Arizona republican., 1918-02-02
LAMAR COBB RAMS
 STATE SUBMARINE
 BY DEPTH CHARGE
State Engineer Hands to
 Governor Hunt Missive
 Which Seems Destined to Go Down into History

Lamar Cobb, state engineer. yester- day added to the political literature of the Baby State by presenting a highly interesting and intensely diverting let ter to Governor George w. F. Hunt in which the state engineer pays his re- spects to some of the state officials. In particular. MT. Cobb does not agree with the attorney generals opinion that the commission of state institutions holds the department of the state en- gineer in the hollow of it's collective hand. He states as much, and other things, in the following communica- tion:
 February l, 1918. My Dear Governor:
 Your commission of state istitutions under a so-called opinion, construing the act creating the commission, Gan opinion conceived in viciousness and rendered by weak, pliable attorney generaD, are endeavoring without war rant of law to interfere with the work of the state highway department and to secure my removal from office. They have thrown down the gage of battle, which I reluctantly take up, bearing in mind the advice of Polonius to his son Laertas, Beware of entrance to a quarrel, but being in, bear it that the oppressor may beware of thee" To their imperialistic appeal for peace reply as did President Wilson to the central powers, that I am for a demo- cratic peace, and I may also add peace in the democratic party, to secure which I will fight to a finish.
 On March 24, 1912, you appointed me state engineer; from that date until December 31, 1916, I served under you in that capacity. During such period our personal and official relations were most pleasant and harmonious, though certain influence were always at work to prejudice you against me. Our con- fidence in each other was mutual.
 Says that he is Loyal
 | My loyalty to you cannot be truth fully questioned I doubt if you can find a person who will say that they ever heard me- in private converse or public speech, admit that you ever made a mistake. 1 have fought your battles and defended your every act since the day I was appointed I be- lieve I have made you friends by the hundreds; but be that as it may, l have never made you an enemy nor driven from you any who desired to be your friends.
 In the discharge of my duties as state engineer I have built up an or ganization that would be pride to any state in the Union As to the work that has been performed by myself and my assistants, let me say that the United States office of public roads has no criticism to make of our construction; they place us first in the United States in efficient management of prison labor, and our accounting sustem sec ! ond to none. As a member of the eX- ecutive committee of the American As sociation of State Highway Officials assisted in drafting the present federal aid road act, which provides that the area of state shall be one of the three factors in apportioninS fedora aid. I jealously guarded that feature which means so much to Arizona, be- I fore the committee, before the associa- tion and before congress. My effort: in securing the passage of this law cal be attested by my associates on tht committee, and Senators Smith anC Ashurst will tell you that they were better informed as regarded the effec of this act upon their state than any O their colleagues.
 Deals With Many Boards
 The state engineer in the discharg of his duties has to do business witt fourteen different boards of superviS OTIS, comprising fifty-two members During my term Of offlce 1 nave had U work in harmony with approximatel. one hundred different supervisors. an not in single instance has a one O these men appealed or protested to yo1 over my decision. I have supervise the expenditure and disbursed owe two million dollars in the con construction and maintenance c state highways, with as little, if no less criticism than any state highwa department in the Union, and l kno7 . whereof I speak.
 You will pardon, l know, what ma Q appear to be self glorification, but thi s is the most momentous occasion of m l life, and I wish the people of Arizon c to know, as you know it, the record ( y the state highway department unde t your administration.
 Immediately upon your return to of l flee a campaign against my reappoint l. ment as a state engineer was starte
 by Homer Wood, aided and abetted b
 F. C. Struckmeyer chairman and mem
 Der respectively of your commission (
 state institutions, holding office at you
 pleasure. Dictatorial and vicious to a
 extreme, devoid of high ideals. Home
 Wood will, without scruple blacken th reputation of any man to accomplis