Arizona republican., 1911-11-23
Greatest Political Demon
stration in the History of
Mesa City Occurred at
Republican Rallies Yes
terday.
CANDIDATES TALK
AT TWO MEETINGS
Cameron, Smith, and the
Other Nominees Fire the
Enthusiasm of Their
Hearers With Logic and
Eloquence.

The republican congressional and
state candidates, who have been cam
Laughing. the former in the southern
and eastern counties OF the state, and
the latter in the north, met at Mesa
Yesterday at noon and with the Mar
icopa county and legislative nominees.
spent the day in that city holding
two great rallies. one in the open in
the afternoon following a barbecue
and the other in the evening in the
opera house following an open air
concert by a band brought along by
the PhOenicians. who made the trip
from the city in a special train.
For size and enthusiasm, the meet
ings, arc said by republicans and
democrats alike to have been larger
and more demonstrative than any
political meetings ever before held in
Mesa.
That this is true is largely due To-
the fact that at the democratic meet
ing held in Mesa Tuesday night.
Mark Smith and Henry Ashurst. DEM
ocratic candidates. indulged IN much
criticism of q personal nature of their
republican opponents, Hoval Smith
and Ralph Cameron, and it was ex-
pected the latter would reply thereto.
Those who attended last nights
meeting with that expectation were
not disappointed. and that the replies
Pleased was evidenced by the vOcifer-
Gus applause given the speakers when
they stated their respective sides Of
the case.
The charge against Cameron was
that he had named for appointment
10 the naval academy at Annapolis
a Boston boy and the inference l.,
said to have been left that Cameron
had been offered money by the father
or friends of the young man to make
the appointment. The record of the
case as shown by Mr. Cameron's
correspondence files is that the ap-
pcntee is the son of a man now for
years past engaged in mining in Co
conino county and that so far from
being able to pay Cameron or any
one else $1,000 for the appointment
the father Of the youngster asked Mr.
Cameron to loan him the money with
which TO buy a ticket to Annapolis
The record also showed that the ap-
poirtment was not made until two
others had been named for the place
ard for one reason or another had
failed 10 qualify.
The charge against Hoval Smith was
that he had been guilty of fraud in the
matter of obtaining title to lands in
the Warren Mining district in Cochise
county and Mr.. Smith gave a history
Of the controversy from its inception
in 1902 with the purchase of the claims
of l12 original locators by himself and
associates at cash of about $1,000
900 until the title was confirmed and
patents issued last spring after a de-
tormined legal battle with cIaimjum-
pers which ended in the utter rout OF
the latter.
As it was the first time that their
personalities had been attacked and
because of the nature of the charges
made. Messrs. Cameron and Smith
were thoroughly aroused and presented
their cases in such spirited mann.r
that each several times brought the
audience to its feet with approving
cheers.
The evening meeting was presided
over by Bert Wenger who was partic,l-
larly happy in his choice of words in
his opening speech and in his introduc-
ton of the several candidates upon the
congressional and state tickets wEo
were in the list of speakers.
As prelude to the regular program.
Chairman Hubbell of the state central
committee addressed the Mexican vot-
ers in the audience in their own lang
uage winning general applause Ralph
Cameron followed and his appearance
was the occasion for a display of ad-
miration, as sincere as it was spon-
taneous. which had the effect to make
even that seasoned campaigner feel
that he was among friends
He began with repetition of his
oft made declaration that he had full
filled every promise he had made when
he was elected three years ago. that
he stood squarely upon his record and
that he had no apologies to offer. He
was pledged to get statehood and he
got it, He was not pledged to get il
according to any particular plan but
he got it as the people wanted it and
in spite Of some people who evidently
did not want il at all.
He told of his efforts to secure the
presidents approval of the constitution
As written and of what had to be done,
when that approval was withheld, in
order to get statehood at all.
Cameron denied he is responsible
for the so-called "disfranchisement"
of 1000 voters. He pointed to the