Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-01-20
ITS MERELY
SUPPORTING
|CorrObOPatiVe Of Statement
Of Governor Sloan
A WHITE HOUSE VISITATION
To Ned Creighton, Delegate
Cameron and Others the
President Said He had
Read Governors Inter
views Covered the Case.

Ned Creighton returned a few days
ago from Washington, bringing back
with him the same impressions. or to
be more accurate, the same fixed con-
viction, regarding what will happen TO
the constitution when it reaches the
president, that all who have come from
Washington recently have brought.
Mr.. Creighton believed he could serve
no useful purpose in adding to what has
ALREADY been told The ratification of
the constitution seemed so absolutely
certain that there was nothing to do
but let it run its course.
But since his return he has learned
of the abuse which has been heaped
upon Governor Sloan for stating the
result of his interview with the presi-
dent regarding the constitution. While
the governor needs no defense against
the kind of traduccrs who have been
attacking his veracity. Mr. Creighton
believes it to be his duty To the gov
ernor to make a statement of what he
learned while in Washington.
Postmaster General Hitchcock one
Afternoon arranged for the reception by
the president OF Delegate Cameron,
Leroy Anderson, Hoval A. Smith and
Mr.. Creighton.
1t was not understood that the WISH
tors mad any business at The White
House beyond paying their respects to
the chief executive. The conversation
was a pleasant one, relating To Arizona
affairs. at first exclusive OF statehood.
But the visitors intended if possible to
get some expression from the president
on the subject of the constitution.
though they had been told that the
matter was exceedingly distasteful to
him.
The first copies Of the constitution in
pamphlet form had just reached Wash
ington and a member of the party had
one with him. which he offered to Mr..
Taft, who received it with grimace.
saying that he was already appraised of
its contents
What he said of it cannot. of course.
be repeated by any of the visitors with
propriety, though some Of the visitors
since then have asserted positively that
the constitution will not be approved,
lnt dSSNill'li bfiliS BdSth vi Nlldl NlitN
heard in that interview
But this part of the conversation may
be gone over. in the circumstances.
without improperly. 1t was men
toned by one of the visitors that Gov
ernor Sloan on his return from Wash
ington had made certain statements i'm
printed interviews regarding the atti-
tude of the president toward the con-
stitution; that the veTacity of the gov
ernor had been attacked: that he was
charged with trying to deceive the vot-
ers and that a demand had been made
that he state precisely what the presi
dent had said to him.
II was suggested to Mr.. Taft that if
he would make an authoritative state
ment of his intentions it would no doubt
clear the situation in Arizona and re-
move any doubt that might exist re-
gardng the correctness of the impress
sion Governor Sloan had gained.
To this the president replied that in
speaking to Governor Sloan he had
spoken to him as the representative of
the people of Arizona. He said HE
HAD READ THE STATEMENT OF
THE GOVERNOR AS PRINTED IN
THE TERRITORIAL PAPERS. THE
STATEMENT FULLY COVERED
THE CASE. THERE WAS NOTHING
TO BE ADDED. That is. as the visi-
tors understood, Governor Sloan was
the bearer of an official message. whose
delivery had met with the approval of
the president.
Postmaster General Hitchcock one
day gave a luncheon at which the Ari-
iona guests were Delegate Cameron,
Hoval Smith. Chairman Sames of the
republican territorial committee and
Mr. Creighton. The AriZOnians, as
usual. brought up the subject of the
constitution. TO which Mr.. Hitchcock
listened with impotence. He has been
numerically "chaffed" by his associates
in the cabinet, it is said. by the presi
dent and many members of the house
and senate with whom he labored so
persuasively and efficiently for the
passage of the enabling act. He has
been derisively dubbed, the sponsor
for the baby"
1t is betrayal of no confidence, Mr..
Creighton says, to state that Postmas-
ter General Hitchcock has abandoned
all hope of statehood. He regards ad-
mission as entirely without the bounds
of possibility.
But there were two at the table who
had not given up hope. One was HOval
Smith. who said he could not believe
that the voters of Arizona. where state
hood sentiment was so overwhelming.
would destroy the only chance of OBJ