El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-20
LEGI5LbT yRE
MAY H0LD0
Two YEARS
Many ArizOnians Think Su-
preme Court Decision Set
ties the Question.
SOME ARE ANGRY
AND TALK RECALL

the decision of the state supreme court
declaring invalid the Saxon law which
provided for an election Of state,
county, and precinct officers the COM
ing fall, the leaders among the Demo-
Gratis have adopted a program that IS
something of a surprise They have
taken the bull by the horns and are
now openly declaring that the supreme
court decision also gives life TO the
legislature for another Two years.
This question, the question Of the
tenure OF Office OF the members of
the legislature, has been one of the
most perpleXing problems with which
the Democratic leaders have had to
deal The provisions Of the constitu-
ton seemed so plain that even the
men who asserted positively that I'M
der the constitution there could not
be an election of other officers the
coming fall, always conceded that the
same provisions did not apply to the
legislature. As a matter of fact there
seemed TO the best possible ground for
their belief since the constitution de-
clares IN terms the first legislature
shall come to an end the second Mon
day in January, 1913. But under the
program, more or less formally adopt
ed and ratified, it is proposed that the
present legislature shall begin a ses-
sion on that date.
Would Be Convenient Arrangement.
OF course aside from the probability
that such q session of the legislature
would be entirely unconstitutional and
its acts therefore of no legal effect
would Obviate the necessity of calling
a special session the present year and
the lawmakers would be able to take
care OF the appropriations necessary
to keep things moving until 1915. But
the queer part of 1t is that some days
ago the Democrats had practically
agreed that a special session the COM
ing fall would be absolutely necessary.
1t was well understood that governor
Hunt would call the legislature to-
gether' again some time in November
that this extra session would "a l<a
care of the necessary appropriations
and would remodel several laws which
have been found extremely incOnve-
nient-
That was the plan, but all at once
there has been a change. It seems that
the supreme court decision is taken to
mean that the legislature will con-
tinue its existence despite the cOnsu-
tutional declaration to the contrary
and that 1t is proposed to proceed upon
that theory
But there is something more to the
program. Although there will be no
special session Of the legislature this
year there will be next year The spe-
cial session Of next year, which ac-
cOrding to present plans, viii meet
Immediately after the close Of the 90
days regular session. so called, Will
have juse one labor to perform; and
that will be TO pass the codifled stat
utes.
a commissioner some weeks ago to
codify the Arizona laws, is at work at
his Job and it is said will have all the
session laws now in existence codlIle0
by the time the legislature meets next
January. Then, according to the plan,
he will attend the legislative session;
and as new laws are passed, viii IN
clude them in the codification work
Thus at the end of that session al
the legislative acts will be IN neatly
compiled statutes brought right down
Then. the regular session will adj
journ but will Immediately convene
again at the call OF the governor. II
Will meet for Just one purpose 70 en-
act the codified statutes into law Ihls'
il is presumed, will require not more
than two or three days.
Thus, it will be seen. there will be
at least four sessions Of the first state
legislature And nobody can tell how
many more there may be-
There are many men who had never
expressed an opinion on the subject
who are now violent in their denunel-
alton OF those responsible for the
death of the election law. If they
had permitted an election We would
have voted them all in again" one
prominent Democrat said today, but
now that they have denied US the
privilege of an election a good many
of them viii never get back.
And that is the sentiment OF
very many Democrats Elections are
dear to the hearts of most Arizo-
mans, and it isn't safe for any man to
try TO deprive them Of the privilege OF
voting There is yet the remembrance
of the fact that a short elective term
in the beginning was the almost uni
versal understanding; and the people /
pretty generally feel that the entire /
matter has been carried over their /
Talk Of Recall
And in this connection there is some
talk Of a recall The talk hasn't taken |
definite form, as yet, and it may be !
nothing more than talk. after all But |
the fact remains that the probability OF I
such move is the subject OF gen
eraI discussion; and what If may lead 4
to no one can say
Here is the way it is figured out 4
The Socialists were universally in IA I
TOr Of an election next fall If there
is recall movement, the Socialists /
may be counted upon to help the move 4
ment along. It would mean one more ]
election and the more elections the /
merrier, from the Soeialistic stand 4
point.
cOntended that the consututin plainly /
provided for an election this year, and Z
most OF the Democrats, aside from the j
office holding class, have held the /
same view. AS a matter Of fact, de- /
spite the decision by the supreme court. !
there are thousands Of people in this |
state, who still hold to this notion. /
What more natural, then, that a whole 4
sale recall movement be started; not /
for the purpose of getting any par !
tIcular individual out of office. but !
with the principal object Of demonstrat- /
ing the fact that an election can be 1
held If the people so decide despite the /
opinion OF the court ana the SLcAIiu ]
taken by the OfficehOlders.
Now, as already said, such a move
ment may never take place. But, as /
also said, it is being discussed. The /
state officials have heard it and are
much perturbed- And it is by no I
means certain it viii not take place. /
All that is needed is a leader-some |
man to direct the present sentiment 1
into purpOseful action, and it is 10 to /
I it will be done. The leader may not
arise; but if he does there is going to
be a political campaign in Arizona
which for intesity will make all former
campaigns look like afternoon quilt
ing bees.
Chains Nomination.
Arizona resolutely refuses to become
excited over the fact that a citizen of /
the state has been nominated for the
high office Of president of the United
States. Eugene W. Chafin, candidate
Of the national Prohibition party is
a resident of Tucson, where he is held
in high esteem. As a matter of fact
Chafin is held in pretty high esteem
all over the state, though it is recog-
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