The copper era and Morenci leader., 1918-02-08
LAMAR COBB RAMS STATE SUBMARINE
 BY DEPTH CHARGE
State Engineer Hands to Governor Hunt Missive Which Seems Destin- ed to Go Down into History.

Hunt Missive Which Seems Destin-
 ed to Go Down into History.
 Lamar Cobb, state engineer, yester- day added to the political literature of the Baby State by presenting highly interesting and intensely diverting letter to Governor Geo. w. P. Hunt in which the state engineer pays his respects to some of the state officials. In particular, MT. Cobb does not agree with the attorney generals opinion that the commission of state institu- tions holds the department of the state engineer in the hallow of it's col lective hand. He states as much and other things, in the following com munication:
 February 1, 1918. My Dear Governor:
 Your commission of state institu- tions under a so-called opinion, con struing the act creating the comm1s- sion, Gan opinion conceived in vicious ness and rendered by a weak, pliable attorney generally are endeavoring without warrant of law to interfere with the work of the state highway deparment and to secure my removal from office. They have. thrown down the gage of battle, which reluctantly take up, bearing in mind the advice of Polonius to his son Laertas, Be ware of entrance to quarrel, but be- ing in, bear 1t that the oppressor may beware of thee.' To their fmperialis- tic appeal for peace reply as did President Wilson to the central pow CTS, that I am for democratic peace, and may also add peace in the democratic party, to secure which I will fight to finish.
 On March 24, 1912, you appointed me state engineer; from that date un- til December 31, 1916, I served under you in that capacity. During such period our personal and official rela- tions were most pleasant and har- monious. though certain influence were always at work to prejudice you against me. Our confidence In eacn other was mutual.
 Says That He Is Loyal. -
 My loyalty to you cannot be truth fully questioned I doubt if you can find person who will say that they ever heard me. in nrivate converse or public speech. admit that you ever made a mistake. have fought your battles and defended your every act since the day I was appointed. I be- 1ieve have made you friends by the hundreds: but be that as it may, I have never made you an enemy nor driven from you any who desired to be your friends.
 ID the discharge of my duties as state engineer I have built up an or ganizs ton that would be a 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 constructions. they place us first in the United States in efficient man ageunent of prison labor, and our ac- counting system second to none. A a member of the executive committee of the American Association of State Highway Officials I assisted in draft. ing the present federal aid road act which provides that the area of state shall he one of the three factors in apportioning federal aid. jea1ous1y guarded that feature which means SC much to Arizona, before the commit tee. before the association and before congress. My efforts in securing the passage of this law can be attested by my associates on the committee and Senators Smith and Ashurst will tell you that they were better inform ed as regarded the effect of this act upon their state than any of their col leagues.
 Deals With Many Boards.
 The state engineer in the discharge of his duties has to do business with fourteen ditfrent boards of supervis ors. comprising fifty-two members During my term of office have had to work in harmony with approximately one hundred different supervisors, and not in a single instance has a one oi these men appalled, or protested to you over my decision. have supervised the expenditure and disbursed over two million dollars in the con struction and maintenance, of state highways, with as little, if not less criticism than any state highway de partment in the Union, and I know whereof I speak.
 You will pardon. know. what may appear to be self-glorification,b but this is the most momntous occasion oi my life, and I wish the people oi Arizona to know, as you know it, tho record of the state highway depart ment under your administration
 Immediately upon your return to of flee campaign against my reappoint ment as a state engineer was started by Homer Wood, aided and abettet by F. c. Struckmeyer, chairman an( member respectively of your com mission of state institutions. holdins office at your pleasure. Dictatoria and vicious to an extreme, devoid o high ideals. Homer Wood will, with out scruple blacken the reputation O any man to accomplish his purpose His conception of honesty is measure, by dollars and cents, and to establisl his own dollar mark honesty he impr gns that of others. throwing a cloud c suspicion upon all who do not bow t his imperious will. His sole ambition appears to be to play the role of tn power behind the throne. MT. Struck meyer is mere tool and furnishes