The Coconino Sun

Educational Qualification Law
Illegal

St. Johns, Ariz., August 19th.—Judge Ling of the superior court of Apache county yesterday handed down a decision in the case of Armijo and Chaves vs. County Recorder Platt, in favor of the defendant. This case has created great interest throughout this section, as it was instituted solely for the purpose of testing the constitutionality of the educational qualification law.

On Aug. 5th Gabriel Armijo and Luis Chavez, two old time Mexican pioneers, who were born in New Mexico, appeared before the county recorder and register of voters, Henry J. Platt, and demanded to be registered as electors of Apache county. They were asked to read a portion of the constitution of the United States, but refused to make any effort whatever to do so, although Chavez is well educated in English. Upon the recorder's refusal to register them they made petition to the court for an alternative writ of mandamus, asking that the recorder register them or appear in court and show reason why he would not do so. They based their claim to the right of franchise on vested rights, as they had voted in this county for the past thirty years.

The court granted the writ and the final hearing was had yesterday. The court decided that Platt was within his rights in refusing to register the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs were represented by Hon. John D. Yates a prominent democrat. The defendant is also a democrat but was represented by Hon. G. E. Greer, republican.

It is understood that the case will be carried to the highest court in the United States if necessary, and the plaintiffs claim that they are ultimately sure of winning out.