Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-04-29

A Correspondent OF the NEW Mexi.
cam" In a Position co Know,
Says There Is a Hope.

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From the New Mexican.
MIR. Phocion Howard, one OF the
most able and painstaking representa-.
tives OF the press now on duty In Wash
ington, correspondent for the Chicago
Dispatch, Seattle Times, and other
newspapers, writes the New Mexican
as follows concerning statehood;
s.It is quite safe to assume that New
Mexico will be admitted Into The Union
before the adjournment Of the 54th
congress. A careful OF the
house and senate develops the fact that
a majority of members Of these two
houses are favorable to the New Mexico
statehood bill and will vote accordingly
when the matter comes up for final
consideration.
"lt has been contended in some quar-
tiers that President Cleveland was ad.
verse 10 admitting New Mexico into
the Union on the ground that such ad-
mission would certainly mean at least
three more representatives in congress
favorable to the free and Unlimited
coinage of silver. / have 1t ON the au-
thority of an administration senator
that
THE PRESIDENT IS NOT UNFAvORABLE
to the statehood bill. On the contrary,
he has expressed his opinion on the
matter, said opinion being Of the most
favorable character. l will quote the
presidents exact words as given TO me
by Delegate Catron: Il have been to
see Mr.. Cleveland on the New Mexico
statehood bill, and he seems much in
clined to favor the project. He said
he hoped the day is not remote when
all Territories will be admitted into the
union. And, as for the New Mexico
matter, permit ne to say that when
| the bill comes before me for my sigma
ture, / shall surely give 1t careful con-
sideration.'
"The foregoing are the words of
President Cleveland as repeated to me
by Mr.. Catron. But it was not from
the New Mexico delegate that l secured
my inside information. He is q mar
high in the councils of the democratic
party and one who has the entree OF
the white house. With these facts
staring one in the face, it is quite
among The possibilities that New Mex
ico will be admitted into the union at
no remote date.
SIT might interest readers Of the
New Merican to know from what Sec
ton Of the country opposition to the
admittance of New Mexico into the
union comes. For the most part, it is
commended that the cause of free silver
would receive a fresh impetus, if this
oil is enacted into law. The single
gold standard men of the east, partic-
ularly New England, are against the
bill dead in earnest, not alone because
of their extreme radical views on the
currency question, but also because Of
the thought that two democratic sena.
tors would be elected to the senate of
the United States. Speaker Reed is
one Of the fasteners opposed to New
Mexico. He has openly declared him.
self against the bill, it is said, and for
this reason, aside from anything else
which might be brought into consider
alton, it will be a hard matter to get
the bill past his chair. But, as we all
know, there are tricks in the legisla-
tive trade just as there are tricks in any
other trade or profession. The scheme
of the statehood mem is to pass the
bill through at the short session in De-
cember with some friend to the bill in
the speakers chair"