Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1890-02-06

Union will be zealously pressed upon
Congress. A bill is now in the han Is
Of the Committee on Territories OF
the House providing for the admis.
sion of Idaho, aud prominent repre-
sen,a,ives of the Territory are in
Washington to see that its interests
are properly cared for. The ,nd'c..
ton, are that there will be no diff
Guilty in securing the passage through
the Senate Of the required legislation,
but the chances III the House are
somewhat uncer' ain, though not re.
garded AS unfavorabIe
The advocates of admission urge
that the question of population, which
is the chi'f ground Of opposition,
ought not to have any consideration.
They argue that when the people Of
Territory demand admission as u
STATE, and can demonstrate that they
are able to maintain the obligations
and responsibilities OF State govern.
ment, It is the duty Of Compress to
admit THIN. The present population
Of Idaho, excluding the Mormons, is
not far from one hundred thousand,
aud it is insisted that the nearly unan-
imous desire Of this population for
Statehood, as shown by the vote on
the constitution, ought to be respected
by Congress when the ability of the
people to support State government
is shown beyond question by the con-
ditions Of material development and
the record Of production. The areu.
ment is sound and is undoubtedly
concurred in by the general public
sentiment of the country, which is in
favor of making States out Of Terri.
tories ss soon rs the conditions are
such 40 will assure the maintenance
of State governments. The theory
that before Territory can become q
State it must have a population equal
to the present or the prospe ctive ratio
OF representation in Congress, has no
authority to sustain it, Is not based on
any sound reason, and is not generally
accepted. A population Of thirty
thousand is entitled to representation
by the terms OF the federal constitu-
ton, and he, ond this Congress need
be satisfied only as to the ability Of
the people OF Territory to support
u State government.
Idaho is advancing steadily in pop
ulation and material development,
and given Statehood her progress
would be still more rapid. With
self government. her enserprising peo.
pie, confident in the assurance Of
almost bounlltss prosperity which
her great resources give, and relieved
Of the restraints which the Territorial
condition imposes, would put forth
every energy to attract capital and
population. and there is every
reason to believe there won!d be .
rapid inflow u both. With provision
made for the redemption Of her arid
lands aud new activity infused into
her mining interests, it is All entirely
reasonable estimate that with n FIVE
years after becoming a State Idaho's
population would double. Her future
is no. at all in doubt. She possesses
all the conditions 10 material progress
and prosperity. 1t is 10 the power of
Congress- 10 hasten this by promptly
giving her people Statehood, and it is
as well in the general interest that
this be done.
The Bee has heretofore been some.
what Indifferent, II not hostile, to the
admission OF Idaho. The above arti.
Gle therefore indicates q healthy
change, in that matter has been
deemed worthy Of such prominent and
favorable mention.
The Bee is one of the foremost ex-
ponents of public opinion in the
United States. We therefore con-
slider tho chances for admission very
favorable.