Arizona republican., 1912-03-19


 the people. but in state affairs, at least, where party competition is a 1 necessary incentive for the exercise of care in discharging governmental ! functions. the adhcrents of each party l should be protected in the selection
 of their standard bearers from the machinations of shreWd manipula- ! tors of an opposing political faith. In ! this and in all other respects. the primary law should be made simple. ] workable. fair and efficient
 In line with the best progressive 1 thought Of the times. the headless ballot. somewhat similar to that now : designated by the Arizona primary law, should be adopted for use in general elections. and in order that equal advantage may b. given to ! teach candidate, regardless of the ! alphabetical order in which his name might appear. there should be sys- 1 tematic rotation upon the ballot. without distinction to party affilia- tions Thus. for example. would z, l3 republican candidate for sheriff, | find himself at the head of the list l of aspiriuts for that office an equal number of times as A.. the demo- cratic candidate
 ! The qualifications of electors should ] he definitely fixed. and the rights of i Arizona citizens SD protected as to never admit the possibility of re 1 petition of the outrage visited upon 1 them by the terms of the enabling l act. when thousands. qualified under l the statutes were denied the pri- vilege oc voting
 With the regulation of registration. and the purity of the ballot properly safeguarded would recommend the repeal of the so-calied educational
 qualification law now upon the
 statutes This law. well meant, IS ] it doubtless was. and intended as q means of checking wholesale bribery. l has been found in the slight prac- 1 ticc it has had-chicfly in municipal ] cleCtionS-to bc susceptible of serious | abuses dt the hands of partisan re- ] gistcrine offices and election boards. l Under it's operation. the arbitrary , powers vested in these officials are
 SO broad and SD susceptible of pre- ! iudiCrd construction as to invite i partisan discrimination, and bring ! what seems to me to be deserved l criticism upon it's authority.
 4 Vote for Every Man.
 A subject would mention also
 under the head of suffrage and cIec- ] tiuns. and one deem worthy of careful consideration. relates to the inability. under the present law, of . citizens ot the state. whose neces- 2 sary business or employment takes them away from their precinct or county on election day. to vote This !, is suggested chiefly by the nature of ! the employment in which railway 1 trainmen are engaged, and in behalf of this class of citizens. even though no others were concerned. I would 1 suggest and recommend a law which will protect their right of suffrage II am we'll aware that such law must be drafted with great care and surrounded with numerous safe guards. in order to prevent abuse of the ballot. but it occurs to me that a { form of certificate might be issued by the county officials having the ! great registers of the respective counties under their charge, t. be also signed by the judge Of the su- pcrior court and the chairman of the board of supervisors setting forth the name and the description of the voter. the character of his employ lment. and all such data as may be required by the registration laws. and ! the necessity for such transfer, and that upon such certificate he might
 be permitted to vote, for state and national offices only. in whichever county. by reason of his employment. election day finds him For the use
 of such voters a separate ballot con tainng only the names of candidates for state and national offices should
 be provided.
 Equal Suffrage.
 X very great percentage of Ari- Zonas citizens. both men and women, of varying political faiths apparently distributed through every social 1 sphere sand numbering the followers
 of all the c1llings and professions. are in favor of equal suffrage. Just Nildl lllfli li'-i Ntlltfi7's VI " 4i' 'i'N' 'N constitutes a majority of the people, | cannot say. but il appears to me that the movement is amply repre- sentative to demand. in fairness and justice. the right to a deciding vote. Whatever the views of any individual imay be. as to the merits or demeTlts of female suffrage. if majority of the people desire to extend the priv ilege of the ballot to women. they ihavc the right to do SO This is the
 basic principle of the theory of popu- liar government. to which Arizona IS welded. and to the insuring of which the majority party in the state is pledged. I therefore recommend that you submit to q vote of the people, at the next regular election. a con stitutional amendment extending the suffrage franchise tO women, and
 venture the belief that if this great privilege he extended the states high : standard of intelligence will in no wise suffer thereby.
 Publication of Stockhold
 A powerful influence in the deter , ! ,,ipation nf pubIic oIpStiOnS k pN-