Arizona republican., 1916-12-21
The Usliest Development


 The struggle the governors office has taken ugly aspect. From apparently reasonable natural endeavor just what the people decreed November 7 there has by degrees manifest purpose to keep MT. Campbell out of the office all hazards. And have spread before us fully exposed. what has been described a pur- pose steal the office of governor and make Cover Hunt the beneficiary of the theft without a contest.
 In this program the friends of the governor are trying to make Secretary of State Osborn the goat. Without his services the program must fail. We do not believe that MT Osborn will immolate himself upon the altar of Governor Hunt and the Western Federation of Miners MT. Osborn. a good party would go long for his party. and as a politician he could profitaby go long way for the democratic party which is overwhelmingly in the ascendancy this state stronger than any repub- Ncan feared and stronger than any democrat hoped. But in serving the governor and the Western Fed eraton. Mir Osborn is not serving the democratic party half of whose membership rejected the gover- election day
 Tn governor received about 2 900 votes: about F. 900 democrats voted against the governor The 27.0OO persons who voted for him consisted of Wes- tern Federation men. who have party politics. the host of appointive officials. their following who democrats. if a ar only the immediate
 
 support the party ticket regardless of its personnel In this county the governor received than half the normal democratic vote.
 We believe Mir. Osborn desires to be fair and to discharge his official duties. He could in this afford to be unfair and to disregard his duties at the behest of such congomeration as stands by Governor Hunt
 The secretary has already erred in holding up the certificate of election of Governor Campbell and the other state officials far beyond the time when such certificates usually issued and has thereby sub jected himself to unfavorable comment. We do not believe though that MT Osborn has intended that his neglect should prejudice the case of Mir Campbell, that he has been aware that his con- tnued neglect would be fatal to Mir Campbell or would make possible-it only could make possible the theft of the governorshp Arizona in the fol- lowing manner.
 The law provides that the governor elect shall take office the first Monday of January succeed ing the election.
 Paragraph l7s Of the Revised Statutes provides:
 Whenever a different time is not prescribed by law. the oath of office taken subscribed and filed within ten days after the officer has notice of his appointment, when appointed to fill vacancy or if elected at any time after receiving his certificate of election and at least day before the com nencement of the term of office"
 In the of the office of governor there is no different time prescribed by law, that if the cer- tificate of NIT. Campbell held up until Tuesday January z when this year. account of the holiday MT Campbells term would begin. he could not be seated at all.
 The failure of MT Campbell to file his official oath at the time prescribed by the foregoing there would be vacancy in the office of governor and Governor Hunt without contest, in spite the expressed will of the voters. would hold office for two years for under paragraph 22l Revised Statutes an office shall be deemed "the fsiI- ure, refusal or neglect of the person elected or ap- pointed to such office to file his official oath or bond within the time prescribed by law whether such failure, refusal nesIec. shall have been caused by his death, or from any other cause"
 That it is the purpose of the friends of Governor Hunt to keep him in office through operation of these paragraphs admitted yesterday by Mir Ives m the course of heated argument in which, replying to a question. he declared that MT Campbell would not be seated January 2.
 We have no idea that this conspiracy now that II has been discovered in time will succeed We feel sure that MT. Campbell will be seated and that he will serve out his term unless the governor avaling himself of the open and orderly processes of the law shall be able to make convincing showing that MT Campbell was not elected on November [ as dig closed by the official returns