Graham guardian., 1914-11-20
THANKS THE PEOPLE
Governor Hunt Expresses
Hope for Harmony and
Progress in the State

The following statement has been
issued by Governor Hunt on the re-
suit Of the election:
TO The People of Arizona:
Never in my Iife-either in days
of darkest adversely or radiant
hours Of triumph-have | been so
profoundly conscious of my debt to
my fellowmen as when, in the un-
official returns from the general
election | read the celebrates de-
cree by which justice and progress
have been overwhelmingly sustained,
and from which | have derived the
supreme honor of being elected as
the States chief executive for an
other two years. At such time |
am keenly aware of the deficiency
Of words as a medium of expression,
and of their inadequacy to convey
such a sense of gratitude and en-
hanced responsibility as results from
the realization that my fellow citi-
zens have again conferred upon me
one of the greatest honors and re
wards within their gift. | shall, of
necessity, therefore, have to content
myself in this hour Of victory with
reiterating my loyalty to the people
of my State and with the assurance
that the best of my ability, energy
and judgment will be freely given
in fulfIlment of my duty to the
public which | serve. More than
this no man can do, and by no more
impressive means can one hope to
express his gratitude, sincerity Of
motive and earnestness of purpose
From this all too imperfect and
| faulty ASSURANCE may my many sup
porters throughout the State divine,
in some regret, the depth of my ap-
probation.
But while ! am very much graft
fled with the outcome of the recent
election, viewed as q whole, | feel it
my duty, nevertheless, to express
my great regret at the evidence
that certain powerful interests in
this State have seemingly decided
adversely by their vote on certain
humane and constructive measures
leading to better government and
a higher citizenship. Especially is
this insidious corporate influence ap-
parent in the returns received on
the abolition of capital punishment
from certain precincts which are
currently reported to be under the
domination Of speciaI interests an
tagonistic to the present State ad-
ministration. The vote indicates to
the most casual observer that in
fuence from high up" rather than
the untrammelIed will of the people.
determined the fate Of an issue
commensurate with true humanity
and civilization. 1t is natural,
therefore, that ! should deeply de-
plore the fact that the hostility of
certain interests toward me person
ally should have been the means in
directly by which the abolition of
the death penalty has been deferred
in Arizona.
The unhappy spectacle afforded
by a few arrogant corporations in
showing themselves so eager to re-
tain a penalty which seldom over
takes the rich man, but which falls
with frequency upon the poor, may
be left. without further comment,
to the judgment of the electorate
constituting the highest public tri-
bunal.
Notwithstanding. never theIess, the
attacks of certain powerful interests
during the past two years, | do not
find in my heart today any vestige
of rancor or animpsity TOWARD those
elements which are blinded by their
own maIevOIence toward such pre-
cepts and institutions as are de-
signed to secure equal justice for
rich and poor alike, and to elevate
all mankind by the beneficence
which they bestow
1t is, likewise, to be hoped that
the victory of the people may,not
be tinctured with any needless re-
sentiment toward those interests
which have, apparently, during tie
campaign recently concluded, eX
pended much effort in confounding
public issues, and in attempting to
wrest the balance of power from
the people in whose hands il right
fully belongs. May we rather show
disposition to cOndOna the occur
rences of the past while anticipating
for the future a more harmonious
relationship between capital and la
Dor, regarded as two separate and
essential factors in modern civiiza-
tion. Such condonment, however.
does not suggest any ieniency to-
ward those deplorabIe methods
whereby public servants have in the
past been rendered subservient to
others than their constituents. and
by means of which the functions of
Legislation and government have
been perverted to selfish ends.
Corporate power can become a
vast influence for good, but to do
so, it must first acquire a DISPOSE