The copper era., 1911-01-27
Republican Leader Is Visitor to Clifton on Political Mis-
 sion Prior To Election.
Has Just Returned From Capital.
Brings The Same Story of no Chance of Statehood Under Present Con
 stitrtion
stitution.

Republican Territorial Central Com
 nittee, arrived in Clifton Tuesday and spent-the day Lere in conference with the members of the Greenlee county republican committee ou political matters with reference to the ratification election of the Ari. zona constitution to be held on Feb ruary 9th.
 The chairman of the committee has been visiting the several counties in southern Arizona during the past two week lining up the territorial l orga nization and laying plans to get the voters to the polls-that is those voters known to be opposed to the con- stitution, also those voters who be- lieve that the only opportunity for statehood at this time IS through the rejection of the constitution and the reassem bling of the convention for the purpose of eliminating the de- batable provisions.
 The Chairman of the Republican committee, however, is of the opinion that the constitution will be approved by small majority by the voters of Arizona but IS more positive when he asserts that Arizona will never be admitted to statehood under the pre- ent constitution for the reason that the President is opposed to it and that the staunch friends Arizona had in Congress, both on the democratic and republican side, have become luke warm on the subject since the action of the constitutional convention.
 "Mr. Sames has been in Washing ton since the adjournment of the con stitutional convention. He is close friend of Postmaster General Hitch cock, the two having been school mates together While there, the question of statehood for Arizona came up for discussion and MT. Sames bases his prediction of the disap- proval of Arizoua's constitution at Washington from what he heard at the national capital.
 "Our influential friends at Wash ington," said MT. Sames, twill not turn a hand in our favor. This ap- plies to leading democrats as we'll as republicans. While the statements of President Taft are not being quoted there is no doubt in the minds of anyone who has been to Washing ton recently, but that Governor Sloan correctly stated the situation to the people of Arizona upon his return several weeks ago."
 APPROVAL IS IMPOSSIBLE.
 Phoenix, Jan. 2l After hearing President Taft and others in Wash ington speak of the constitution, Ned Creighton has returned to Phoenix more than ever convinced that the approval of the constitution at Wash ington is impossible. Postm aster General Hitchcock one afternoon arranged for the reception by the president of Delegate Ralph Cam eron, MT. Creighton. Hoval A. Smith and Leroy Anderson. MT. Creighton says one of the members of the party had a copy of the constitution, which he handed to the president. Presi- dent Taft accepted it with grimace, saving he was already apprised of its contents. What he said cannot, of course, be repeated by any of the visitors with propriety, but certain part of the conversation may be gone over without impropriety.
 It was mentioned by one ot the visitors that Governor Sloan, on his return from Washington, had made certain statements in interviews re garding the attitude of the president toward the constitution; that the veracity of the governor had been attacked; that he was charged with trying to deceive the voters, and that d demand had been made that he state precisely what the president had said to him.
 To this President Taft replied that he had spoken to Governor Sloan 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 state ment fully covered the case. There was nothing to be added.
 That is, as the visitors understood, Governor Sloan was the bearer of an oflical message, the delivery of which had met with the approval of the president.
 MAY REJECT CONSTITUTION.
 Speaking of the constitution now before the people of the territory, Governor Sloan who was in Tucson last week, said he believes there is a very strong probability of it's being rejected at the ratification election of February 9. There is d strong sentiment in that direction, he stated, not only because of the constitution itself, but also because of it's certain fate if it goes to Washington. Re