The border vidette., 1914-08-22


 and intense devotion to his peo pie and his unwillingness tC
 hear them questioned or criti
 cized, even though ;n that criti
 cism there should be implied (
 compliment to himself.
 I can say, however, that his
 retirement at this time is the
 cause of genuine surprise among | those who have followed his
 career with interest and with admiration. But a short time
 ago it seemed morally certain
 that Arizona and New Mexico
 a union that to the people of
 Arizona appeared nothing less
 than a loathsome and abhorred
 miscegenat tion. Then it was that
 Mark Smith displayed his tire less devotion to his people and
 his marvellous tact and resource fitness in saving them from the impending catastrophe. (Ap- plause.)
 A Delegate without a vote, with nothing to give and mo- thing to exchange, battling among several hundred cool, cal culating politicians, undaunted by the desperation of his cause, determined to fight as long as there was a ray of hope, and die, if need be, in the last ditch. In the committee rooms, in the House, in the Senate e-he was everywhere; he saw every body. Nothing could be done or said or attempted that he was not there to answer, to explain, to checkmate. Almost tw en y years of distinguished service had won for him the respect of the House and of the Senate, and his generous, genial, and winsome personality had attract ed to him every man capable of a generous impulse or diSintereSt- ed emotion. In the presence of those who knew him in that try ing hour, I can unhesi tatingly say, without being charged with or tiattery, that it was to the efforts of Mark Smith and to his personal influence more than to any and to all other causes combined that Arizona owes her escape from the irk- some shackles which she so much dreaded. (Applause)
 Had any Member of the House of Representatives, on either side of theCha mber, been asked What would be the in evitable result, so far as Mark Smith was personally concern ed,' the reply would inevitably have been: Mark Smith will remain in the House as long as Arizona is a Territory. and he will be the first to wear with the senatorial toga when she becomes a State Prolonged .applause.) It was indeed with pain and amazement we learned that after more than 20 years of distinguished ser vice this tried and valiant cham pion of his people, with his deathless laurels still fresh upon his brow, was retired by the Territory he had redeemed, and that Arizona, on the very thres- hold of the promised land, hay ing been led out of this wild erness by her brave sponsor, seems to have forgotten him in the hour of her brightest hope.
 His colleagues, without an still cherish the fond 1 desire that he shall receive the l reward which he abundantly de- | serves, and that his name shall l be indissolubly linked with Ari | zona the State as it is forever | on the brightest | pages of the history of Arizona the Territory. (Applause)
 Mark Smith, the iurist and | the statesman, has commanded | respect and attention. As an eloquent and impassiOned | orator he has thrilled a critical audience with admiration and delight; great as a lawyer and 9 forensic orator. he is greater still and dearer still as a man. Tender as a woman, brave as ion, the soul of honor and of ruth, utterly incapable of fear ng an enemy or of disloyalty to l friend, perfect eXemplar of hat debonair, winsome, and picturesque civilization which mmortalized the old South, we )id Mark Smith, the dear old 'riend and the ideal gentleman, | temporary adieu, assuring him