The Coconino sun. (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1898-1978, 1916-07-14
why SHOULD A POLITICIAN
Be CALLED DISHONEST?

tional democratic newspaper to the
republicans of Arizona to perjure
themselves in order that they may
qualify to take part in democratic
factional quarrel seems to have not
struck popular chord in any quarter.
Neither of the democratic factions are
pleased with it. The democratic fac
ton which would have been adversely
affected by such wholesale perjury is
certainly not pleased. And the oppos-
ing faction, the intended beneficiary,
was quick to see that such open, frank
and unrestrained invitation to crime
would act as boomerang, as it is
acting. The republicans themselves,
now that they come to think of it, rec
ognize the advice to register as dem
ocrats as an imputation against their
morality, They may wonder why
they were not advised to steal horses
or forge checks or to engage in some
form of crime in which there is at
least promise of monetary reward.
Some republicans, we regret to say,
ha dalready so registered, and per-
haps, more would have done so with
out realizing that they were commit
ting an offense against public morali-
ty. But the public advice given has
made this transaction so bald and Of
fensive that it has set them and
other republicans to thinking, so that
we understand, steps are being taken
to have those registrations cancelled
in order that those republicans may
register as republicans.
Since they have heard from the
Prescott state republican convention;
of the enthusiasm which prevailed
there; of the general confidence which
was felt there of a republican victory
next November, they are feeling less
interest in the democratic quarrl. II
is rather immaterial whom the dem
ocrats may nominate for governor for
it is now the firm republican belief
that the republican nominee will be
elected.
There is promise too, of a spirited
contest in the republican primaries
over the nomination for United States
senator, Every republican in the
state presumably has a. choice in this
matter which he would like to exer-
else. But those who have registered
as democrats and permit their regi-
strations to remain uncancelled, can
not exercise such a choice. There are
other contested republican nomina'
tions for state offices and in all these
contests all republicans will likely
want to take part.
In this county and in several Other
counties there will be warm contest:
for republican nominations for ofiicse
But republicans who have registered
as democrats will be voiceless In such
contests.
There is still stronger reason why
republicans who have registered a:
democrats should desire to ahve thai
record expunged. In view of the OBJ
loquy which has been thrown upor
those transactions which at firs'
seemed so innocent, it would be quite
embarrassing for a republican to ap'
pear in the democratic primaries. His
presence would invite such remarks as
these: "There's a fellwo who per
iured himself in order to take part II
this primary" "He doesn't intennd tc
vote the democratic ticket, notwith,
standing his OATH" "a man who viii
swear to lie in politics will swear tC
o lie in any other circumstances" Re
publicans who thus enter the dem
ocratic primaries will incur the hatred
of one democratic faction and will al
the same time lose the respect of the
other.
Our remarks, of course, do not ap
ply to those republicans who actually
change their politics as they have
right to do. In every campaign few
such changes always occur; republic
ans become democrats and democrat'
become republicans. But such chang
es, as rule, are very few. They are
however, honest and proper. The!
may not always be wise but that is. ;
matter for the voters to decide. Blu
the voter who registers in party no
his own and with which he has no in
tention of affiliating at the genera
election is acting neither wisely no
honestly. He is committing an of
fense against both parties, agains
the spirit of the election laws, agains
himself and against society.-Arizon;
Republican.
Will Classify Lands Near Cliffs