Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-08-20
Farnk Hitchcock and Arizona.

fairs. 1t would be scarcely fair to
lexpect him to recognize the ride
Iulous pretensions of the Phoenix poll
Iticians who elected themselves to be
a Statehood league" and have impu-
IDENTIFY pretended TO advise congress
in the name of the people of Arizona.
1t was no doubt because Mr.. Reed is
a new hand on the job that he was
selected by these gentry as a come
ington. At any rate he was gullible
enough on Friday to read to the SEN
ate a telegram which he had re-
ceived from the acting president
and the secretary of this absurd
statehood league" in which telegram
| it was set forth that Postmaster
General Hitchcock had done dreadful
things in Arizona in the way of at
tempted bulldozing of Arizona citizens
into accepting 'dictatiOn" from PresI
dent Taft in the matter of the consti-
tuition. The telegram, quoted in our
Washington dispatches of Friday
broadly intimates that the editor of
local paper in Phoenix was taken to
the summit of high mountain by the
postmaster general, and there tempt
| ed, as of Satan, to desert the con
victions which heretofore had moved
the said editor.
The dispatches relate that Post
master General Hitchcock was in the
senate gallery during the revelations"
made by Senator Reed, and that the
postmaster general smiled broadly.
Most certainly Mr. Hitchcock could
afford to smile, if he did not.
Seriously, what are the facts as to
Postmaster General Hitchcock's con-
nection with the campaign of last fall
in this territory? The Republican
happens to know the facts, and cheer
fully states them. The postmaster
general, on his way to San Francisco,
stopped a few days in northern Arr
IONA to visit with Delegate Cameron.
Sundry republicans, learning that he
was in the territory, urged him to
change his plans and visit the central
and southern section-they were anxi-
Gus to learn from him just what
shoals and pitfalls it would be nee
essary to avoid and thereby assure
statehood. Mr.. Hitchcock acceded To
these requests, and did come south,
and did confer with numerous re-
publicans. He made it plain, how
ever, that it was an extremely deli
cate situation for him to discuss, ana
that it would be impossible for him
to discuss it for publication. He
made it plain that the president was
most friendly to Arizona's aspira-
tions, and was most anxious that the
people of Arizona should make no
mistake which might compel him -
disapprove the constitution. Certain
features of the proposed cOnstitutiDn
being then under discussion generally,
Mr. Hitchcock stated that he knew
positively that the president was OPP
posed to these proposed features. If
the radical program succeeded, said
Mr. Hitchcock, il was quite certain
that one of the results would lac
presidential disapprovaL But. he WAS
careful to point out, he must not bc
Iy anxious to avoid even the appear
ance of debating to the people of the
territory-alI that had been said, in
these private conversations had been
uttered as evidence of the good will
of the national administration. Re
publicans here had insisted upon get
ting a reliable pointer, and Mr.. Hitch
cock had given them this pointer.
Among other republicans with whom
the postmaster general talked in con-
fidence was the editor of the local
paper mentioned in the telegram read
by Senator Reed. To that editor the
postmaster general, in the presence
of one of the most reputable citizens
of Phoenix, stated the same things
that had been stated to other republi-
cans. There was no suggestion Of
bulldozing, nothing said about the
withdrawal Of official patronage, moth
ing said except in the way of con-
fidential information as to the presi-
dents attitude-information impaired
bv a man who knew to a man who
purported to want to know. NJ.
Hitchcock made one mistake, how
ever. he took il for granted that he |
was talking to a republican. He
made il clear that all he said was in
for, he explained, the peo-
pie of Arizona must decide for them |
information as he gave
out was for the confidential enlight-
eminent of republicans who were anXi-
Gus for statehood and anxious to
know the surest method OF getting