The Coconino sun., 1926-08-20
SENATOR RUTHERFORD
SPEAKS In FLAGSTAFF

Charles H. Rutherford, the man
who disturbed the calm of the demo-
cratic political sea by launching at a
late hour his candidacy for nomina-
tion for United States senator,
surprisingly possesses a history so
thoroughly American that many see
in it prophesy of lively battle for
the party's designation to the seat
in the upper house of the national
congress.
Rutherford spoke in Flagstaff Mon
day evening at the Orpheum theater
before large gathering He told his
audience that Arizona citizens would
lose more than 00,000,000 in future
wealth if the Colorado river compact
is ratified, adding, he would rather
be defeated thousand times for
United States senator than to see
Arizona's youth forever paying tri-
butte to California. The senator left
Flagstaff Tuesday afternoon and re-
sumed his tour of the northern part
of the state. He plans to visit more
than 40 towns and cities in the state
before the primary election in Sep
tember.
Rutherford is a native of the rug
ged and storied patriotic New Hamp-
shire. At the early age of II years
he went to work in the woolen mills
of Harrisville and until he was 21
wears old he put in IL hours daily
labor at that place. His first wage
was rs cents a day. During those
years he was able to attend only two
terms of school. He went to Yer
mont and worked his way through the
Montepelier seminary. He then en-
tered Marion, Indiana law school. In
1904 he was graduated with a degree
of bachelor of laws and in the same
year began the practice of his pro-
fession at the city of Seymour in the
same state. The next year he was
named assistant prosecutor for the
county.
In 1906, the young lawyer went
west to cast his lot with the pioneer
state of Arizona. He settled in Jer
ONE and the same year was elected
city attorney of that place This po-
sition he held for IL years and for
Is years he was United States COM
missioner for the Verde district.
In 1917, Yavapai county sent him
to Phoenix as member of the state
senate In addition to his duties as
a state senator, he was busy speaking
for the liberty loan. He had received
a special designation from the secre-
tary of the treasury as special lib
erty loan speaker for the southwest.
Outstanding success as wartime or
ator brought to him special citation
for distinguished services to the gov
ernment.
In 1928, he was again elected state
senator from Yavapai county. 1t was
during this term that the well-known
Colorado river compact written at
Santa Fe came up for approval of the
legislature Of Arizona. Senator Ruth
erford in face of general opposition,
was among those who bore the brunt
of the battle against the agreement
which he denounced as thoroughly ufl-
fair to the rights and interests of Ari-
zonaAin the water and power OF the
great stream. He delivered the first
speech against the compact, made in
the state senate, which was master
" dissection of the compact and which
has since proved to be the Magma
AIidl I'd VI tliC OppOoAtiOll w vic P1SO'
His energetic opposition was greatly
responsible for the defeat Of the mea-
sure.
Rutherford's entry into the demo-
cratic race for United States senate
is based on his record as an original
and lasting opponent to the compact
in opposition to Carl Hayden, who,
he charges, twas, has been, and is fef
the compact an attitude, contrary
to the desires of the people of Ari-
zona and dangerous to the state
Rutherford has announced that he
would conduct vigorous campaign
into every county of the state, but
that his advance would be free from
personal attack but merciless on his
opponents position respecting the de-
velopment of the Colorado.
Senator Rutherford was former
vice. president of the American Bar
association, of the Arizona Bar asso-
citation and president Of the Yavapai
County Bar association. He holds the
rank of major and is president Of the