Thursday, February 14th, 2008...8:01 am
Statehood Day
Today is the 96th anniversary of Arizona Statehood. We here at R-Cubed want to celebrate by honoring the first elected governor of Arizona, George W. P. Hunt.
Hunt was important not just for his several non-consectutive terms as governor, but for his work as head of the constitutional convention. He helped craft what is still one of the more progressive constitutions in the country. It included an elected board to control monopolies (he was reputed to have refered to the mines and railroads as “coyotes” and “skunks”), provisions to keep college affordable, an initiative and referendum process so citizens could keep control of the laws under which they are governed and provisions to recall elected officials. Quite a progressive document, I invite our current legislative leaders to read it. They are sworn to uphold it, after all.
For those of you in the Phoenix area who have been wondering what exactly is that strange pyramid in Papago Park, it is his tomb. I think he can see the capitol from there…
5 Comments
February 14th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Nice ’stash….
Actually, Statehood Day deserves celebration, along with Valentine’s Day (not necessarily in that order),
But No. 1 cause for celebration on my list is that it’s my son’s 18th birthday.
I’ll be bringing him a voter registration form, all filled out, except for his signature and party affiliation.
He’ll probably register as an R just to mess with me.
February 14th, 2008 at 11:22 am
It is a wonder that the valley of the sun doesn’t shke more often with earthquakes, with all of that rolling over Hunt must be doing in his grave.
And we should also honor President Taft, signer of AZ statehood. Without his superstitions, AZ Statehood Day would be the 13th. (Taft refused to sign the statehood bill on a Friday the 13th)
February 14th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
‘Cept that Taft refused to sign the statehood bill for a long time, owing to his opposition to the progressive constitution. This is probably a big reason why in Arizona’s first presidential election held a only a few months after statehood, he came in fourth place, a few votes behind Eugene Debs.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Don’t forget when we told Taft to shove it by amending the constitution to include the provisions he forced us to remove. God bless this state and its history of pissing on authority!
February 14th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Sadly, I think Governor Hunt’s view of the Capitol is obstructed by the Chase Tower and the Hyatt…
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