Arizona republican., 1918-10-24
Golfer Again Answers
Phoenix, Arizona, October %, 1918.
Hon. III. B. Wilkinson,
Phoenix, Arizona.
Dear Senator Wilkinson:

Dear Senator Wilkinson:
Your open letter of October 22nd published in to-
days issue of the Arizona Republican is before me-
In this letter you have allowed your partnership to
blind your judgment and have given an opinion for
political purposes through the press which you
would never have given in private consultation to
a client.
L have always been warned against the lawyer who
tried his in the newspaper and not in the Court
Such lawyers often have a following among those
who do not do their own thinking, but you and have
seen hundreds of them come to grief in the Courts
Why, Senator Wilkinson, have you allowed your par
tizanship as Republican, to lead you into trying
law case III a newspaper!
Why have you allowed yourself to give opinion on
this question that is at utter variance with the decl
sion of the Courts of Last Resort that have inter-
preted this identical section of our Constitution?
Is the cause of the Republican Nominee for Cover
nor so weak that it is necessary to raise spurious
issue?
Are there no principles at stake in this campaign
which you are willing to defend?
You and [ are members Of the present Senate:-the
senate which passed this bill. One of my opponents
in the primary which has just closed, was also mem
Der of that body. refer to Senator Suffer. You and
| know his high reputation lawyer You and
know that he served several years as Judge in this
state. You and i know that he is we'll qualified to
speak on this subject and we know this, that he had
doubt Of his qualifications, for if he had he would
not have spent his time and money in campaign for
the Democratic Nomination for Governor You and
know that if he is eligible, am. Why let your Re
publican partnership blind you, Senator Wilkinson?
Rest assured Senator Wilkinson, that have had the
advice and opinion of the abest counsel that money
could retain friendship could secure, men whose
attachments such that by their side the average
lawyer is but school boy. These eminent lawyers
have assured me that there is question as to my
eligibility That it is not debatable question. That
the Courts have already spoken, and have decided
that question in favor of my eligibility That it is no
longer an open question.
prefer and think the people of Arizona prefer to
receive the Interpretation of their laws from judges
sitting the bench, weighing their decision, study
ing the law, and deciding cases after mature con-
sideration. Deciding cases not in the heat of poll
teal campaign but as men who are above political
considerations who have been chosen for their emf
nent learning and high integrity.
May call your attention to an historical In
volving the candidacy Of Republican for Governor
of New York. refer to that of Theodore Roosevelt
You will recall that grave doubts were expressed as
to his eligibility by eminent lawyers You know
that there many in his party that felt those
same doubts You member of his party. Did
you advise him to withdraw? And when the heat of
the political campaign was over, and men allowed
their reason and not partnership to guide Them
there no longer any discussion OF the question:
So it will be in Arizona.
Get down to the real issues Of this campaign Senator
Wilkinson. Do not try to raise false issues. Live up
to the high purpose expressed in your opening letter
and this discussion may to raise political cam
paigning to higher standard in Arizona.
You are known as a Republican. You are known as
a partisan. You Republican Candidate Sure
you must recognize that you disqualified to give
a fair or judicial opinion OH the question which YOU
attempt to decide.
Sincerely yours,
FRED T. Golfer,