April 23, 2024 • 15 mins
Please enjoy Anton P Stafford a great episode of the legendaryFrontier Fighters - A Classic Old Time radio Show.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
Untier fighters, frontier fighters who madeof our western frontiers frontiers of destiny.
(01:41):
In eighteen sixty nine there came toPresident Grant a man intimate with the West,
trained in public affairs. His nameAnson T. K. Stafford,
said President Grant to his visitor,Depard. I can't think of any man
whom I'd rather given office than youwere, mister President. And don't you
do it. The office for youis the governorship of Arizona. Eh.
(02:04):
The great opportunity there for a manwith vision, mister President. Yes,
But to what extent would such alawless element obey the wishes of a man
five feet six inches tall? MisterPresident? I think it was Bobby Burns
who said a man's a man forall of that. Besides, I had
nineteen years of rough pioneer experience inCalifornia and Nevadi efth What would you do
(02:31):
if a man six foot three disputedyour authority? Well, I'd insist on
his respect for my order. Thenif I didn't get it, I'd knock
respect into him. And if Ihad to stand on a chair to land
upon on his chain. The Presidentof the United States is happy to shake
(02:52):
hands with and bid God's speed tothe new governor of the Territory of Arizona.
The little Governor and stafford was immediatelydubbed arrived in Tucson, Arizona,
(03:14):
in eighteen sixty nine to administer law, order and justice. Over seventeen million
acres infested by desperadoes and unruly Indianswere the inherent enemies of a steadily advancing
civilization. Gathering about him officers ofthe government. The governor held a meeting
in the old Steinfield Building on thecorner of Myers and McCormick Street, the
(03:34):
Tudor Attorney General. Mister Governor,I say that there is nothing in Arizona
at the present time except chaos.As Lieutenant Governor, that's my unhappy duty
to inform you that civil officers areneglecting their sworn duty. Citizens are refusing
to pay taxes. The legislature thatsat just before you came into office was
illegally called for its last session,and that's a pretty dark picture. Gentlemen.
I understand also that the territory isdeath the tutor's school system, transportation
(04:00):
costs or out of the reach ofthe majority, and the railroad is two
thousand miles away. And the fewrooms in this osteinfield building are not only
the Governor's mentioned, but also theofficers of the Severe General and State Library.
Well, gentlemen, if I didn'thave something of the pioneer spirit in
me, i'd go back to thePresident Grant and tell him he'd handed me
(04:21):
a junior. But I know this. I've been made governor of a territory
amazingly rich in natural resources. Yes, mister governor, but how are you
going to bring order out of chaos, wealth out of poverty. There's no
legislature to do, to be electedfor months, and meanwhile things are going
from bad to worse. I'm notgoing to wait months for things to go
from bad to worse. I amleaving for Washington, DC in the mornings.
(04:44):
But there's no money in the trialsgo at mown expense. I'm going
to enlist the help of the Presidentand Congress. By their act, there'll
be an immediate election of the legislature, and I shall ask for unlimited authority.
And when I come to Arizona thistime, instead of being dubbed little
governor, I'm going to be calleda fighting governor. President Grant admired the
(05:15):
fighting spirit of the Little Governor,and true to Safford's prediction, Congress did
give him unlimited powers, and Saffordarrived back in Arizona, a new legislature
was elected, additional power voted tothe governor promised them action and action they
got. Hey, it's loot.A proclamation by the Governor land Zone.
(05:35):
Every outlaw coming into Tucson from Scenarawill be given twenty four hours to leave
town. If found anywhere within thelimits of the city, he will be
toply colled and hanged. Signed a. BK. Haffard. Well, it
looks like the Little Governor means business. As Governor of the State of Arizona,
(06:09):
I say to you, the gentlemenof the Legislature, that everything will
be done to encourage immigration into thisterritory. The area of Arizona is three
times out of the state of NewYork. The territory can accommodate millions of
people if millions are ever to come. And we, the prison citizens of
Arizona, must make our state offermanifold opportunities for the generations of tomorrow.
(06:35):
But you achieve this, we muststart preparing today. The legislature approughted Governor
Sufford, but did everything accept profit. By his examples, theirs was a
plan of watchful waiting. Safford's aplan of actions. However, thanks to
(06:56):
Sufford's tremendous driving energy, little bylittle, the apaches were subdued, the
gamblers and bad men brought under control, the territory made safe for immigration.
