Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-10
WANT TO COME IN,
Utah and Other Territories Want
Admission to Statehood.
Hisieu Of Utah's Ensrts in That Line
Laughed Out Of ccurt.

during this congress, and her senator's and
representative will take their seats next
winter" says Delegate Rawlins, and so
also say the subcommittee Of the senate
committee on territories which now has
the matter in charge All opposition has
vanished All gentiles who were formerly
noted as opponents Of each successive move
for statehood are now advocates Of IL. For
nerly, when the matter was before the
house committee, one might find in Wash
/. ingson from five to twenty-five nervously
apprebensive lobbyists working against the
state Of Utah Now there is not one. The
bill for its admission passed the house by a
practically unanimous vote, the dissenters
not being numerous enough to call for the
yeas and nays, and the numbers on divi-
sion are not recorded Utah now has more
people than either Connecticut, Delaware,
Georgia, New Hampshire, New Jersey or
Rhode Island had at the time of the forma-
ton Of the Union, nearly Ms many as South
Carolina had, and more than Delaware or
any Of the newest states has. The bill, IL
should be remembered, is only an enabling
act, but the convention can he elected, the
constitution drawn, submitted and adopt
ed, the new state government set in motion
and the senators and member elected in
time to take their seats next December.
Arixona's KnocI.
Arizona, which for time seemed to be
going along as swimmingly as Utah, or near
ly 80, Is losing ground, and her delegate,
Hon. NJ. A. Smith, shows just Mt present
nothing like the patience or philosophy OF
The famous Marcus Aurelius, for whom he
was named. In the house there We're G2
votes against AriZona's admission. In the
senate the opposition is much stronger in
proportion, and some Of those who voted
for it in the house confess that they did so
with considerable nIisgivings which have
since been increased. Among these is John
j.. Wilson of Washington, who says:
THE movement to admit all the terri
tories ut once was very strong at the open
ing of congress, and we far western fellows
went into it rather actively. There was a
feeling Of pride in both parties in the idea
TINT this congress was to finally put an end
to the territorial system. But while | voted
for Arizona ! now fear that statehood
would be too great n burden for that com
monwealth. 1t has an enormous area, with
comparatively few people l am satisfied
that they still lack many of having lo0,-
00 and that the population will not in
crease rapidly in the near future. OF tax
ables they only claim $44 100000 and that
is less than the county live in has. Spo-
kane is great and rich city, and so that
county is at present richer than Arizona,
and so far as can see richer in possibilities
for the immediate future. | greatly fear
If Arizona should get u state government
too soon her people will bitterly repent of
their action. and, by the way, this terrific
rial government is not such a bad thing. The
fathers did pretty good job when they or
ganized it for communities yet in their
childhood. But new commonwealth is
pretty sure to find statehood rather ex-
pensive toy. As to New Mexico. am not
much more sanguine about that. Delegate
Joseph was sick when it should have gone
through the house, and the doubts of i'm.
mediate success are increased"
Oklahoma's Opaque Prospect.
The experience of Oklahoma to date is
somewhat peculiar and amusing At first
it was to walk right into the Union with
ont hesitation, the doors being opened free
ly and cordial invite extended. Then it
occurred To the committee that it would be
a curious anomaly to have state partially
surrounded and cut off by territory--and
that not only a nominal territory, but re-
ally u collection of local Indian sovereign
ties under n federal protectorate. There
fore the Oklahomans were persuaded to ask
for the incorporation OF the five civilized
Indian tribes aud their territories with the
new state, and the "humanitarians' of the
east were Mt first delighted with the propo-
sition.
The Indians, however, kicked, as usual,
against anything tending to the destruc-
zion of their tribal autonomy, and for some
time past they have been bombarding the
senate committee with arguments against
it. The ''humanitarians" have accordingly
divided on thequestion and just Mt present
the prospect for Oklahoma is considered de-
eidedly Opaque. Senator Stewart of the
committee ON Indian affairs, who has I'll
ways been in favor of the admission of new
states is at present in Il somewhat sarcastic
state of mind and says that of course the
senate will do nothing until tariff, finance
and everything else are fixed to suit Cleve-
land, and that even il congress admits the
applying territories Cleveland will proba-
bly, veto them if their views do not suit
him.
Laughed Out of Court.
The history of Utahs attempts to become
a state is "A sort of political romance. The
Mormons reached Salt Lake July "a, ls47.
the inhabitants OF upper California be-
tween the summit of the Rocky mountains
and the Sierra Nevadas. The convention
organized the state CT Deseret, which was
To have included all the present Utah and
Nevada, all Colorado west of the summit,
and portions of Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona
and California. Congress sheared it down
about half and made the first Utah. From
that congress has since taken Nevada, half
OF Colorado aud II corner of Wyoming, but
for q years the Mermons kept up the or
ganization OF the state of Deseret. regular
ly eiecting officials, and the legislature of
Deseret met Immediately after the terrific
rial legislature had adjourned and went
through the form of confirming the said
legislatures acts. 1t tickled them and hurt
nobody else. aud rs the vote in the state of
Deseret was always unanimous there wero
no riots or election contests.
Six times they renewed their attempts to
gain admission as "A state, and III 1872 so
many gentiles joined with them that it
came pretty near proving success. Their
proposition then was that il congress would
admit the state of Deseret they would en-
body in the constitution a clause forever
prohibiting polygamy, bigamy, etc. In the,
recent debate in the house a New England
,nasa,har moved an amendment rpsyyfiripu