The Arizona copper camp., 1915-10-08
ARIzoNA,s SHAME

Governor Hunt has given his en-
emies an opportunity to say 4 told
you so" and his friends have been
forced to do much explaining in con-
nection with the position he has as
sumed in the Clifton Morenci labor
difficulties His enemies have for
months contended that Hunt would,
when occasion arose, align himself
and use his official position for the
benefit of the Western Federation of
Miners and those elements of the
L w, w. organization which work to
the end of disrupting peaceful indus
trial communities. Friends Of the
governor have heretofore contended
that Governor Hunt would always be
found on the side of law and order
and for the defense of property.
They have by the action of the gov
ernor in the recent labor difficulties
been forced to admit their disap-
pointment.
Governor Hunt injected himself in
the Clifton situation for the purpose
Of cementing a friendship and an
alliance with the Western Federation
Of Miners. He has misinterpreted
that organization as having the support
all laboring men of the state He
made a gross error in encouraging
the agitators to continue their work
of disruption and to him on all sides
has come words of condemnation.
Much that is said by residents of the
state is frequently charged with be-
ing utterances of prejudice. criticism
coming from sources which are open
to the charge of self-interest is
bound to lose its helpful purpose to
some degree. OF such criticism the
Bisbee Review says that however
sincere the critics, however true
their observation, a suggestion of bias
is read into their observations. Con
tinuing. they say:
Differences of opinion concerning
the industrial and legislative condi-
tions in Arizona are indeed acute
within the state. A judicial opinion
doubtless would have it that no per-
son residing in the state need hope
for an unchallenged hearing and ex-
pect to be convincing.
when Arizona is the subject of
comment by outside judges. however,
those living within the state may
well take heed. To take the position
that the commonwealth of Arizona is
not open to reason and therefore
closed to helpful suggestion. would
be confession that the state is
moribund."
We therefort have gone without the
state to find some expression con-
cerning our present administration.
Suggested no doubt by the miserable
handling Of affairs at Clifton the FL
Paso Herald makes the following
comments under the caption "Ari
zona's Shame:
Arizona is still passing through a
period of radicalism and bold expert
mentation in governmental practice.
The rest of the country may assume
the attitude of amused tolerance, or
it may take a genuine interest in the
efforts of the new state to find itself.
But certainly there can be scant en-
couragement to capital to engage
largely in undertakings involving
risk. until it can be pretty definitely
known that popular sentiment and
government practice have become
reasonably stable.
I'm Texas we can look back upon
past years in which the successive
legislatures and some of the govern
ors rode rough shod over the indus
trial and transportation interests of
the state. New laws by the score
were passed, having for their pro-
fessed purpose the relief Of the com
mon man from oppression. and hav-
ing for their inevitable effect the
soaring of capital away from the
state, the serious embarrassment of
enterprises within the state. and con-
sequent depression in all industries
employing labor. A group of poll
ticians, breaking away from the
democratic party, engaged in an orgy
of demagoguic oratory, platform maxi
ing. and law making. and gave Texas
a bad name, which the state has not
even yet entirely outlived.
There came a reaction, and in re-
cent years Texas has shown signs OF
returning to the ranks of conserva-
tism; indeed it is a fact that Texas
is far less radical today in the ten
dencies of her law making and hel
regulatory policies, than are many Of
the old states north and east, which
were late starting in the carnival but
have been making up for lost time
by speeding up their gait. Texas
tasted the pottage prepared for hel