But only a few hundred people cameinto Arizona, said the Lieutenant Governor Saffred.
Pioneers are not all men. Manyof them are wives and mothers.
What inducement is there for them inArizona, a territory with no public school.
(07:19):
Arizona should have a fine public schoolsystem with equal right for all Mexican
and American. Will have to gobefore the legislature for such an appropriation,
and you won't get it, becausemost of them are satisfied with their own
I'm not going to have my programblocked by anyone. I'll give the legislature
a chance to share in the glory, and if they refuse it, they'll
(07:40):
never have enough. You're attempting toput over a new and radical thing,
a plan of action in the lendof Manyona. As a duly elected legislator,
I object to your plans. Firstthing, you know, mister governor,
(08:05):
you'll be having us empty the treasuryin behalf of your wild scheme.
I would never permit the treasury tobe empty in behalf of wild schemes,
but I would gladly tention the treasury'spurse being turned inside out in behalf of
the public goods. Gentlemen, unlesswe have public schools, the mothers of
(08:30):
tomorrow's generations will not permit their childrento be born in this territory. No
mother will permit her child to beborn in ignorings, which, next to
poverty, is the worst curse toafflict our civilization. I think that governors
should be asked to sit down.I will sit down in a moment.
(08:52):
I have little more to say exceptto give you a solemn warning that if
you, the supposed swarm representatives ofthe people, refuse to pass the measure
which offers them the light of learning, then I must serve my God and
my conscience and take the measure tothe people themselves. Let the people decide
(09:16):
for themselves whether or not they wantpublic schools, and also whether or not
they want their present members of thelegislature elected again. Right to the people
(09:39):
of the territory. When a pK safford the little governor, he himself.
And then's the trip, which tookmany weeks, and despite the dangers
of Indian attacks, he carried onan education crusade from town to town,
from house to house. It's thegovernor riding into town. Now, come
on, everybody left him sick.Wealth coming on the shoulders. Be meeting
(10:03):
with you your please, I'll beglad to talk if you just set me
down summer. Thanks for this wonderfulwelcome. I've ridden hundreds of miles to
tell you what I think Arizona needs, and you legislates, I reckon we
ought to kick the whole kaboo lovemo out. What they say your cecity
(10:24):
is what they kicks out. Ithink you'd be interested to know that in
the territory of Arizona there are onethousand, nine hundred and twenty three children
of school age and no schools forthem to attend. I firmly believe in
education because the principles of it areright. I believe in free public schools
(10:46):
for rich and poor alike, forMexicans as well as American children New York.
I believe that an educated ballot isa safer guarantee of the prosperity and
the perpetual Yeah several, mister Governor. But ain't you using too high polluting
words for us US clean forces?Maybe? All right? Well, what
(11:09):
I'm driving at is if you peoplewant your children to know how to read
and write, to have good mindsand sound bodies, to make Arizona territory
we're all to be proud to livein, to have people eager to come
into because of all the advantages wecan offer. Then let us have the
things that'll attract them here, andyou won't get people to leave their homes
(11:31):
in other states to cast their lockedwith thousands of it. No ramiss,
now your talk of thy language,mister governor. And I know what the
driving at. When that first schoolhouse is put up, I'm joining it,
and I'm willing to start in gradeone if I have to. I
ain't never learned to read or write. My problem. Mom couldn't either.
(11:52):
I think the Governor speaking with astraight tongue as the Indians a day,
and I believe them and say Godbless them. I reckon, I got
English all mixed up. I've beenspeaking from my heart neighbor. When we
get our first schools, they'll bein Tucsons. That's a long ways from
here. But if you ever cometo the capitol, I'll see you get
(12:13):
an education. You live in myhouse, and I'll teach you myself.
I've been traveling up and down thelength and breath of this state for weeks,
and on all sides I've only beenmet with the greatest kindness and enthusiasm.
People not only want public schools,but they want the best of everything
(12:37):
for Arizona. And above all,they want her to be the kind of
a territory that someday will soon bea state, a state that promises a
future for every man, woman,and child who will come to her from
(12:58):
any part of the whole United States. Let us someday soon be able to
say of Arizona, Yes, shehas taken her place as one of the
brightest stars in the crown of ourgreat Republic. Thanks to APK. Safford,
every good thing did come to Arizona, and today she has insteed taken
(13:22):
her place as a bright star inthe crown of our great Republic. And
all historians agree that mister Safford,the little Governor of Arizona was indeed a
frontier fighter.
