On 12 Feb., 1912, Arizona became
a state, the forty-eighth of the United States ("America",
4 Jan., 1913; "Official Congressional Directory", 3rd
ed., April, 1912). The Constitution of the state (61st Congress,
3rd session, Senate, 31 Jan., 1911) defines its boundaries as
Mexico, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California, and the Mexican
Territory of Lower California (art. I). Phoenix is to be the state
capital, subject to change by election on or after 31 Dec., 1925
(art. XX). The governor is to be elected for a term of two years
(art. V); the legislature is to meet biennially (art. IV, sect.
3); the judiciary is elective (art. VI). The Constitution, as
amended by vote, 5 Nov., 1912, extends the right of suffrage to
women ("American Year Book", 1912, p. 182; Constitution,
art. VII, sect. 1). It defines the "initiative" and
"referendum" to be "reserved powers" of the
people (art. IV, sect. 1), and the right of "recall"
includes judges as well as all other public officers
(Constitution, art. VIII, sect. 1). There is to be no religious
qualification for public office or employment (art. II), and to
every inhabitant there is to be secured "perfect toleration
of religious sentiment" without molestation in person or
property on account of religious worship or its lack. "Polygamous
or plural marriages or polygamous cohabitation are forever
prohibited" (art. XX). Under the "general and uniform
public school system" (art. XI, sect. 1), there is to be "no
sectarian instruction" or religious test or qualification
required of teacher or pupil (art. XI, sect. 1). Neither public
money nor property is to be appropriated for or applied "to
any religious worship, exercise or instruction or to the support
of any religious establishment" (art. II), nor is any tax to
be laid or appropriation made of public money "in aid of any
church or private or sectarian school" (art. IX, sect. 10).
But "property of educational, charitable and religious
associations or institutions not used or held for profit may be
exempted from taxation by law" (art. IX, sect. 2). Statistics
of the Catholic Church in Arizona are given in the articles TUCSON
and UNITED STATES; according to the "Bureau of the Census,
Religious Bodies, 1906" there were in the state 6175
Latter-Day Saints, 2884 Presbyterians, 2667 Methodists, 1034
Baptists, 1059 Protestant Episcopalians.
Charles W. Sloane
