Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-09-24
STATEHOOD FOR NEW MExICO.

Governor Otero's report to the secre-
tary of the interior is attracting wide.
spread attention. SO far but little of the
contents of the report are known, and ii
is altogether likely that when the docu.
ment has been published New Mexico
will come to be looked upon as desirable
land by many who now consider it only
as the abiding place of the coyote and the
home of the gorgeous cactus.
One effect of the report will be to place
statehood much nearer realization thar
ever before. The Denver News, in com.
menting upon the report says:
"The annual report of Governor Oterc
to the secretary of the interior shows New
Mexico to be in a generally prosperous
and growing condition. The population
has increased at least 100000 since The
census of 1890. Mining and other in.
dustrles are advancing, and the wool
product last year was 100000 pounds
The report reviews the varied industries
of the territory and concludes with a
strong argument for statehood.
"New Mexico possesses every REQUIRE.
ment necessary for admission to the
Union. Ii has an abundance of popula.
tion. Its leading neutrality-suspicious.
horticulture, mining and wool growing
are increasing in importance every year.
Its system of public education has been
greatly perfected and extended within the
last few years, 80 that there is absolut-ly
no objection to be urged to her admis-
sion on the ground of popular intelll-
gence, or of the ability of her people to
maintain state government. These are
facts known all over the west and known
also in Washington, but they exercise no
influence in official circles, and perhaps
no one is better aware OF this fact than
Governor Otero himself. The east and
Its goldbug money magnates have decreed
that no more western states shall be ad-
mltted, at least until the gold standard
has been securely fastened on the country.
They are Indifferent to right and Justice,
and to the claims of the people of New
Mexico. They are determined that the
west shall have no more votes in the
senate, regardless of all other considera-
tions. This is what is keeping New Mex
leo out of the Union"
The NEW MEXICAN does not agree with
the News concerning the reasons that
have kept the territory out of the Union
as state, and believes the statement
that "the east and its goldbug money
magnates have decreed that no more
western states shall be admitted" is an
injustice to the eastern representatives
In congress. The real reason statehood
has been denied New Mexico is that the
popular idea of the territory in the east
is that the population is insufficient, that
ihe industries were in an undeveloped
state, and that the people were necessa-
'lly ignorant because there were no pub.
lc schools for the education of the masses.
These objections the governors report will
IN large measure remove, and when
statehood comes up again in congress
,he representatives from the eastern states
will be better informed on the subject;
ts vital interest to the welfare of one of
The largest sections in the United States
will be recognized, and statehood will be
granted New Mexico without any serious
objections on the part of a single sena-
or or congressman.
1t ls to he hoped that when the report
8 published an edition large enough to
'ermit of a general distribution among
he members of congress will be printed.