Untier fighters, frontier fighters who madeof our western frontiers frontiers of destiny.
(01:41):
In eighteen sixty nine there came toPresident Grant a man intimate with the West,
trained in public affairs. His nameAnson T. K. Stafford,
said President Grant to his visitor,Depard. I can't think of any man
whom I'd rather given office than youwere, mister President. And don't you
do it. The office for youis the governorship of Arizona. Eh.
(02:04):
The great opportunity there for a manwith vision, mister President. Yes,
But to what extent would such alawless element obey the wishes of a man
five feet six inches tall? MisterPresident? I think it was Bobby Burns
who said a man's a man forall of that. Besides, I had
nineteen years of rough pioneer experience inCalifornia and Nevadi efth What would you do
(02:31):
if a man six foot three disputedyour authority? Well, I'd insist on
his respect for my order. Thenif I didn't get it, I'd knock
respect into him. And if Ihad to stand on a chair to land
upon on his chain. The Presidentof the United States is happy to shake
(02:52):
hands with and bid God's speed tothe new governor of the Territory of Arizona.
The little Governor and stafford was immediatelydubbed arrived in Tucson, Arizona,
(03:14):
in eighteen sixty nine to administer law, order and justice. Over seventeen million
acres infested by desperadoes and unruly Indianswere the inherent enemies of a steadily advancing
civilization. Gathering about him officers ofthe government. The governor held a meeting
in the old Steinfield Building on thecorner of Myers and McCormick Street, the
(03:34):
Tudor Attorney General. Mister Governor,I say that there is nothing in Arizona
at the present time except chaos.As Lieutenant Governor, that's my unhappy duty
to inform you that civil officers areneglecting their sworn duty. Citizens are refusing
to pay taxes. The legislature thatsat just before you came into office was
illegally called for its last session,and that's a pretty dark picture. Gentlemen.
I understand also that the territory isdeath the tutor's school system, transportation
(04:00):
costs or out of the reach ofthe majority, and the railroad is two
thousand miles away. And the fewrooms in this osteinfield building are not only
the Governor's mentioned, but also theofficers of the Severe General and State Library.
Well, gentlemen, if I didn'thave something of the pioneer spirit in
me, i'd go back to thePresident Grant and tell him he'd handed me
(04:21):
a junior. But I know this. I've been made governor of a territory
amazingly rich in natural resources. Yes, mister governor, but how are you
going to bring order out of chaos, wealth out of poverty. There's no
legislature to do, to be electedfor months, and meanwhile things are going
from bad to worse. I'm notgoing to wait months for things to go
from bad to worse. I amleaving for Washington, DC in the mornings.
(04:44):
But there's no money in the trialsgo at mown expense. I'm going
to enlist the help of the Presidentand Congress. By their act, there'll
be an immediate election of the legislature, and I shall ask for unlimited authority.
And when I come to Arizona thistime, instead of being dubbed little
governor, I'm going to be calleda fighting governor. President Grant admired the
(05:15):
fighting spirit of the Little Governor,and true to Safford's prediction, Congress did
give him unlimited powers, and Saffordarrived back in Arizona, a new legislature
was elected, additional power voted tothe governor promised them action and action they
got. Hey, it's loot.A proclamation by the Governor land Zone.
(05:35):
Every outlaw coming into Tucson from Scenarawill be given twenty four hours to leave
town. If found anywhere within thelimits of the city, he will be
toply colled and hanged. Signed a. BK. Haffard. Well, it
looks like the Little Governor means business. As Governor of the State of Arizona,
(06:09):
I say to you, the gentlemenof the Legislature, that everything will
be done to encourage immigration into thisterritory. The area of Arizona is three
times out of the state of NewYork. The territory can accommodate millions of
people if millions are ever to come. And we, the prison citizens of
Arizona, must make our state offermanifold opportunities for the generations of tomorrow.
(06:35):
But you achieve this, we muststart preparing today. The legislature approughted Governor
Sufford, but did everything accept profit. By his examples, theirs was a
plan of watchful waiting. Safford's aplan of actions. However, thanks to
(06:56):
Sufford's tremendous driving energy, little bylittle, the apaches were subdued, the
gamblers and bad men brought under control, the territory made safe for immigration.
But only a few hundred people cameinto Arizona, said the Lieutenant Governor Saffred.
