Arizona republican., 1911-11-06

INIT to those OF New Mexico. AS
New Mexico has the larger popula
ton, it is not To be expected that
the people of that territory will
voluntarily abandon their laws.
their habits and customs TO adjust
themselves to those prevalent in
Arizona.
Under the plenary power of leg
islation, subject to limitations less
restrictive than those probably i'm
posed by any of the legislatures of
any of the states whether self i'm
posed or not, Arizona originated or
adopted and put in operation ;ts
own system of laws, and for more
than forty years has had its being.
attained its present development n, ,
and established those principles of
jurisprudence that are designed 20
foster and promote further progress
and achievement. under those laws
and their logical development. That
better laws might be devised, or
that those which we have might
be better enforced may be conced-
u
any other people or power than the
people of Arizona has the right 10
devise or enforce them, ecept only
congress itself.
1T cannot be justly asserted by
those who revere American institu-
tons that that complete local self
government which is naturally
vested in the people of the states
should he denied To the i,eoplc If
the territories because of a lack OF
intelligence of the people of tn 'e
territories, their want of moral de-
Velopment or their incapacity 20
understand or appreciate the prin-
ciples of self government. That de-
NAL must he based on other
grounds. if at all. That a cOmmun-
ity is too small numerically, relative
TO the extent of the territory occu-
pied, and does not possess the
wealth necessary to assume the
burden of a state government may
be admitted as a sufficient reason
for the establishment and mann
tenance of the temporary territorial
form of government prevalent in
the United States. The reason is
not inherent in the people them
selves but in the conditions Incl
dent to their place of residence.
Butwhile, for this reason. they NAV
be denied self government as COM
plete as that which the people of
state enjoy. they are not withdrawn
from the principle of the American
doctrine that the just powers Of
government are derived from the
consent of the governed.
THE bill for the joint statehood
of New Mexico and Arizona. which
passed the lower house of con-
gress at the last session and which
was so narrowly defeated in The
senate. directly violated this prin-
Ciple. While processing to be mere
~ an act to enable the people Cf
the two territories to effect joint
ure. and being joined. to frame arl
adopt a constitution and thereafter
be admitted as a state To the un-
ION. the bill. If il had become a law,
instantly Effected the jointure bv
its own operations without the con-
sent II the people Of either terri
tory
This is merely n portion Of the
governors lengthy judicial and
economic review of the question.
Many sentimental reasons entered
into the objection held by the peo-
pie of Arizona against jointure.
These quotations are made from
Governor Kibbev's annual report To-
Washington for three reasons: be-
cause of their historical import
ance; because they clearly set
forth the reasons why the people Of
Arizona were rigidly opposed to
jolt statehood, and because those
expressions from the executive eX-
hibited rare form of moral cOur-
aSe-the governor was addressing
= pres ident who ;,as insistin.; that
the two territories must be Joined
in one state-the very prcsiden.
who had appointed him to office
and had the po~er to arbitrarily
remove him.
1t is To the cre6it of President
Roosevelt that he not only did rot
remove Governor Kibbey. but was
Won over by the governors argc-
ments and his stubborn resistance
20 ioint statehood, and in due
course announced that he would nc
longer advocate tine jOinture of the
two territories.
y joint statehood bill was finally
passed but ii was not in the orr
gina! form. 1t submitted the ques-
ton to The penpie Of the two terri
tories. If a majority of the people
If either territory opposed jolnture.
the law should not become effective.
? provision in accordance with
Governor Kibbey's suggestions.
At the general election in No
1906, the people balloted
On the proposition. From the first
L was a foregone conclusion that
t would be defeated i'm Arizona by
l heavy majority. Long before the
lection day it ceased to be nat
ti Oh any SIedl puDliC iitSicSt' ~
certain was the rejection of
ointure.
The votes cast totaled 24,091;
,.141 were for jointure and 1922
opposed.
This effectuallv laid the ghost
# joint statehood. Never have the
people of Arizona received another
;uch scare.
The fight for statehood went on.