Tombstone epitaph. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-current, 1922-07-02
Gov. Hunt Issues Public Statement

the Governors veto.
; The same people who are now
! seeking the destruction of the Direct
Primary are the same influences
which were behind the movement
and helped TO nullify Senator Win
sors effort TO remedy the defect in
the Direct Primary law.
shortly after addressing the House
Of Representatives and while the
amendments were still under consid,
Grafton, was invited TO speak in
Miami did so, and assailed the
amendments TO the constitution. Al
ter my Miami speech. the lower house
defeated the proposal to emasculate
the Initiative and Referendum, but
il did pass the amendments 10 pro-
vide for doing away with the Direct
) Primary. extending the terms OF pub
lie officials TO years, and increasing
the liability of the state for bonded
Indebtedness TO over 80 millions OF
dollars. while DISTINGUISHING thous-
ands Of Arizona citizens from voting
j, bond elections. so that / continued
10 use my efforts 10 proteC; the rights
and liberties Of the people of our
state.
AS the time drew near for the as
semblins Of the democratic party cor
ference at Tucson. considerable dis
cussion developed as to IT'S authority
and the propriety for calling it togeth-
e- have always felt it was wise
FOR democrats to counse! together. to
discuss principles. and plan for the
welfare of the state and party ! so
expressed myself but emphatically
denied the right OF any conference to
. attempt to override or defeat the law
OF the state.
A few days prior to the Tucson con
ference. received communication
from Mr.. James S. Douglas. enclosing
a copy of a letter addressed to Gen
eral John C Greenway by Mr.. Doug
las. together with the information
that similar letters had been address
ed TO Messrs Ward. Stanford, Winsor,
! Wood and Franklin. The communi-
cation contained an invitation from
; Mr. Douglas TO meet with himself
) and the gentlemen named at the
: Santa Rita hotel. in Tucson the day
, prior to the proposed conference. and
decide upon who the best man would
, be for Governor OF Arizona"
The whole proposal of Mr. Douglas
7 was sufficient TO prove how unwise il
would be for the people to surrender
the Direct Primary. The proposal
that any half dozen men should at
, tempt TO select the Governor OF Ari-
, IONA was repugnant TO me and ] de-
, clined TO accept the invitation.
stated, however, that would be glad
to confer with them on a democratic
! platform and democratic principles.
further stated that as we had a Di-
, rect Primary law that il should be OBJ
; served. and that it would be unfair to
the people. and unwise for the party
10 attempt to set it aside.
The delegates to the Tucson con-
| ference while doubtless all good men
were nevertheless representative OF.
and were chosen by only very small
, number OF the members Of the party
The conference as a whole, repre-
the old convention style, to name a
!; complete ticket to place before the
electorate. Some OF those who are
! in sympathy with the action of the
Tucson conference reluctantly con-
, cede the right OF any man to submit
: his name to the voters for a nomina-
ton. yet there is an undercurrent Of
discussion and comment, bordering
! sometimes very close to abuse
against myself for having the temer-
ity to challenge the right Of any group
of men to supplant the rights Of the
people to nominate their candidates
in an open primary
After the Tucson conference it was
! lmy privilege to address a letter to
Sen. VIM. Ciaypool, of ella county,
! complimenting him and the deIega-
ton on the stand they took at the
conference, and expressing my pleas
ure at the declaration Of principles
adonfod uhile denIorinp the facf that