Arizona republican., 1912-06-07
FRIDAY, JUNE :, 1912.
The Two Election Bills

The Two Election Bills
 There are two bills in the IegisIa- ure relating to the election of state, county and precinct officers next November. The senate bin provides for am election to be held under the provisions of the constitution" Since n, ouo knows what the constitution means with respect to elections, the senate bill i~ equally meaningless.
 As We have previously pointed out amy act of the legislature on the sub 5ect of elections would necessarily be ineffective and yalueless except as an expression of desire on the part If the representatives of the people for an election, which, however, could be called and held just as well with out am election act as with one
 Having this fact in mind. the house prepared and yesterday passed a biu definitely expressing a desire for am election next fall. thus giving to the measure all the value with which it was possible to invest it. IL cannot authorize. but it gives en- enlargement to the governor, if he needs encouragement. to proceed with the call for an election
 Here is presented a peculiar situa- ton At the beginning of the regu- lar session. the governor recommend cd election legislation. though, why We do not know since the IegisIa- ture was powerless to invest him with any authority he did not already have in this respect But the recom- mendation was made and when it was repeated in his call for an extra ordinary session. there was a general belief in the sincerity of the gover- nor.
 The senate throughout the regular and thus far in the special session has been most subservient to the governor II has manifested an ab- normal jealousy of the gubernatorial power and prerogative; it has been in constant fear. and has been racked with a steady suspicion. that some body was "agin the governor"
 At the very outset of the regular session the governor rooIishly invited the hostility of the house by making most unwise and mwarranted use of his power to subvcrt the will oi the majority in the election of a speaker The hostile element grew until now. it is said, there are moi more than d half dozen admins tration members in the body.
 Yet. the house has undertaken to comply to the letter with the recon mendation of the governor in tho matter of election legislation. I'm senate on the other hand, which bod, is known to have been constantly under the thumb of the governor. i. proceeding cquivocally, trying to lea, the people to believe that it is desir ous of an election next fall thougl it carefully refrains from suggesting one to the governor.
 In all these circumstances, we be licvc the senate is doing an injury t the governor whom it is so ready t serve. Its own insinccrity is paten in the terms of the bill and the sus picious will almost certainly attac insincerity to the recommcRdatio of the governor for election lcgsla tion.
 As the governor and the senat have had a perfect understanding . all other matters of legislation. can hardly be supposed that the have not complete understandin in this.
 If the governor is honestly in ear nest about the election this fall h will see that the senate passes tn house bill. He will exert the sam influence over that body that he h. uniformly and successfully exerte over it in the matter of all otht legislation he has wanted. Near while the public eye is on the senat and the governor. The pubIic's est mate of their honesty in this matt, will be determined by the fate of u house election bill