The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-11

luton admitting Arizona and New
Mexico.
Veto of Statehood Futile.
The presidents veto Of the state
hood resolution was unjustifiable and
futile.
After an enabling act is passed and
| after territory in conformity there
! with has adopted a constitution proyld-
ing g republican form of government,
she is entitled to admission. That is the
! sole fact to be ascertained and no man
in his sober senses will for one mo-
! nient contend that because a state con-
/ stitution contains provisions for the
initiative, referendum and recall, it
does not provide republican form or
government 1t matters nos what a
man may think of those three features
of government or how much he may be
| opposed to them he viii rot If he is a
/ candid person, unless he is at the same
time a stark idiot, contend that they
are repugnant TO a republican form OF
! government. In his veto the president
! claims that the principal point at issue
1 was the recall, particularly the recall
of judges. He is entirely mistaken. He
raised a far greater ana more far reach
| ing question anu took the wrong side
of it and that is whether a state has
the right to adopt for itself such con-
stitution as it desires subject, OF course,
to the consti tuition of the United States
and provided it establishes for itself
by its constitution a republican form
who love a square deal will not per-
init him to shift the issue from the
great question of q states having the
right to adopt any sort of constitution,
which suits it within the limitations
named, to a petty squabble about the
recall.
ITO show how utterly preposterous
his veto is and how absolutely nnga-
tory in the end, it is only necessary to
remember that within "a hours after
she is admitted as a state Arizona
can call a constitutional convention for
the purpose of adding to her constitu-
ton an amendment providing for the
recall Furthermore to illustrate the
preposterOus character of his veto, it is
only necessary to remember that more
than one state constitution provides for
the recall at the present time.
1.-The provisions to go into state
constitution do not depend under the
federal constitution upon the whjmy
prejudice or taste of the man who hap
pens to occupy the White House or of
the men who happen to be representa-
tives or senators in congress, but upon
the will of the voters of the state it
self; but the president seems to be
laboring under the delusion that he
knows better what the people of -Ari-
IONA need and desire than they know
themselves anG that his wishes and
desiI es rather than theirs Should be
which is 2 queer opinion to be enter
tanned by an American president.
Republican Criticism of Taft.
I'm speaking of President Taft I
have always endeavored to treat him
with that courtesy which should pre-
vail among gentlemen, with that kind
illness which personal friends should
exhibit toward each other and with
that respect which Americans enter |
tain for the high position which he
holds.
some Republican statesmen, how
ever, lay on and spare not.
For instance United States Senator |
Clapp of Minnesota, a Republican /
chieftain. says:
What shall we say Of a policy to
force an electorate to forswear its |
convictions as the price of admission !
to the Union? It savors of the dark /
ages It is an attempt at the bribery |
of a people. There are two cases of /
bribery now being investigated by the |
senate, yet, in the face Of that, here |
is an attempt to bride a whole people. /
The insult to the people of Arizona
will react on the opponents of the re-
call of the judiciary and will do much |
throughout the United States
In speaking of the Payne-AIdrich
tariff bill, United States Senator A. E.
Cummins of Iowa, frequently men
toned as Republican presidential
possibility, spoke as follows:
" Mr. Tafts associates in the max
ng of this law. which he declared to
be the best ever passed upon the sub
,rs in the senate; Mr. Payne, Mr.. Dali
zell, Mr.. Cannon and their followers
n the house. 1t seems to me I am
justified in the conclusion that he did
not take the progressive view With
respect to this measure.
The prOgreSsiVes were exceedingly
anxious to attach an income tax law to
he Payne ldrich tariff act. We had
good reason to believe that the presi-
lent was with US in this effort, but al the
when it seemed likely to sue
iced the president. under the leader
ship of Mr.. Aldrich and his close as
sociates, brought forward the socalled
corporation tax law and defeated the
to levy tax upon the great
Incomes of the country. He did this
through the instrumentality of the
most pronounced reactionaries of con
sress. I think 1t must be conceded
hat whatever else may b said of his
lction. he did not take the progressive
lew
United States Senator Works. also
Republican Big Wig. uses this re-
narkable language:
Republicans are now facing the
question whether they Will build up
he Republican party or turn against
t, and destroy it. President Taft is
lot a representative of the people. He
S a reactionist, but he also is a merry
nan with a most plausible manner in | :
away his mistakes.
. Taft and LaFoHette are destined 8
0 face each other in the next Republi- !
an rational convention. ami if it were
So to q popular vote t0Say, LaFollette I
.ouId be nominated, and easily, tho {
n III fortunately, the preside atiai
refer ence vote las not reached this !
tase
ssI.epubIfcan Units5 states Senator :
'rist ow of Kansas talks ia Il siinilar
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