Arizona republican., 1918-09-14
The Status of MT. Colter

our Evening Friend has lodged against csaton of having spilled the beans" by premature publication of the law which in the opinion of attor- ueys generally renders Hon. Fred T. Colter ineligible for the office of in the event of his election We admit, whether any beans spilled not the Ieibcaon of a startling discovery which has escaped tho attention of democratic politicians. tend that carly publication of be pre- mature We have before heard of a newspaper speak of premature publication" of such publications variously designated scoops" and beats"
 The importance of the story was such that we were disposed apologize to readers for having withheld it long. As to the 'spling of the beans," if people persist in leaving open bean sacks standing in the dark where people are stumbling along they must expect something to happen them.
 Having disposed of the ethics of the affair, affair itself-the ineligibility of Mir Colter It d,d at first serious, but tho the law is examined the unacceptable it appears, that one cannot be member of legislature which increases the salary of an office and then within his legislator election to that office
 Various ways have been suggested out of the nuddle which the democratic party finds itself with a candidate for governor disqualified enter upon that office. Our Evening Friend has a simple though unique solution; since neither MT. Coter nor
 
 not "logal' votes. not therefore to be counted Mir. osborn therefore received all the legal" that for candidates for governor
 This solution is offered without an understand of the law which describe the disqualifi- cation of candidates. Mir Coltcr and Mr. Sutter had compiled with all the requirements of candidates There "illcgaT votes cast for them unless there some illegal act upon the part of the voters and that believe is not charged
 Mir. Coltcr having received plurality of all the votes cast 's the nominee and if he persists in re- maning at the head of the ticket we can think of no way to oust him. majority of the votes may be cast for him at the general election but if he is in- eligible he will not be elected because the law forbds it. lt does not however forbid his nomination
 There is a federal law whose application places me same restriction on members of congress that our law places upon members of the legislature During the incumbency of Phiander C. Knox as member of the senate the salary of the secretary of state was increased s2OOO Before the expiration of his term in the senate Mir. Knox was appointed secretary of state and the question of his eligibility was raised. It was solved by the reduction of the salary to the figures from which it had been raised
 The present problem might be so solved but if would have 10 be done at a special session of the legislature before December 31. It would probably ee regarded as an extravaganza to the expense ot special session merely to qualify a candidate Besides 1t is by certain that the legislature would make such reduction of the salary
 still, another suggestion has been offered-a test of the constitutionality the law of 191 increasing t salary of the and officials the in erase to take effect during the ncumbency of off ciAls It is believed by many that that law is actually invalid.
 All the foregoing suggestions look to the aualfi- cation Of Mir Colter. t of them practicable and becomes necessary for him to resign the nation the vacancy so caused may be filled as all vacancies party tickets are filled