The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-02
keep YOUR EYE ON FIRST
LEGISLATURE IN ARIZONA
WHERE PEOPLE ARE ON JOB
Lawyers Do Not Dominate Body
of Lawmakers of New
State
THEY'VE FIRED LOBBYISTS
Getting Down To Bottom of
Things Without Asking APP
proval of Boss
BY JUDsoN KING.


PHOENIX, Arlz., May Lawyers
do not dominate Arzona's first legis-
lature, either In numbers or influence
Out or the "a members of both house
and senate, only eight are attorneys
as against IL working men, 10 farm
ers, 10 business men and The rest
scattering. But two members can be
said TO be within even hearing dis
tance or being rich, and il is not
charged that they got theirs" through
special privilege.
Extremely rare Is the professional
politician and but few members have
mad previous legislative experience.
This body OF plain citizens has rig
idly excluded lobbyists from the floors,
and require the men who desire to APP
pear before committees to get per-
mission OF the majority in open SEES
sion, after a written application stat
ing who they represent and what they
want. Such an unchaperoned group
OF lawmakers Is not safe and sane"
A good idea is not instantly damned
because il is new. Every mention or
the people" is not treated with the
sarcastic smile. The members do not
Grow white in the face when someone
shouts Socialism,"
Is 1t good thing? Do we need 1t?
These seem to be the real queries.
These men actually have habit OF
going straight at a thing without con-
sulting whether 1t was Endorsed BY
the fathers" Even the danger OF
violating fundamentals of Jefferson
ian Democracy" did not hinder the
passage OF the amendment giving the
state the right TO engage in industrial
pursuits. The Democratic makeup OF
this legislative body is best illustrat-
ed by the contrast in the presiding
officers.
M. G. Cuniff, president OF the SEN
ate, is Harvard university graduate,
ex-college professor and ex-editor OF
the Worlds Work. He Is engaged In
mining with his brother at Prescott.
He was a member OF the constitutions
al convention and the literary excel
lence OF that document Is due TO his
scrutiny and hard work. tie is deep
student OF political science.
Sam Bradner speaker OF the house,
is graduate railroad switchman,
right off the job His college campus
his school room has been the assem-.
bly, halls of the Brotherhood of Rail-
road Trainmen, In which organization
he has held many important posi-,
lions. He, too, was a member OF the
constitutional convention. When a
learned legal lobby appeared before
the labor committee and told how the
trains must stop running II certain
laws for the protection OF the travel
ing public and the employees were
passed, few well-directed questions
from Mr. Speaker put them to flight.
The chairman Of that labor commit
tee was Tom Lewis, miner and mem
Der OF the Western federation. He
is a native OF New Zealand, and the
ambition of his life Is to help make
Arizona the New Zealand OF America.
In the senate, A. A. Worsley, a
lawyer, is the acknowledged champion
OF labor and progress. He is the
equal OF Bryan as an orator and Is
the ablest man in the legislature in
point of economic knowledge and real
craftsmanship. He halls from Wis
consin originally and once stumped
Ohio for Golden Rule" Jones, the ia
nous Toledo mayor.
A great favorite with the members
and the whole capitol family is To-
year-old Blessie Barker, one OF the
house pages. 1t Is amusing to see
the opponents OF woman's suffrage
brag on Miss Blessie.
pretty as a picture, smart as
whip and the best worker we've got!"
is the description Of one member. Her
father is a member of the house,
Capt. Barker He lives on a ranch
near old Fort Grant, and it was he
who introduced the Umbrella Shade
tree in Arizona back in 1881. Some
think this service as important as the
recall Of judges in the constitution.
But you would have to live In Ari-
IONA In the summer time to realize
that.
Keep your eye on Arizona.
The plain citizen is on the job.