Arizona republican., 1922-06-26
ANTI CONFERENCE
TICKET GROWING;
LATEST PETITION
Judge Wheeler Enters Pri-
mary Race for Nomina-
tion for State Corpora
tion Commissioner.

The most important development
in Democratic politics in Arizona
since the announcement by former
Governor Hunt a. month ago that he
would enter the primary seeking the
nomination for governor, was the
news yesterday that Judge Charles
De Sales Wheeler's petition for entry
into the primary for the nomination
for corporation commissioner would
be put into circulation today.
Less than a week ago it was an
nounced that Judge Wheeler would
be candidate for the nomination for
justice of the peace of East Phoenix
precinct, an office he had held for
two terms. He had been solicited
soon after the Tucson conference to
enter the race for a membership of
the corporation commission and had
given the request some consideration
but at length he declined it and
authorized the use of his name as
candidate for justice of the peace.
Within the last three days. though,
there had come to him solicitations
from groups in Gila, Pima. 4avapal
and Cochise counties, urging him to
become a candidate for the corpora
tion commission and promising him
substantial support in those counties.
This. added to the previous local en-
couragement he had received, induced
him after further conference with
friends here to reconsider his former
declination and TO consent TO the
circulation of his petition,
The importance of this incident lies
in the fact that it will probably be
signal for the entry of other candi-
dates i'm opposition to the Tucson
conference ticket and that within
week there will be a complete anti
conference ticket in the field and the
war among tn Democrats will be ap-
preaching the height of merriment.
It will be remembered that when
Mr.. Hunt declared his candidacy he
stated that he was not heading
primary ticket: he was merely Volc-
ing his protest against the principle
of the Tucson conference which ne
regarded as a masked attack upon
the primary. He also believed that
the conference was favorable to the
proposed constitutional amendments.
He said then that he was urging no
other candidates into the field Tor
nomination for the other offices. put
it was evident that the former COVER
nor would welcome other candidates
on his platform.
In a statement concerning MS can
didacy. Judge Wheeler said that ne
was entering the primary IN pehaH
of progressive, present day democra-
fn
committing the Democratic party to
the principle of the nominating con-
vention. special privilege methods and
the betrayal of the confidence and
interests OF the rank and file of the
people. He said he had nothing to
say against the candidates who hao
received endorsement at Tucson. put
he was opposed to the conference
itself which was nothing more than
convention because its purpose, SO
far as the endorsements were con-
cerned. was to override the primary
law. The contention that it does not
do so is only technical since the very
reason for endorsing candidates was
to discourage and bar from the prl-
mary all other candidates. while the
purpose of the primary is to leave
the field open to whoever may desire
to enter.
He believed with Governor Hunt,
he said that to let the conference
ticket go unchallenged would fasten
the conference plan on the party and
leave the direct primary as dead as
if the constitutional provision and the
primary statute should be repealed,
while the effect of the defeat Of the
conference ticket would prevent
repetition of the conference.
Mr.. Hunt having pronounced the
water fine, and that pronouncement
having been confirmed by Judge
Wheeler. it is expected that aspiring
Democrats who have been shivering
on the brink will quickly take the
plunge.