Arizona republican., 1912-06-21
The Expected Happens

We had been expecting it; We have been wondering why it has been so long delayed-the open opposition of the governors organ to an election next November of state and county officers. While the bill was pending the governors organ was silent; now that the bill has passed, the gover- nOr's organ lays down the constitu- tion before the supreme court and tells the court what it's duty is
 What the governors organ thinks and what it says are of no import ance whatever but it's opposition to a November election is significant in view of the fact that it is the gover- nor's organ. It is calculated further to strengthen the suspicion that the governor was not in earnest when he recommended legislation in favor of a November election and that he did not believe that such legislation would be enacted This suspicion had pre- viously been given some confirma- tion. when, after the bill had been passed as recommended by him, the governor referred it to the attorney general to pass upon it's constitu- | tionality.
 | In it's fight against the November election. the governors organ treats the question and it's readers unfairly. resting it's case upon that clause of the constitution which provides that the second election shall be held in i November of the first even numbered year after the year of admission It ignores an equally prominent clause providing that the terms of officers selected at the first election shall terminate on January 1, 1915
 l There is some confusing talk about the unWillingness of the constitutions convention to cut the first officers off with unreasonably short terms. That subject was never discussed in the constitutional convention. it wa. probably never thought of; there was not the slightest reason why ii should have suggested itself There is also some confusing argumen about an unexpected delay in the ad- mission of Arizona.
 It is a fact that Arizona was ad- mitted at least six months earlier than a majority of the members ot the convention contemplated It was not intended by the majority of tho convention that the then approaching session of congress should receive tn, constitution. The convention pur- posely prolonged it's work in ordel that the constitution would not reacf the short session. Governor Sloan however, eXpeditiously forwarded the returns of the ratification election bu the session was then so near it's enc that the constitution did not reach tho house until the afternoon before ad- journment and did not regularly reach the senate at all
 So far as the most far-seeing mel in Arizona could calculate, ther, could be no election in 1911. Thi! much for the constitution makers.
 An efficient set of officers" is on, reason why the governors organ thinks there should be no election il November; that is regarded as a gooC reason why the tacit promise of tn successful candidates to the voter
 last fall should be broken; why, hay
 ing been elected for one year, the, should hold on for three years.
 If the officers are efficient ant |, we offer no hint that they are not,
 majority of the voters, if they so de
 sire, will elect them for two year
 more. This is d matter for the peo } pie to decide.
 The governors organ evidently care , less for the people and for it's adopt : ed party than it does for the existing administration and the pap it is pos
 Sible to extract from it.