The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-08-18
THE VETO OF THE BILL TO
ADMIT TO Staten o o D
ARIZONA AND NEW
MEXICO.

The two territories of Arizona and
New Mexico have been for years striving
to be admitted into the United States,
and although clearly entitled to be ad-
mitted, and the welfare of the people
clearly demand their admission the Re-
publican party in Congress has refused
for years TO admit them
The present Congress passed a bill
few days ago admitting both States,
and sent the bill to President Taft
which he promptly vetoed and returned
to Congress.
The reason assigned by the President
for his veto was that the Constitution
adopted by the people of Arizona MAIN
tanned provision for the recall of any
judge of the State, if majority
of the people of the State voted for his
recall
The veto OF the President thus raises
very important question tor the consid-
Grafton of the people, and it is of far
reaching importance to all of the people,
and it will be bound, if not now, in the
near future, to demand public attention.
In fact, it is already creating wide at
tention and the fact that the recent de-
cisons of the Supreme Court in the
Standard Oil and the Tobacco Trust
cases, has brought the judiciary into
very pointed view, and much adverse
riticism. 1t will be recalled by all intel
ligent people that Mr.. Jefferson said that
in the formation of the Constitution the
judiciary was the weak spot, and that
if the liberties of the people were ever
destroyed, il would be by the courts.
There are great many false notions
entertained about the courts and Judges
and there is an imperative demand that
many erroneous opinions of courts and
judges shall be supplanted by correct
and intelligent convictions.
First and 70 emost judges are only
men with all of the weaknesses and
faults of any and all ordinary men. and
no judge has ever been found more i'm
maculate than the ordinary man.. and
none ever will be so found,
There is not an intelligent man who
does not know that judges, whether
State or national, are neither better or
worse than ordinary men off the bench.
There is too much rot talked and
printed about the divinity that hedges
in the judiciary. The Judge, like all
other men is affected BY the loss of a
nights sleep, or by missing his dinner,
or if his dinner does not suit, by his
prejudices or his friendships, and some.
times his church or his politics. and
some are SO uncharitable as to say that
he may be affected by the hope of re-
election, but Of course, it is thought
awlulto say such thing
Still the judges are only mortal and
subject TO mortal weaknesses Just as
other men are.
1t is said by the people and also the
press that the courts must not even
be criticised
Suffice it is to say that whenever the
judiciary of the country get beyond
criticism. the liberty of the people will
be lost and lost forever. The provision
for the recall of the judiciary in the
constitution OF Arizona may be unwise
or even dangerous. but that is aside
from the real danger. The vital prin.
ciples raised by this veto. is the consti-
tutionaI right Of the people OF Arizona to
adopt State Constitution for them
selves and to suit themselves.
The President does not. pretend that
the State Constitution adopted by the
people Of Arizona or any provision of
it is in violation of the Constitution
OF the United States, but he vetoes it
because he says that he is opposed TO
the recall of the judges, as that it might
be destructive Of the rights of the mi
nority, as of the individuals.
Suppose that to be true. Is President
Taft, then to be the judge of the sort
of a constitution that he thinks that
Arizona ought to have, or are the people
OF Arizona to have the exclusive right
and power to make their own constitu-
ton to suit themselves. provided ALWAYS
that il does not violate the Constitution
Of the United hon on 5.
In other pused is the President Of
The Uuiteflsoners 0 deny TO the people
Of Arizot Ter Stale the right