Pioneers are not all men. Manyof them are wives and mothers.
What inducement is there for them inArizona, a territory with no public school.
(07:19):
Arizona should have a fine public schoolsystem with equal right for all Mexican
and American. Will have to gobefore the legislature for such an appropriation,
and you won't get it, becausemost of them are satisfied with their own
I'm not going to have my programblocked by anyone. I'll give the legislature
a chance to share in the glory, and if they refuse it, they'll
(07:40):
never have enough. You're attempting toput over a new and radical thing,
a plan of action in the lendof Manyona. As a duly elected legislator,
I object to your plans. Firstthing, you know, mister governor,
(08:05):
you'll be having us empty the treasuryin behalf of your wild scheme.
I would never permit the treasury tobe empty in behalf of wild schemes,
but I would gladly tention the treasury'spurse being turned inside out in behalf of
the public goods. Gentlemen, unlesswe have public schools, the mothers of
(08:30):
tomorrow's generations will not permit their childrento be born in this territory. No
mother will permit her child to beborn in ignorings, which, next to
poverty, is the worst curse toafflict our civilization. I think that governors
should be asked to sit down.I will sit down in a moment.
(08:52):
I have little more to say exceptto give you a solemn warning that if
you, the supposed swarm representatives ofthe people, refuse to pass the measure
which offers them the light of learning, then I must serve my God and
my conscience and take the measure tothe people themselves. Let the people decide
(09:16):
for themselves whether or not they wantpublic schools, and also whether or not
they want their present members of thelegislature elected again. Right to the people
(09:39):
of the territory. When a pK safford the little governor, he himself.
And then's the trip, which tookmany weeks, and despite the dangers
of Indian attacks, he carried onan education crusade from town to town,
from house to house. It's thegovernor riding into town. Now, come
on, everybody left him sick.Wealth coming on the shoulders. Be meeting
(10:03):
with you your please, I'll beglad to talk if you just set me
down summer. Thanks for this wonderfulwelcome. I've ridden hundreds of miles to
tell you what I think Arizona needs, and you legislates, I reckon we
ought to kick the whole kaboo lovemo out. What they say your cecity
(10:24):
is what they kicks out. Ithink you'd be interested to know that in
the territory of Arizona there are onethousand, nine hundred and twenty three children
of school age and no schools forthem to attend. I firmly believe in
education because the principles of it areright. I believe in free public schools
(10:46):
for rich and poor alike, forMexicans as well as American children New York.
I believe that an educated ballot isa safer guarantee of the prosperity and
the perpetual Yeah several, mister Governor. But ain't you using too high polluting
words for us US clean forces?Maybe? All right? Well, what
(11:09):
I'm driving at is if you peoplewant your children to know how to read
and write, to have good mindsand sound bodies, to make Arizona territory
we're all to be proud to livein, to have people eager to come
into because of all the advantages wecan offer. Then let us have the
things that'll attract them here, andyou won't get people to leave their homes
(11:31):
in other states to cast their lockedwith thousands of it. No ramiss,
now your talk of thy language,mister governor. And I know what the
driving at. When that first schoolhouse is put up, I'm joining it,
and I'm willing to start in gradeone if I have to. I
ain't never learned to read or write. My problem. Mom couldn't either.
(11:52):
I think the Governor speaking with astraight tongue as the Indians a day,
and I believe them and say Godbless them. I reckon, I got
English all mixed up. I've beenspeaking from my heart neighbor. When we
get our first schools, they'll bein Tucsons. That's a long ways from
here. But if you ever cometo the capitol, I'll see you get
(12:13):
an education. You live in myhouse, and I'll teach you myself.
I've been traveling up and down thelength and breath of this state for weeks,
and on all sides I've only beenmet with the greatest kindness and enthusiasm.
People not only want public schools,but they want the best of everything
(12:37):
for Arizona. And above all,they want her to be the kind of
a territory that someday will soon bea state, a state that promises a
future for every man, woman,and child who will come to her from
(12:58):
any part of the whole United States. Let us someday soon be able to
say of Arizona, Yes, shehas taken her place as one of the
brightest stars in the crown of ourgreat Republic. Thanks to APK. Safford,
every good thing did come to Arizona, and today she has insteed taken
(13:22):
her place as a bright star inthe crown of our great Republic. And
all historians agree that mister Safford,the little Governor of Arizona was indeed a
frontier fighter.
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