Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1913-04-23
ROTARY BALLOT
NOT PLEASING TO
DEMOCRATS
Afraid the Republicans
Have Chance to Win
Election
News Bureau of the Journai-Miner, Room
Na, National Bank Of Arizona Building.


2Os National Bank of Arizona Building.
PHOENIX, April l8.-The first
real excitement md division on a
vote since the session organized the
first of the week came today in the
House over Representative Frank
Crofoot's amendment to the election
law providing for the rotary ballot
plan used in Wisconsin and other
progressive states. There was an
indication on yesterday that the idea
would meet with favor in the house
when the ballot section of the law
was passed in committee of the
whole for the purpose of having the
amendment prepared. But whatever
hope there was at that time dimmed
in a twinkling today in committee of
the whole when the bill was up and
just following a discussion of the
bill by Representative Lynch. When
the committee had arisen and the bill
was before the house Crofoot again
offered his amendment for the pur-
pose of securing roll call and the
following was the result: For the
amendment: Representatives Rabbit.
Buchanan, Cooke, Crofoot, Jones.
Kane, Kelton, Moore of Pima and
WhiDple All the rest of the House
membership voted against with the
exception of Murphy and Duncan
who were excused.
Representative Saxon in the dis
cussion thought he saw an effort on
the part of a DaTtY which had gone
to pieces as he put 1t, to rehabilitate
itself and expressed surprise that
Mr.. Crofoot the author of the am
endment would attempt to in such a
manner hope to catch the democratic
members asleep. Representative
Lynch insisted that the rotary plan
would further complicate the ballot
and make almost impossible the Sc
curing of an expression of the cleo
tors of the state at the polls. He !
had said he opposed in its present |
form the educational qualification
provision in the election law for II |
had cut out from the right to ex-
press their political views many
good citizens of the state who could
neither read nor write. The propos-
ed amendment in his judgment
would cut out other electors who on
account of the new complication would
finally forego attempting to vote at
all. In his judgment the move was
purely partisan on the part of an ac-
tive member of minority party of
the state.
Representative Whipple who on
numerous occasions has taken issue
with Mr.. Lynch spoke in support of
the bill but prefaced his remarks
with pleasing personal tribute to
Lynch, his ability and honesty of be-
lief. The remarks were so comph-
mentary that on their conclusion the
Graham county representative pre-
scented Mr.. Whipple with a large
rose. The incident gave rise to much
merriment but in no way deferred
Mr.. Whipple from voicing his sup
port of the amendment and issuing
a challenge to any person to find
fault with the same other than pos
sible fear of its operation jeopardiZ-
ing the democratic party 1t was his
ooinion as expressed that too strict
partisan politics frequently worked
the defeat of good government
To all the arguments which had
been made in opposition to the am
endment, Mr.. Crofoot made strong
answer but it was evident the minds
Of the members were made up and (
he ballot taken showed the result
stated above.
Still Nurses a Crouch.
President Cunniff has never quite
recovered from the excitement he en-
when he first discovered
hat an effort was being made to
elect another than himself president
IF the Senate for the present session
His feelings were more hurt today
when it develoDed that the move
lad not emanated from the republi-
AN members as he had supposed but
anne from within his own party. As
consequence it is noticeable the
'nappy responses he gives certain
members of the Senate.
Clerks Made Happy.
Clerks of the legislature were J
made Supremacy happy yesterday when
he resolution was read that all en-
'loyes OF the late session would be
etalned at the same pay per day.
the printing committee has !
iecided not to print over one-tenth !:
If the bills, the mailing force is on
land no doubt to care for the stu
.tlon in case an emergency arises.
Tax Commissioners Back.
Members of the state tax commits
ion returned TO Phoenix last night
oming overland from Globe in an !
They left Phoenix over .
week ago and have since that
ime visited five county seat towns q
nd conferred with county assessors
# the southeastern part of the state. /
hey will now take up the work of
onferring with the legislature CON
erning pending tax legislation and i
alter will go into the northern part 5
f the state. e
Hughes bill providing for the pay
lent of wages to convicts who labor b
n public highways met with defeat s
l the Senate by being indefinitely
by the following vote: a
or postponement: Breen, Brown, Ii
Jaws, Harrison, Kinney, Loven, O
=