democrats
 who know that first impressions are lasting and who wish to give the
 outside world a favorable impression of Arizona in the beginning of our
 state government-findn nothing com forting in the thought of G. w. P. Hunt as our first governor.
 The fact that he began his business
 career in Arizona as a restaurant
 waiter ought to count for nothing against him. Indeed, it is a matter
 of pride to all real Americans that
 our system of government affords
 opportunities for the rise of the
 most lowly. But it ought to count.
 and will count, against Hunt, that
 he is extremely illiterate.
 This matter of his illiteracy has
 been rather artfully concealed by
 him. Having accumulated a fortune
 through running the company store"
 in the mining camp of Globe, it was easy for him, as the wealthiest man
 of the camp to become one of the
 most prominent men of the com
 munity. And, since nominations to
 the territorial legislature generally
 went begging. he could always go to the legislature from his county for the asking. In the legislature. as at home, he studiously cultivated the art of keeping silent. His silence | impressed many people as a sign of ponderous wisdom. He preferred to be the presiding officer, a job which called for no talking. His silence and
 his great physical bulk have been to his advantage in politics-it is
 surprising to note the number of peo- pie who think a man must neces- sarily be a great one if he wears countenance of silent solemnity anu NclSiS tlSllll VI ei lOli-
 When his consuming ambition was
 gratified to the extent of election to the constitutional convention and as the president of that body, he realized that additional care would be neces-
 sary to conceal his illiteracy. he employed a bright newspaper man for private secretary, and the news paper man prepared his letters for him. The same course was pursued from the beginning of his campaign for governor, which was coincident with his election to the constitutional convention. Newspaper writers wrote or edited his copy" so that it reach ed the public in readable form.
 He has rather petulantly complain ed of the few newspapers which have made passing allusion to his illiteracy, and has urged in his own behalf that he had no opportunity to get an education.
 Of course a man is not to be blamed for his illiteracy if he has had no chance to go to school, but he does lay himself open to severe criticism when he presumes to in- sist upon receiving a job for which illiteracy units him.
 The governor of Arizona-above all, tl, nF hn Staf ought 10 be a man for whom citizens do not need to apologize because of his uncouthness and ignorance. Such a man as Hunt in the governors of flee would make it necessary for ] citizens to apologize to visitors con stantly. And apologies and humilia- | tions would necessarily be the rule, | for as governor MT. Hunt would be | required to make frequent appearances | in public and to speak in public often-so that even if he employed | somebody to write his messages and | other state papers for him this would | not nearly suffice to hide his it. literacy from the public.
 When a man names himself as ! candidate for office he impliedly in vites the public to make a close scrutiny of his qualifications for the job. Hunt has made himself the nominee of his party for governor. But if the masses of the democratic party can bring themselves to state of mind which will permit them to examine the qualifications of the can before them they will be obliged, if honest with themselves, to say that c. w. P. Hunt is sadly lacking in the qualifications neces- sary for the great office of gover- nor