Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1913-07-16

dIleI II NdS pdSSeu ONSI " InS tn-
crossing clerk, the clause requiring
ten and seventy-five per cent re-
spectively of the votes of the sec
tons of the territory which it is
proposed to divide, was eliminated
from the bill.
"The clause was secured by the
diligent work OF Representative
Thomas Maddox, . Republican, of
Coconino county, resident of Will
liams and an ardent champion of
the county division act Representa-
tive Maddox declares emphatically
the clause was in the bill, placed
there by the last conference COM
mittee at his behest. The House
members of the conference committee
were Maddox of Coconino, Barker
of Pinal, and Jones of Maricopa.
"The bill also contained percent
ages of ninety and thirty, asked for
by Barker, and sixty and twenty,
desired by Jones. Barker was work
ing for the people of Winkleman,
Hayden and the ella county terri
tory adjacent, who wish to be an
nexed to Pinal by reason of natural
geographical boundaries. Jones want
ed the sixty and twenty per cent
for the Mesa end of the Salt River
valley, which seeks separation from
Maricopa to form Orange county.
The bill also required that any
proposed new county must have a
minimum of 80 votes. All the sec
tons mentioned qualified.
"All the features of the bill
reached the Governor except the one
requiring seventy-five and ten per
cent of the voters of the respective
ends of the county to be divided. AS
stated above, that section was meant
to apply specifically to Coconino
county. Some one, or some interests
in this county must have instigated
the change in the bill.
who tempered with the bill by
slipping a sheet from which the
seventy-five and ten per cent feature
had been eliminated? At whose in
stigation did the petty employe OF
the Legislature act, and what did
he receive for taking chance which,
ii the truth is learned, will at least
mean his disgrace:
Those are matters with which a
newspaper has to do. They are
matters which go right to the heart
of popular government If the elm
nation was by mistake it is vital
to the good name of the Legislature
and its employees that every detail
of that mistake be made public.
''If the elimination was criminally
accomplished. that also must be
known, and a rigorous probe begun
in search for the person or interests
which instigated the crime.
"By securing a referendum on the
bill the politicians and interests in
Flagstaff which are bitterly opposing
the fight of the western end of Coco
nino for home rule, have left the
way clear, according to the best legal
authority, for initiating a county
division bill to come before the peo-
pie of Arizona at the general State
election in 1914 Williams is the
center OF an empire in itself 1t
has the wealth and population en-
titling it to a county of its own.
At present Coconino county has an
area of about 10000 square miles,
more than Rhode Island, Connect
cu,. and most of Massachusetts, COM
bined. 1t is settling up rapidly with
a hardy. American farming COM
1t is the site of the Grand |
Canyon, the acknowledged greatest |
wonder of the world A large 4ec-
ton is covered with one of the !
finest timber forests on earth and at
Williams is located the greatest lum-
Der plant in all the southwest. The
sheep and cattle interests are very
extensive. The demand for home
rule is practically unanimous.
ALREADY plans are being made to
initiate a general county division
Dill. Williams and the western sec
ion of Coconino county are prepared
70 make a great fight for their own
county. The appeal will be made to
he masses OF Arizona's people who
stand firm on the principle
IF the Square Deal"
TEACHERS
HOD