John N. Irwin - Arizona Territory

Arizona Territory

Following the resignation of Lewis Wolfley as Governor of the Arizona Territory, President Benjamin Harrison took over a month to choose a replacement. Upon the recommendation of U.S. Senator William B. Allison, Irwin was nominated for the governorship on September 29, 1890, and confirmed on October 4, 1890. The new governor was however delayed in assuming his new position, being quarantined in his home after his son was diagnosed with scarlet fever till January of the next year.

Irwin was sworn into office on January 21, 1891. By this time the 16th Arizona Territorial Legislature was already in session. Secretary Oakes Murphy, as Acting Governor, had already given the session's opening address, so Irwin made his wishes felt through use of his veto. To help control the territorial deficit the governor vetoed an "outrageous" appropriation bill, forcing the legislature to pass a less ambitious spending plan. Irwin was however convinced to sign a twenty-year tax exemption on newly constructed railroad lines.

Among the other actions of the 16th legislature was an act calling for a constitutional convention. In response to this act, Irwin called a special election to choose delegates. A constitution was written by the convention and approved by Arizona voters in 1891, but the document never received serious consideration by interests in the U.S. Congress due to its provisions supporting Free Silver, state control of rivers and canals, and state aid to railroads and other businesses.

On June 15, 1891, Irwin left for the East Coast. At the time of his departure the territory's bonds were selling for below par and the governor wished to negotiate with New York financial interests about the territorial debt. He also used the visit to extol Arizona's virtues during a July 28, 1891, dinner. Following his stay in New York he returned to Keokuk to continue his work of refinancing the territorial debt.

While in Keokuk, Irwin found his mother had taken ill. This prompted him to extend his stay and he did not return to Arizona until November 9, 1891. Irwin's mother became ill again in April 1892, prompting the governor to return to Iowa. Following his mother's death, Irwin submitted his resignation on April 18, 1892, to deal with resulting family business concerns.