The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-20
LET HER COME IN.
Col. Roosevelt Says the Congress
Has No Right
To Keep Arizona Out of the
Federal Union.
OBJECTS TO RECALL.
But It's Not the Business OF
Anybody Else.
The State Has a Right to Have
What She Wants.

Phoenix, March 20.-CoI. Theodore
Roosevelt addressed one of the largest
throngs ever assembled in the south
west on the plaza here today, his
theme being Arizona Statehood .
Colonel Roosevelt arrived from Mesa
at noon, attended a luncheon given in
his honor by members Of his former
Rough Rider regiment and then pro-
ceeded to the plaza.
Colonel Roosevelt said in part:
81 regret that Arizona was not ad-
mitted to statehood by the last con-
gress and 1 trust that the next con-
gress will admit it. The objections to
admitting it, 1 regard as without war
rant of justice. Apparently, these OBJ
jections have been chiefly or entirely
due to the fact that Arizona has adopt
ed in its constitution the referendum,
initiative and recall
Il do not agree with the form in
which Arizona adopted the recall, and
especially as regards the judiciary; but
while I regret that Arizona should
have adopted the recall in this fashion,
not merely admit, but insist that this
is a matter purely for Arizona's own
decision and that neither the opinion
of myself nor any other outsider has
the slightest bearing on Arizona s
right to the privilege of statehood.
What the views of New York and
Texas upon the question may be has
nothing whatever to do with Arizona's s
right to its own views.
'"The principles of the initiative and
referendum may or may not be adopt
ed to the needs of given state under
certain conditions believe they are
useful in some communities and not in
| others-but to deny a territory the
right of statehood because it has
adopted these principles is wrong. If
the constitution of the United States
forbids the use of the referendum, or
initiative, then the constitution should
be amended without delay.
81 am strong nationalist, but 1 am
no les sa believer in the rights of the
states wherever the rights of the
states mean the rights of the people
and in this case the rights of the peo-
pie include the right of the people of
any state to decide upon any course of
action it deems best in this matter.
The United States government is in
honr bound to admit Arizona under its
present constitution.
ST wish it distinctly understood that
while there are many provisions in
your proposed constitution with which
1 most heartily agree, there are some
with which I disagree and notably
among these is the provision of the
recali, ana especially aHecLlnS tne
judiciary.
II admit the melancholy fact that
there are states where judges have act
ed so as to make it justifiable and nee
essary for the people to adopt measures
for retiring all such judges from Of
flee. But speaking generally and as
regards most communities under nor
NAL conditions. feel that it is to the
interest of decent citizens who want
nothing but justice in it's broadest and
truest sense. not to adopt any meas
ure which would make judges timed,
which would make them fearful lest
deciding rightly in some given case
might arouse storm of anger. tenn
porary, but fatal
I'm any event. a measure fraught
with such possibility of mischief as the
recall of judges, as you have provid-
ed for it. should not be adopted until
by actual experiment you are driven
to it as a. necessary but regrettable
emthod of doing away with some even
worse evil