The Coconino sun., 1925-07-03
PARTY LINES BEING ALL
KNOCKED INTG Cooked LID

that party lines were being rapidly
iobliterated.
"In a recent letter to Thomas H.
Macdonald, chief of the bureau of
public reads at Washington-wh
was published in The Evening Courier
last Friday-State Engineer w. c..
Lefebvre assailed with considerable
rigor E. S. Wheeler, who is in charge
of the Arizona division of the federal
bureau. The letter was a sharp criti-
eism of Wheeler to his superior.
'The state highway department
qualms of dissatisfaction with the
federal road representative in this
state, but just at this time care should
be exercised in setting forth the rea-
son-care to ascertain that all the in
dictments are true. There is an ebon
shape in the wood pile that might
bring something akin to CONSERVATION
should it emerge.
"The outbreak of the state highway
| department became pronounced last
winter when Yavapai county grew
insistent in regard to the Hassayampa
trail. When the pot began to boil
over, events moved with surprising
Lswiftness. And it must be admitted
that, insofar as the public is aware,
| the federal man came out of the up-
roar with colors aloft-whether it was
| that way or not. Most of the people
of this county believe Wheeler was
| striving to have the final contract on
| the road let, and that the state was
| holding it back because it opposed
| having the project done under con-
! tract, preferring to have the work
| done direct, or by force account. II
appears there is friction elsewhere
between the two agencies the federal
Representative insisting upon contract,
| the state set against such a method.
"But to return to the letter.
''In one paragraph the state engi-
neer emphasized that Thomas Mad
dock, state engineer in the republican
administration for four years, had I'M
troduced and maintained the day labor
| plan in road construction, and Le-
febvre left himself in the position OF
| giving commentator to the policies of
Maddox.
Several weeks ago Governor Hunt
in a widely-published statement made
almost the identical observations as
those given out by Lefebvre, and inn
planted in the minds of those who
read his words a similar impression of
lapproval of Maddock's practices. The
governors severe and just arraign-
ments of the stewardship of Maddox,
made in Prescott and elsewhere dur
| ing the 1922 campaign, repose in
strange contrast to his attitude, and
! the attitude of Lefebvre, as reflected
| in the recent letters.
"The present state engineer, and the
governor, while they may not know it,
by their assaults upon Wheeler are in
/ the roles Of catspaws pulling the
chestnuts out of the fire for someone
| else.
"And this is why they are raking
! the Goals for the benefit of others:
Maddox not only is eager to get
| the job now held by Wheeler but he
| is straining every string his hands can
reach to help him land the place
and Senator Ralph Cameron is striv-
| ing with the utmost zeal to induce the
authorities at Washington to make the
change. This is fact that those con-
cerned are no longer able to conceal
"Now, no one can blame Maddox
/ for his ambition to be the federal
aid road man of Arizona. The post
would clothe him with considerable
power, and give him 'coign of van
Htage' in next years political campaign
that no member of his party would
| dare ignore. And Senator Cameron
must be credited with real sagacity-for
championing the Maddox hope since
/ the influence of the latter in the re-
responsibilities he Graves could insure
the denomination of the senator, and
help some in the general election. The
unity of purpose of these two promin-
Tent and resourceful republicans is
quite clear and must be admired-but
twhy the cooperation from the demo-
cratic side OF the fence?
"The state engineer and the COVER
nor have lot of worries to contend
with They probably feel that
| Wheeler has not yielded to their plans
when he could have done SO and pre-
vented friction but it is inconceivable
/ that either of them knowingly would
/ seek to hoist Maddox into a position
where he could at times WELD whip
hand over the state highway depart
ment. However, in their attacks upon
| Wheeler, they have played the game
of Maddox and Cameron as if they
were hidden to the act. This move,
ever if unconsciously made, is step
in a false direction, and it will have
some effect,
"Lefebvre has had his troubles
with Wheeler, but, with Maddox on
the, federal job, the present state en-
gineer would look back upon past un-
pleasant experiences as casual Incl
dents in the days routine, for Mad
dock in a little while would be an
adamantine obstacle to cooperation
He would compel obedience to his
whims and he would so order his con-
duct that political expediency would
be paramount, and that 'expediency'
would be Of no benefit to democracy
in Arizona.
/ '"There are no records to show that
| Wheeler ever has permitted duty to
be veered by the gusts of partisan
| ship in this state. He has paid no
heed to politics, and there is no per
nicious activity charge chalked up
against him. During the last cam
paign he seemed unconcerned as to
/ Al Al