Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1911-03-20
HOWEVER, HE CONDEMNS ITS
APPLICATION TO THE
JUDICIARY
PURELY A LOCAL MATTER
VIEWS OF OUTSIDERS ON BASIC
LAW HAVE NO BEARING ON
RIGHT TO STATEHOOD
IT'S REPUBLICAN In FORM
THIS BEING so, CONGRESS IS IN
HONOR BOUND TO ACT
FAVORABLY

Phoenix, Ariz., March 20.-Colone
Theodore Roosevelt addressed one o
the greatest throngs ever assembled
in the Southwest on the plaza here
today. his theme being the Arizone
constitution and statehood. Colone
Roosevelt arrived at noon from Mesa
where he spent Sunday. He was the
guest of honor at a luncheon given
by members of his former Rough
Rider regiment. Immediately follow
ing. the ex-president was escorted to
the plaza, where, from specially
constructed stand, he delivered his
address. Colonel Roosevelt said:
81 regret that Arizona was not ad-
mitted to statehood by the last con-
gress, and l trust that the next con
gress will without fail admit it. The
objections to admitting it } regard
as without warrant of justice. Appar'
emily these objections have been chief
lv or entirely due to the fact that
Arizona has adopted in its constltu-
ton the referendum, initiative and
recall.
81 do not agree with the form IN
which Arizona has adopted the re-
call. especially as regards the judic-
iary: but while regret that Arizona
should have adopted the recall in this
fashion, I not merely admit, but in
sist. that this is matter purely Tor
Arizona,s own decision and that
neither the opinion of myself nor any
other outsider has the slightest bear
ing on Arizona's right to the privi-
lege of statehood. What the views
of New York and Texas upon the
question may be has nothing what
ever to do with Arizona's right to its
own views.
'It is difficult for me to discuss
seriously the assertion that the adop-
ton of the initiative, referendum and
recall make a form of government
which is not republican. Switzerland
has adopted all three and to say that
Switzerland is not a republic is simp-
ly a contradition in terms. Surely
no one can expect to be taken serl-
ously if he asserts that Oregon or
California in it's form of government
is not as absolutely republican as
Connecticut or Pennsylvania or Mis-
sissippi. This being So there can
be no ground for refusing to admit
a territory to statehood when its pro-
posed constitution does not essential
" differ from the actual constitutions
of certain states already within the
union.
1.-THE principles of the initiative and
referendum may or may not be adopt
ed to the needs of given state un-
der given conditions believe they
are useful in some communities, and
not in others-but to deny terri
tory the right of statehood because
1t has adopted these principles is as
wrong as to say that Vermont should
not be state because its govern
mental system is based upon the
principle of the town meeting. If the
constitution of the United States for
bids the use Of the referendum or
initiative, then the constitution
should be amended without delav.
According to the varying foundations
in, each state and according to the
limitations upon the use of the initia-
tive and referendum, this use may or
may not be wise in any given in
stance: but the right to its use Is
inherent in every community; and no