El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-27
WOMAN SUFFRAGISTs IN ARIZONA
CLAIM THEY WILL CARRY STATE

that the movement is at its lowest ebb
IN the larger mining counties, such as
ella and COchiSe. Davis, 1t may be
said here, has made a campaign issue
of the suffrage cause and, according
to those in close touch with affairs po
litical expects to dreive considerable
personal advantage from the move
ment. if it succeeds. 1t is generally
conceded that he has aspirations for
the governorship and is using the SUI
frage campaign to advance his inter-
ests.
Business Men Against Suffrage.
Davis also ignores a fact which
seems apparent to most Of the poll
ticians-that in the fight against the
suffrage amendment the business men
viii take an active part But that this
be no doubt It all comes about in
this way: Business men generally in
Arizona have never been divorced from
the idea that the liquor business is
necessary to the prosperity of the
state and community. That fact has
been evidenced more than once in the
fights on local option propositions in
MaTlcOpa and other counties. In these
contests nine out of 10 of the bust
ness men have lined up on the side of
the vets and there is not the slight
est reason to believe they have changed
their sentiments. Then the Royal
Arch, the liquor mems organization, is
strong in Arizona, as has been dem
Omstratc6 on more than enc occasion,
people viii have the Royal Arch to
reckon with in the coming fight In
fact, the antisuffrage campaign will
be led by that organization, and Mr.
Davis and those who are in the suf-
frage movement with him are destined
to find out in a short time that they
have a real fight on their hands.
Legal EntangIements Likely.
And it is quite certain that the fight
will not be alone on the proposition OF
carrying the amendment through or OF
defeating it. There are likely to be
some legal entanglements, and that the
opponents of suffrage will overlook
any possible advantage if they should
fail at the polls is not to be expected.
AS has been explained before. there
have been some Irregularities in Sc
curing names to the suffrage petitions.
The attorney generals office has held
by implicatio that these Irregularities
are Of a merely technical character and
do not affect the validity of the petit
tons. This may be the correct view,
Of course, and if the amendment is
defeated nothing will ever be heard OF
it But, on the other hand, If SUI
frage carries il is almost certain that
the matter viii be taken into court IN
an effort to have the election set aside
on the ground that the initiative petit
lions were insufficient.
The same remark applies to the pc
titions under which the Kinney anti
Mexican labor bill will so on the bal
lots. Some Of these petitions were de-
cidedly irregular, but on advice of the
been held sufficient in law.
Politics In Petitions
The fact remains, however, that a
good deal of politics has entered into
the handling of these petitions. The
officials took the view that it would
be bad politics If the first initiative
petitions filed under the constitution
should be declared invalid, and so they
through. But it is safe to say that in
the future no other initiative petitions
will receive official sanction unless
they strictly comply with the consti-
tuition and with the law enacted by the
recent legislature governing such mat
tiers.
Arguments On Ballot.
Under the constitution and the law
above referred TO. there is provision
for placing on the ballots arguments
for and against any measure submit
ted as an initiative or referendum
measure. The first of these arguments
has been filed with the secretary of
state. This is an argument against
the Kinney bill It has been filed by
sheriff
The OIea argument declares the pro-
posed measure unjust and vicious. 1t
points out that should the bill be-
come a law 5000 Mexicaus, many of
whom have become home owners, will
be deprived Of work because of their
Inability to speak the English Ian
guage. That is the number, the ar
gUment says. which will be directly
affected But, it is pointed out, at
least 10000, including those dependent
or the miners, will be rendered home
less and will be forced to leave the
state Olea denounces the bill as IN
Just, un-American and vicious in every
respect.
Date Of Signatures Not Given.
The Kinney petition is in a peculiar
situation The numbers of signatures
attached to it is just 80 in excess of
the number required by law. But Of
these, 65 names have not the date of
signing and the place of residence of
the signers attached. q condition