The copper era and Morenci leader., 1922-03-31
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
 VOTE IN SEPTEMBER

The Dill hXlng the time for voting on the constitutional amendments endorsed by the special session has been set for the same time as the primary election this var in the month of September A special bal lot will be provided for those who desire to vote on the amendments and we believe by this method larger vote will be secured than could be expected with the amendments following the regular ballot in Nov ember as has been the plan of vot- ing on amendments in the past. Another thing, the voting on these amendments at the time of the pri- mary election will no doubt bring all voters to the primary. Just what will happen in the Republican pri- maries this year we cannot tell, but in the past, because of the absence of contest between Republicans they have not voted heavily in the pri- mary. The Republican machine and leaders have been able to name pri- mary candidates and the Republican voters have not had much choice in that matter
 We shall expect that Democrats and Republicans alike will divide on some of the proposed amendments. There is no political issue involved in any of them, and votes may be expected to vote in accordance with their ideas as to what will be the most beneficial to the state and its industries. To our mind the amendment in regard to the present primary election law which was writ ten into the constitution is not yet fully understood by all voters of the state. The amendment makes no assault on a primary election law further than to give the voters an opportunity to say whether the pres ent law is satisfactory or not and to say whether they are willing to have the next legislature enact a new primary election law. If they are willing to trust the legislature with the duty of providing a new primary election law. then they should SUD- port the amendment at the polls. This amendment should not be al- lowed to disturb the harmony which is now, happily, coming back to the Democratic party, or seemingly so. If we do not agree on this question, then let us divide as to our indivi- dual opinion in casting our votes.
 Democrats and Republicans alike, should be more interested in the
 
 fer at the primary than in any of the proposed constitutional amendments. The framers of the constitution made provision that the constitution could be amended whenever a majority oi the votes cast on a proposed amend ment desired to do so. We have never regarded the constitution of Arizona as a document so sacred that it would be an act of treason on the part of any one who proposed that it be amended; we do not believe that the people of Arizona so regards the state constitution
 Surely there is one amendment pro. posed by the special session that if rejected by the voters of the state will amount to an expression against this state ever undertaking the ac complishment of anything in the way of development further than can be done by direct taxation. The provision of the constitution sought to be amended says that Arizona shall never incur an indebtedness for any purpose exceeding the sum of S350, which should be taken to mean that Arizona never may reach "a higher pinnacle than she can at tain by pulling at her own boot straps In the future there no doubt, will he many irrigation pro- jects to which the people of the state would be willing to assist by either direct appropriation of money or by standing sponsor for irrigation bonds. Under the present constitu tion the most that Arizona could do in the way of offering help in the development of the state would be the insignificant sum of $350,00 By amending the constitution as pro