Arizona weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1885-1903, 1890-07-09
rna s,a,enooa ouessIon.

The Arizona Republican is now an
advocate Of statehood. The JOURNAL
MINER and Sentinel will be the next
Seeing which way the wind is blowing
they will break their necks to get inside
the fold. The EpItaph extends them all
a cordial welcome.-Epitaph.
The Epitaph is informed that the
Journal-Miner has undergone no change
Of sentiment or opinion whatever on the
question of statehood. II our graveyard
siguboard contemporary has kept fles al
this paper It will discover that the
Journal-M;nei never did oppose state
hood. While il opposed with all the
enthusiastic ardor at its command the
holding of a constitutional convention,
at the expense of the territory, With no
probability OF any benefit beng derived
from such convention, except by one
single town, it was plainly stated that
opposition TO this convention was not
intended or meant as opposing state
hood. II did say, however, that II
doubted seriously it the population and
taxable property OF Arizona, owing to It's
immense area and extent. and the con-
seouent increase OF expense of conduct
ing state government, were sufficient
TO Justify our admission as 4 state. As
neither our population or our taxable
property has shown any marked increase
since the time that We announced the
above as our position on statehood, we
have seen no necessity of changing the
opinion expressed at that time. We
asserted then, however, that while hold
ing to such views we did not feel 1t in
cumbent on US to actively oppose the
measure for the reason that statehood
would confer additional privileges on US,
as a political division OF the United
States, and as state We would enjoy
advantages not possessed by US as a ter
ritory, and il the majority of the people
of Arizona Santed statehood and It's
adf:,onal privileges and advantages a,
the additional expense required we were
perfectly willingto contribute our pro-
portion. This was our proposition a
year ago and We stand on the same plat
form today
No. brother Epitaph, We have not
changed one lota on the statehood ques-
lion nor will We ever be converted by
the sophis,ry OF statehood enthusiasts or
by the arguments used. based on false
premises and assertions. When state
hood advocates tell US that We have .
population Of 100000 or more we feel
confident that the figures of the eleventh
census will net bear them out We
placed the estimate of population a year
ago at no, over 10000, and more prob
able not over $4,000. This was simply
guess. Figures will soon be at COM
mand TO show whether our guess vas
too small or not or whether the adyo-
Gates of statehood are more nearly cor
rect IN their guess Of 100000 When
we are told also that the taxable property
of the territory is SIS, 100000, the best
answer TO that assertion is reference TO
assessment rolls Of various counties
which show up an aggregate assessment
in the ten counties of less than $4,000
900. When these enthusiasts tell US that
this state or that one was admitted with
no greater population or no greater
showing OF taxable property than An
IONA has, our answer is that Arizona has
single cout ties containing more square
miles of territory than the states they
mention. II all the wealth and all the
population were condensed into single
county their argument would be APOLLO
able to the question in Arizona.
While as stated We do not have any
desire to actively oppose the admission
OF Arizona, as state, we DO seriously
object to the use of such assertions that
are SO far from the truth, that have been
used as arguments in favor of 1t. II we
are to be admitted let it be done on a
fair and truthful showing. Arizona is
45o miles in length by $50 wide. Its
taxable property as shown by the assess
ment roll of 1850 was little less than
Ss7, 900. Its population. whatever
il is, will soon be shown by the census
returns and whatever it is, II will show
remarkably sparse population in proper
ton 10 its area. When the territory is
admitted, it should be on the back oil
truth and not on the gauzey wings OF
lie.