The Nation - News from March 2, 1987

Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham says mail in response to his cancellation of a state holiday that had been proclaimed by Democratic Gov. Bruce Babbitt to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. last year has been running 5 to 1 in his favor. Mecham, a Republican, said only the Legislature, which narrowly defeated a King holiday bill last year, had authority to make the designation. The Arizona House approved a new King bill on Feb. 19, but it has not cleared the state Senate. Congress designated the third Monday in January as a federal holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader.