Tombstone epitaph. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-current, 1918-04-28
MUCH PATRIOTIC WORK MAY BE DONE BY
ARIZONA LEGISLATURE

ARIZONA LEGISLATUE
(El Paso Herad)
Like the recent s,ecia session of the Texas legisla
tre the approaching session of the Legislature OF An
promises to be of most interesting nature ana
filled with accomplishment
There will be some difference. TIE Arizona legs-
lature will mile law vote state wide
prohibition. give the right to vote IN primary
elections This for the that Arizona also has pro-
hibtion and woman suffrage.
Other matters of Importance to be accomplished.
however if the legislature undertakes all that is asked of
it in the proclamation issued by Gov. q. W. p Hunt.
summoning the Legislature to convene on May IL
One piece of legislation be counted to GER
tainty The legislature will ratification OF the pro-
posed amendment the constitution of the United States
providing for nation wide prohibition 1t Will also ratl-
fy the national constitutional amendment extending the
franchise Action these can be predicted
confidently because while the Arizona Legislators by
no means unanimous suffrage and prohibition. the
sentiment of the electorate in the state very strong and
he would be daring aSsemblyman or senator who
would risk his political neck by opposing either propo
sitiOn.
Gov Hunt asks the legislature rlso give the state
council of defense power to enforce its mandates. With
outline of such it is impossible to com
mend of dsapprove it. Apparently the desire is to grant
the council police and judicial powers which
however, would presumably be carefully restricted 1t
would be dangerous they not restricted Other
wise the council of defense easily might become
pom for the punishment of citizens against whom
members might hold political personal grudge
provided they able through artful persuasion
manipulate the council so to their purpose.
However, there is little doubt that the council which
heretofore has done very effective work. might prove
effective if it given proper authority.
Let suppose for instance, that farmers along the up
per part of river damned it and diverted its flow
to provide plenty OF water for their corps while farmers
along the lower part of the river unable
sufficient water to keep their crops alive. Priority of
water rights might render such situation this legal
but the council of Defense if it had the authority might
DECREE emergency, that the upper farmers must
release enough for the crops of the lower
farmers that both sections might bring their grain and
alfalfa and other products to maturity. just such
uaton this has come to light in Arizona and the in
stance is cited example of what action the council
of defense might take had it the requisite authority
without attempting to pass the merits of the cOnen-
ton involving the distribution of from the ella
river.
The proposal that the council of defense be given
thorty to for the dependents of soldiers will
with approval inasnch such authority would tend to
provide for dependents of soldiers full of
protection from want that the soldiers pay and the
departments allotments provide In England and Cana
d. where government alOtmens are also made depend
ens there private organizations whose purpose to
supplement this somewhat meager pay in where
such assistance is necessary to avoid actual suffering
Gov. Hunts suggestion that legislation be provided
that the soldier vote be included in state elections
is evidently inspired by patriotic desire preserve
the soldiers their function of citizenship in the choice of
state officials. This very commendabe within proper
limits Soldier voting should be restricted to the time
while the soldiers within the United States.
Other states have provisions for soldier voting, and
soldier elections in France have proved such disturb
ance routine that the department is seeking to
discourage it, not with any desire to cuta the rights and
privileges of soldiers but because anything which inter-
feres with soldiers training trench routine is bad
for the service and the country.
The governors request for authority to invest state
funds in Liberty Bonds will be granted in all probability
1t will appeal at to the patriotic spirit which ami
mates all classes in Arizona. This will be paterning af
ter the action of Texas whose state government has al
ready invested millions in government securities
The Legislature has very fair program outlined for
it. What other measures may be brought up it is not
possible to forecast. The legislature will do very WELL
however not to deal with labor controversies in the state
inasmuch renewed agitation only have harmful
effect and the laws in force sufficient deal with
whatever situations may arise.
Chinese fishermen train offers to catch fish, Which