Arizona republican., 1912-03-19

l
 l any reason whatever to believe that such is the case: but assert that there have been. and under the sys-
 tenn. or lack of system. in vogue. ! there still are many and frequent l opportunities for graft, while the leaks which all competent business men exert themselves tn avoid Jre going on daily am glad to say | that not a few of these leaks have 1 been stopped, hut pending an expert 1 investigation and the installation of modern methods in the conduct of | the states varied business it will be 1 impossible. to establish anything like ! perfect order out of what has been i little short of chaos. TO do itself and | the public justice. the present admin | iStration must be accurately informed ! in detail, of the conditions which ] have prevailed. and now prevail in l the different state institutions and ! departments, and |" this end ask ! for authorization to proceed with 1 such an investigation as is here sug- [ gested
 { Popular Elections.
 1 You are coanizant oi the duty inn ] posed upon you hy the constitution i ot the United States, to choose hy ] joint-ballot two senators to repre- { sent our state in congress. and 1 as sumc that you have perfect knowl- ! edge of and are in hearty accord with i the spirit and purpose ot the instruc- ] ton under which you will carry out 1 the law. The people of Arizona. by means of the direct primary or ad- visory vote. expressed their prefer cncc for United States senators by naming the Hon. Henry r. Ashurst | of Prescott. and the Hon. M A. smith of Tucson Their formal clcc- l tion by you is oI course ss assured 1 It will be one of your duties. as ,, well. to provide by law for the SC ] lection of senators in like manner
 hereafter, and no less a duty. think.
 t0 give recognition to the peoples desire. as reflected in the democratic ] platform. for the choosing by popular 1 vote of delegates to the national con vcntione and the expression by di- ] rect primary Of the peoples prefer "ncc for presidential candidates.
 Constitutional Mandates.
 . There are numerous mandates of i ,he constitution which 1t is your duty to observe. and which have no doubt will bc accorded prompt con sideration Only through the medium of the laws thus indicated and di- rectcd. can many of the constitutions most important and most heneficent provisions he given life and potency ! T. is your duty to carefully see that , each such law faithfully carries out ' the intent Of the constitution makers. and reflects the spirit of the demand ] which brought these mandatory pro visions into existence. l shall not re- fcr to many Of these mandates in de i tail. inaSmuch IS the constitution sets them forth with all necessary par { ticularity: nor shall I attempt any definite reference at all except to 1 those certain ones which I deem tu i be most vital
 Initiative, Referendum and Recall. i The initiative. referendum and re- call being the groundwork and foun- 1 datiOn of Arizona's system of popu- 1 lar government. should be strength 1 cucd. and as far as possible. simpli- ! fled by statutes. showing by item and 1 without ambiguity the steps necessary 1 to be taken to invoke either of these powers reserved to the people. insur- 1 ing proper publicity Of all proposed | laws or proceedings. and otherwise giving full effect and practicability ! to the initiative. referendum and re
 can articles of the constitution.
 Suffrage and Elections.
 l Next. if not equal in importance, is ! the enactment of laws to carry into 1 effect the several mandates having
 to do with suffrage and elections.
 and I earnestly add to the constitu-
 tion's instructions my rccommenda- | ton of laws which will insure the purity and fairness Of the ballot. at
 both general and primary elections; { prevent discrimination against and 1 injustice to any candidate or candi- dates: guarantee an honest count,
 and put q stop. if possible. to all
 system of campaigning tending to de- bauch the electorate and bring dis i credit and disgrace upon the highest ] or bIl AnleTlCdn lTiNllcStS-
 This system should include a most comprehensive and stringent corrupt practices act, carefully designed, by means of adequate before and after election publicity requirements. and otherwise, tO guard against the em- ployment of large sums of money in the nomination or election of candi- dates desirable to great financial in terests. It should provide effective machinery whereby all forms of bribery. both large and small, and intimidation and fraud may be reach | cd and punished II should provide an up- to- date plan of registration. guarded against the many irregulari- ties heretofore practiced. In order
 that the direct primary method of
 nominating candidates may he re- lieved of a criticism which is now
 properly directed against it, electors
 should he required to register their
 partisan affililtion. or the lack of
 such affiliatiOn, and prohibited from
 participating in the primary of any
 but their own sgnated party
 Cases have been known when large