El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-25
HUNTSVTCTORY IS a BOMBSHELL;
WILL HE BE ANY LESS RADICAL?

GREAT surprise was visited upon the southwest, par
Il ticularly upon Arizona, when the supreme court Of
- - that state declared George ". P Hunt had been
elected governor by 43 votes In the election Of November
1916 The decision displaced Thomas E. Campbell who had
been governor since January T. 1917 and placed Nh Hunt
IN executive power II political bombshel
Everything had confirmed the belief that MI. Campbell
held the governOrship firmly On the basis Of the official
CANVASS after the election secretary OF state Sidney P
Osborn declared Campbell elected When Hunt instituted
contest the branch Of the MacOpa county superior
court presided over by Judge Roa n Stanford and the
court eventually declared Campbell elected there seemed
further for doubt An appeal taken by the
friends Of Gov Hunt to the Arizona supreme court but that
considered by the public merely effort to obtain
higher opinion on the validity OF the election returns and
would change the result The supreme had the
case under consideration six months during which time most
people torgot al ABOUT Il II was recalled to their aten-
ton most sarngy with the announcement Of the verdict
The induction Of Gov. Hunt to office means house
cleaning Of appoInve offices at the capitol building with
out doubt Gov CampbelPs Republican appontees, all his
Gppontees fact begin hunting other berhs for their
work is done so far as state office holding is concerned
Gov. Hunt has his friends, Democrats like himself
put into power It is said there upward Of 1000 ap
Pointive offices in Arizona, big and little One
readily, then, what a turnover is in prospect
Of course this IS forecast the assumption that MI
Campbell viii abide by the supreme courts decree
avail himself Of the privilege Of appealing. He has stated
he would not appeal but he has some days yet N which to
change his mind He probably viii not change It, for Nj
Campbell generally has his mind up before utterS
announcements and he seldom alters his thereafter
With Gov Hunt again at his desk in the executive Of
fees the Democratic press of Arizona in embarrassing
position. Almost without exception, they fought his
when Mr. Campbell apparently defeated him Indeed MI
Campbels seeming victory ascbed to Democratic aid
It said generally that Democrats elected the Repub
candidate fox Democrats largely in the majority
In Arizona that Republican could not possibly IN
election where party lines held closely.
Naturally the Republican papers Arizona against
M Hunt which made the press unanimous. The mining
companies large industrial enterprises substantial business
various kinds and the conservative interests CT the state
fought him determinedly in the campaign
And yet the supreme court unanimously declares him
elected The labor union vote the Socialists who consider
Mr. Hunt good Socialist, and the unchanging Demo-
Gratis who their lives voted for any Demo
CTatic candidate and never viii, elected him
This surprise has rather knocked the breath of
state, but 1t VIII recover. Gov Hunt may be gov
for all the people and not merely for part of them
than he has been before He may be conservative
Radical and visionary notions have been the worst
lion against Gov Hunt No faint of dshonor has attached
10 his executive record He has been accused Of iucom
petence, Of extravaganza IN administration, Of fostering
wise legislation Of appointing incompetent officials
Of frightening investing industries away from the state
put long is straight and honest in his msbe
hefs the people entitled to have him for governor