Arizona republican., 1913-04-12

deplore the necessity of exercising my veto power in this instance. reaIizinp 1 as I must, the amount of work in- VolVed in its passage through both houses of the legislature In view. however, of the fact that the penal code. in it's present revised form has already been sanctioned by both branches of the legislative body the work of securing it's second formal adoption. including an amendment of Section 12SS of Title 9S. should he of i brief duration and will probably be provided for in my proclamation con- Vening the first state legislature in it's third special session And if it is argued by those who are adverse ] to my attitude on this matter that the approval of the penal code should not be deferred by an objection based upon a single section, l may reason 1 ably and in perfect justice reply that q provision known to be as noxious and peremptory as that contained in Section 12S8 should not have been wrapped about with other important i legislation.
 l opine, furthermore that, as gov l ernor of Arizona, I am obligated by . mandates of the popular will and of 1 my conscience to adhere in the per 1 formace of every executive act to my ! truest convictions and highest ideals ! so far as such convictions and ideals subserve in my judgment the best l interests of the people of Arizona And | while l truly regret any eXigencies which may cause me to disagree with the members of the honorable legis- lative body of the state I. neverthe- 1 less, will remain consistent in the i policy of refusing to approve a mea- sure which I deem vicious and in con- travention of the public will, regard ! less of how much meritorious legisla- | tion may be correlated with it to lend semblancc of dignity and right
 I perceive, furthermore. in this in 1 stance that an issue-a very vital one-is awaiting decision by the peo- pie Of Arizona at the next special or general election. which, in any event is unlikely to occur prior to next October. By what right, there | fore. can any legislative. executive or judicial, interpose at this juncture. a | law summarly and arbitrarily taking i such issue out Of the realm of cleo toral determination? 1 deny the jus tice of such procedure And it is my sincere conviction. based. as I believe on a just interpretation of our sta tutes and constitution, that, in view Of the petitions filed. the people of Arizona are entitled to express their sentiment through the ballot, on the subject of capital punishment, prior to the legalized execution of any hut man being within the state; and such inalienable right as they possess in this respect shall not be imperlled or abrogated with my approval or ever my tacit assent.
 Very respectfully,
 GEO w. P. HUNT
 Governor of Arizona
 As soon as the information was abroad of the governors action the members of the legislature in the city who were chiefly instrumental II causing that section to be put in the penal code got quietly together an' began laying plans for action Whe1 the legislature meets aSain. Nhl' none of them would definatey stat' what will be done it was. conceded that should the majority be able tt
 pass the bill again in exactly th' same form as it now exists ant should the governor again veto It which he will do. it will be impossi
 ble to pass it over his veto Withou
 the addition of several votes to th' anti-Hunt forces in the house ant senate In any event it is regarded 1 as certain that the bill will be in 1 troduced in exactly the same form I now has. probably on the first daA of the session and will be passed LII to third reading under a suspension of the rules. It is expected that Re | presentative Whipple of Greenlee who holds identical views on these matters with, the governor Will en- deavor to amend the bill so that it Twin accord with the views of Gov