The Coolidge examiner., 1941-03-28
This newspaper IS member OF e. n
AR'zoNA NGwspApERs AssscH,F ron
For Greater Public Service
POLITICS SUPERSEDES PATRIOTISM

Governor Osborn's petuance bobbed up at a most
noppOrtune time when he refused to approve travel
penses for three Arizona representatives to attend last
weeks national defense conference at AMARILLO Taxes
One ascrbed to the governors querulous ac
ton that of the officials appointees Of
former Gov Bob Jones and that the trio had been chosen
by Mr. Jones to make the trip.
The officials w. R. Hutchins state engineer; B. H.
Nc Ahren motor vehicle division superintendent and
Horace Moore, highway patrol superintendent were
selected by Governor Jones just before he left office.
They named at the request of the secretary of
to work out program for the movement of troops over
Arizona highways if such became They were
selected part of national organization.
The federal government urged that representatives
from all states in the armys eighth corps attend the
Amarillo conference to work out plans vital to the nal
tona defense All states but Arizona sent
sentatves to this important meeting
Governor Osborn obviously permitting his petulance
to supersede his patriotism flaty refused to approve
travel claims for this states representatives
The governors peeve prevented Arizona from join
ing in final plans for troop movements conveying of
troops, checking of highway bridges and military police
activities in accordance with the armys nationwide pro-
gram
The governor by his refusal to permit ARIZONA toI
participate in this federal conference in effect obstruct
ing the nations defense program. He unwittingly puts
himself in the category of communist strike agators
who also blocking the nations defense plans by
ing delays in carrying out the gigantic designed
for national security
The governors pernicious policy of playing politics
with practically every matter coming before him may
create serious situation in connection with plans neces-
for national defense. His position is made douby
by the emphasis given it through another of his
official acts On the day he refused okeh travel
claims to the Amarillo conference the governor approved
aiPane travel expenses for three officials of Arizona
Unemployment Compensation commission Washington
d. c. The officials being called the carpet by the
federal government to explain of Mr. Osborns poll
tca meddlng.
Soon after taking office, Governor Osborn abolished
the post of executive director of the commission presum
ably because the director did support Mr. Osborn in
the last campaign The result of this particular political
activity the of the governor brought threat
nancial aid would be withdrawn from the Arizona Un-
employment Compensation commission.
The governors political activities got the state in a
serious jam with the federal government In an attempt
to wggle out of the the chief executive dispatched
three officials to Washington by airplane hoping they
can cover up another of his bunders.
The governor gives economy" as the reason whv
three representatives can't travel by automobile to ANA
nlo, Texas to aid in shaping national defense plans But
he attempts no explanation for approving three round
trip airplane rides to Washington
The first Notwithstanding Arizona representatives
from the Amarillo conference-suggess Mr. Osborn puts
politics before patriotism The second inciden-getting
the state in jam with the federal government-suggests
Mr. Osborn Is anything but adroit politician.
Surely the average citizen will take the view that
our national defense program is immeasuraby more i'm
portant than political pap for the governor.
But it is evident Mr.. Osborn doesn't think so.