Arizona state miner., 1925-11-28
CAMERON SWINGING THE BAL
ANCE OF POWER AMONG
THE REPUBLICANS

n < hET ODGIOAN0
As pretty a little scrap as has oc-
Cured for a long time within the in
ner temple of the Republican party in
this state is now on in deadly earnest.
1t promises to involve the factions of
that party as they have never yet
been involved, which is saying a heap.
Without doubt the complications will
have their effect on the next state
and national elections.
The scrap occurred over the posses
sion of one of the juciest plums on the
Arizona federal plum bush, that of the
colIectorship of the United States in
ternal revenue Office in Phoenix which
pays a salary of $4,000 a year.
The net results of the fracas to date
are that Frank R. Stewart has been
replaced by John R. Towles as .collec-
tor, and the factions are going armed
with verbal siX-shOOters. Stewart al
ready has shot holes in the ambient
atmosphere for publication. He is
quoted thus:
1T is a we'll known fact that my ap-
pointment was not of Senator Cam
eron's choosing. And it is also well
known that what has happened in
most of the federal appointments in
Phoenix that he has made. Cameron
and do not speak the same language.
''The collectors office in Arizona
occupies very enviable position
among the sixty-five collectors offices
in the United States. l am proud of
my record but / doubt whether he is
of his. l have not paid tribute, nor
has tribute been levied on a single
emplOye in the Office. Efficiency has
been the standard demanded. My
sole aim has been to give the people
of Arizona the best possible service.
And as result the Office under my
administration has credited, abated
and refunded nearly three and a half
million dollars to taxpayers which was
found legally belonging to them. Our
citizens got these refunds without
having to pay tribute 10 political heel
ers in the guise of attorneys fees
Il will retire with the consciousness
that have rendered the people of the
state service"
After this volley, Stewart retires to
the background and awaits further
attack.
The story of the outbreak is as
follows:
Stewart was appointed collector be-
cause he was personal friend of the
late President Harding. Stewart never
posed as a special friend of Senator
Ralph Cameron who is presumed to
control, and apparently does control,
the Republican pie counter in Arizona.
But Harding died and left Stewart
fiOht hic hot L,
local United States land office in Phoe-
nix was abolished and with it the posi-
ton held by Senator Cameron's friend
and appointee, John R. Towles
Then it was up to Cameron to find
another job for Towles, for Towles
was invaluable to the senator as all
the politicians know In fact ToWles
is a splendid, capable young man, just
as capable and efficient as Stewart,
in all probability, although Stewart is
high-class man however considered
Senator Cameron put the political
machinery in Washington to work
Stewart was asked to resign He re-
fused, saying he preferred to go down
with his cOlors flying He did But
TOwles at the same time entered the
collectorship with his colors flying.
Ex-Governor Tom Campbell, ma
tional committeeman for the Republi-
can party in Arizona hastened to
Washington Saturday evening. He was
asserted by the know-it-alls to be a
friend of Stewart, who would do all he
could to retain Stewart in office.
Likewise Hi COrbett, chairman of the
Arizona Central Republican central
committee is reputed by those with a
tabled gift of prescience to have heat
ed up the long-distance telegraph
wires with request that Stewart be
retained. But in any event, Stewart
makes exit and Towles enters
From this replacement the fight
within Republican ranks is spreading.
1t is not that the party members have
anything against either Towles or
Stewart. It is merely a fight for pres
tige and patronage, which in this in.
stance are complete synonyms.
Stewart was first asked for his res
ignation a week ago last Monday
Thus it seems that the party machin-
cry has been speeded up all along the
line.-GaZette.