Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-10-05
STATE OF NEW MEXICO.
\ Readable Interview with Hon. W. e.
uazlodine in the Chicago Inter
Ocean,

W.T.. W IIlld'l " lldEittllIeJ VI iIuIluti-
que, n. NJ the solicitor ioi the Atlantic
< Pacific RAILROAD company, was in CHI
cago Yesterday, and in response to ques-
tons from reporter of the Inter Ocean
Us to the prospect OF New Mexico becom-
ing a state, said:
1--WE have Just had a consttut ona
convention and there has been great
deal OF doubt expressed throughout the
country as to whether We would cstaL-
fish first class state. One OF the most
serious objections urged in the east to our
admission has been the supposed inn
probability, or impOssibllity, OF our being
able to establish Il perfect system Of free
and unsectariGn public schools, The
actual fact Is, the article on education,
which was unanimously adopted by the
constitutional convention is the most
carefully drawn and perfect article Of its
kind ever incorporatedin any constitution
in the United States land not only is the
article so perfect in its various provisions,
but it provides by its own terms that it
can never be altered or repealed, except
ing by the consent OF congress and the
people, thus being made, i'll short. ire
vocable.
The other prominent features Of the
constitution are fully up to the similar
features embodied in the more recent and
most advanced constitution of the states.
! Among other things are provisions for
! liberal homestead exemptions, and also Il
guarantee for immunity from military
duty TO all persons who, from conscien-
iOus motives, or by reason OF their relig-
ious faith, object to bealing arms. Even
| the l:ost pronounced enemies Of the adj
mission of New Mexico who have read
! this constitution admit that ii is rs good
one rs ran he found in the country
! The gentlemen who composed the con.
! vention would reflect honor and credit on
any state, both in personal appearance,
education and general ability.
"a peculiar fen ure Of this convention
was that the members of it were, with two
single exceptions, ali members of the Re-
publican party, owing to the fact that the
Democrats are laundering as usual and
declined to participate in the election for
delegates, thinking thereby to throw cold
water upon the enterprise, and, il possible
place so many impediments in the way OF
those urging statehood, as to defeat the
Object sought to be obtained. As a matter
OF fact, however, the Republicans nomi-
mated their very strongest men, and these
were all elected and, owing to the fact
that they were Republicans, they, OF
course, we're careful to he nOn-partsan
when acting in the very responsible
capacity OF constitution makers. There
fore, even in the apportionment Of menu
berG OF the Legislature, instead OF seeking
al o,ly .l;,,,l ;
the senatorial and representative districts
so as to insure the election of Republicans,
this appOitioument was reduced to IL
methodical basis, and each county was
given representation in proportion to the
number of voters that might he shown by
the next United States census, irrespective
OF the political complexion of the various
counties or districts so created, or so APP
portioned.
"Wlile, Of course, no one can say what
The political complexion OF the future state
will be hereafter, my firm belief is that it
will continue to be Republican state, rs
it has always been as II territory, for, while
we are now represented in congress by
Democrat, and have been for some years
past, this was owing entirely to mn I'M
lO tunate misunderstanding among the
Republicans OF the territory, the result
having,been an irregular fight with two
Republicans and one Democrat running
| for congress ut the same time. The ag-
gregate vote for the two Republicans was
several thousand in excess OF that received
by The Democrat who was elected; and
yet Mt this very election the Republicans
controlled both houses OF the legislature
by very larGe'and respectable majDriies.
We all firmly believe that the state will I've
surely and safely Republican.
"One.o the strong arguments in favor
of statehood is the assurance it will give
eastern capitalists of permanent and
safe Investments for their motley, as wit
ness tie state OF Colorado, whose popu-
latIon and wealth increased almost mi.
ramlously Immediately upon its being
admitted as Il state. Our territory and
constitution are very similar to those of
the Centennial state at the date OF its
admission. We believe we have in the
vicinity OF Albuquerque second Lead.
vii G, tile famous San Pedro mine being
rich in car Donates, and each day shows
greater and more marvellous develop
ments. AS 10 agriculture, Prof. Powell,
when in Santa Fe some. three weeks ago
stated that from acareful survey he was
satisfied that even in our section OF the
colntry-that lying between the Rio
Puerco and the Rio Grande, in Bernalillo
county and Valencia connty--there were
lands subject to irritation that would sup.
port population Of ut least 10000 souls,
and that ample natural reservoirs existed
requiring onya very small expenditure
to fit them for storing water sufficient to-
enable them to irrigate this vast area Of
country"
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