Omaha daily bee., 1892-01-22
PROPOSED NEW STATES

Bills nave been introduced in congress
to confer statehood on the territories of
New Mexico, Utah and Oklahoma, and
doubtless Arizona will receive like con-
sideration. Whit the chances are for
the admission of any of these territories
by the present congress cannot now be
determined. but it will be interesting to
consider what claims they present for
statehood.
The last census gave New Mexico a
population OF 1913, 900, and it is doubtless
somewhat larger now The last report
Of the governor made n very good show
ing in regard to material development.
The agricultural interest is growing,
the mining industry is increasing, and
in othor respects the territory is realiz-
ing Il steady progress. But the objec-
ton remains that the population is
largely made up of people essentially
alien in their character and sympathies,
and if it be admitted that the resources
are sufficient to maintain a state govern
ment there is still the question whether
the people as a whole could safely be
left to govern themselves. A constitu-
tion was submitted to them in 1890
which was defeated by a large majority,
and although the governor explains
that this WAS due to party differences,
and was not the result of a disinclina-
tion to assume the condition of state
hood, still it was an unfavorable indica-
ton OF popular sentiment in the matter
for which the alien element of the pOpu-
lation was doubtless mainly responsible.
Until this element shall become so small
a minority as to be incapable of mischief
the ~expediency OF comforting statehood
on New Mexico will be questionable.
Utah's population, by the census of
1890, was close to 2OS, 900, anG the gov
ernor's report for 1891 placed it at
nearly 2ll, 900. The assessed value of
property, real and personal, in 1891 was
in round numbers 1921, 00O, 900. Botn as
to population and resources Utah has an
unquestionable claim to statehood, and
the only Obstacle in the way of attain
ing it is the political influence still ok
ercised by the Mormol church. This,
however, is steadily de clining, and there
is every reason to expect that within
the neXt year or two those who are con-
trolled in their political action by the
church will be in IL minority. Indeed
there is now no distinctively Mormon
party, that organization having dis
banded previous to the asst election for
the Legislative assembly, many OF its
members uniting with the republican
and democratic parties. While this has
been regarded as u ruse OF the church
leaders in the interest Of statehood, and
the Utah commission inclined to this
view, the governor and others in u fla
vorable position to judge have, Ok
pressed the opinion that it WIS done in
good faith.
The growth of Oklahoma, the young
est of the territories and the smallest in
area, has been phenomenal. The last
report OF the governor estimated the
population to he $4,000, and this is
probably not far out OF the way. Great
progress has been made in agricultural
development, and the people of the ter
ritorv are of the most enterprising
character. But Oklahoma can wait u
few years for statehood without injury
to its material welfare.
Arizona has "a population Of between
6 1000 and 10000, and. as nearly all of
the public lands OF the territory are
arid, the advance in population is cer-
tain to be slow. There are large unde-
velOped resources, but under present
conditions it is questionable whether Il
state government could be properly
maintained.
1t thus appears that Utah alone is able
to present an entirely satisfactory claim,
so far as population and developed re-
sources are concerned, to statehood, and
there is really no valid reason against
the admission of that territory.