Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1912-01-18
As TO ELECTIONS

Editor of Arizona Republican.
Dear Sir: Inasmuch as you have
accorded to others the indulgence of
your columns, relative to the politi-
cal status of state and county Off
GERS and | trust | may be permitted
TO give expression to my opinion.
| am doing this at the request of
great number of old timers and
pioneers a large number of whom
have never enjoyed the privilege of
voting at presidential election.
many of them are in advanced years.
and never will be permitted 10 en-
joy that privilege. unless an cleo
ton is held for that purpose in the
present year
If our constitution makers have
made bunders, such bunders and
errors ought not be charged against
the people. II would seem that
through the provisions of the enabl-
ing act there have been sufficient
number disfranchised already. We
exhibited some contempt for New
Mexico, as n proposed yoke fellow;
but We must confess that the people
Of New Mexico know how To achieve
serve the rights of the people.
1t is not our intention to accuse
the political leaders with designs To
defer admission and thus defer the
first general election to 1919. and the
first presidential election to 1916. At
the same time il plainly appears that
the democratic trainers of the con-
stituti0n provided for the first gen
eral election to take place on the
first Tuesday after the first Mon
day in November of the first even
numbered year after the year in
which Arizona is admitted to state
hood. and biennially thereafter. III
viii be observed with what nicely the /
time was fixed for the December l2l
election. when ii was plainly provided /
in the enabling act, that the can /
vassing board should meet at the !
city Of Phoenix on the third Mon |
day, after the election and canvass |
the same, knowing that date would !
fall upon the md day OF January. I
1912 And when it was plainly pro-
vided that the constitution should .
only be in force from the day on .
which the president shall issue his I
pi'tlsiildtlbH httldIlIlE tilt state pl
admitted. Ii therefore fol- 1
lows. that either through ignorance
or design. the admission of Arizona
is deferred. However. tho democrats
appear to have the best of the stu
alton. They now propose to hold
their respective offices for about
three years.
Again. in 1912. each state shall have
the right To vote for presidential
electors. Shall the state of Arizona
be deprived of this privilege? \
ma jority Of all the electors Of all
the states shall be necessary To-
choose Il president. II Arizona is Il
state how can il he refused or eX-
GUIDED in the computation Of states?
Again. it is provided in the constitu-
lion OF Arizona, that the legislature
shall enact all necessary laws To car
v into effect its provisions. II
II rs an easy matter to provide for |
/ general election this present year
rhe constitution can be amended by !
he legislature. or by initiative pc
ition signed by the required num-
Der Of qualified electors. 1t should |
,e the duty of the people to COM
Icil the legislature To respect their
Promises. II not the free and full
exercise Of the recall provided for in
he constitution might have the de-
tired effect. II
1t may be well to consider whether
he state and county officers were
Elected under the provisions OF the
constitution. II appears TO me that
he election of December 18th. 1911,
vas but a special election provided
~ an act of congress. and was never
Intended to operate as an election
Inder the constitution of Arizona. In
act the constitution has never yet
,een given force and effect.
II is our opinion that the resolu-
ion passed by congress. was only
Intended To provide for special
lection to fill certain offices. until
he next general election. Trusting
hat this may have some beneficial
fleet, | remain.
Very respectfully.
]. s. SWIFFEN.
Ray. Arizona. Jan. 10. 1912.
--O- IL