Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1900-07-21
DEFENDS NEW MEXICO,
Character Of lis Citizens and ts
Claim for Statehood.
STRONG LETTER FROM HARRY PIERCE.

kdnof. Washington, y. c., Post.
CREDITED to MIR. A. y. Benson. u
Florence. a. ~" there appoarcd ia
Hotel i,obbios," in Wednesdays post.
an Interview In which uhc majority Of
the oitisena 1T tha, territory are char
actcgdscd az "grcaseTa. and cut
throats. horse thieves and murisrcrs,'
the text Tor whioh was the plank In the
republican national platform favonng
rhc admission OF Rev Mexico into the
union trust you will give npaoo ~ a
proicat against tho publication Of such
haaeioas ana hbg.0us expressions, aud a
siatrsnent % Few faOtH shOwlnE tho
character OF the citiHcuahip Of New
Mcxicu and the basis for the tcrrtnry 81
demand Cor statehood ana tho appre-
ciaton ot lhc delegates Ga the rcpu0h-
can national convention OF the iuatlce
of the demand.
A presentation uf tho MAS % stats
ti,s both federal AMI territorial. would
show thsit the percentage u taxes cx
pended lot -chusiH, the church connect
"a population, the number ~ criminals,
the banking oapinsi aud deposits tho
tax rates and debts. and the incrct-o
aud Importance - the development Il
every material interest 90 the territory.
compared ftvorabS with those OF tha
most Progressive states of the west.
Yet New Mexico Ia e section which bat
atiy years ago expasasion brought to us
with a population fon,ign iH both sent
ment and language. ! would dircct at
tention Go the character VI thu men who
have represented the territory IA con
grcss. among whom are. stephen ~ El-
klna. 90 ohio. ex secretary Of war and
now senator from West Virginia Ma
rano =. Otero, a native 81 New Mexico.
nov president uf tho Commercial Ma
ito Al bank VI Aibuquerquc. Trinidad
itcmero. . native. nftcrwnrd appointed
marshal by President Harubon, Tran
outline Luna. native and always a
leading business man og the territory.
whose son recently lost his hfo as a
captain la the volunteer army an the
Philippines after having served win
distinction id Cuba n A. MNn1snars-
nos az the head OF one OF the principal
mercantile establishments IA the south
west j. F'ranCsrO Chavoa. who scrved
with distinction aa colonel OF New
McxiCun regiment during the owl wsr
and 10 one OF the beading members Of
the bar OF the territory. Antonio Jo-
s,ph, several times presiding officer in
the Legislature. and a successful mcrs
chani Thomas u. Catr0n. 81 MISSOURI.
former law and business partner OF
Senator Eliona. and one Of the leating
msmDers u Inc western bar. n. Is.
Fergussun. % Alabama. ono Of the best
criminal lawyers in the southwest. and
a successful business man. and the
present delegate. Pedro Pcrca, * terri
Tural treasurer. several times member
uf the legislature and president OF tho
Prs, National bank OF Santa Re- the
oldest and one of the strongest imam
cial Institutions In the territory.
The present governor, Miguel A.
Otefo, 6s native New Mexican. ap-
pointed by President Mckinley. and han
able administration OF territorial AFFAIRS
attesa the Capac1y for self govern
nent OF the citizenship OF which he r.
representative. ~ nuch Tor the char
acier 81 our federal representatives A.
l
cieut to hay that. WIN majority Of ats
M mbership mate up % 'grcaeeFs, Il
passed many years ago school law ~
liberal az that On the statute books VI
any state. ana ihc code contains laws
sac guarding every form ~ capital and
| protecting every citizcn-lgws which
have passed review by congress. which
has the power OF rcp.,al and TIE judg
ment OF the United siatcssuprefnc court
enacted by legislatures containing
sometimes a majority composed ui
| groasern," tho contempt uOua term MI
benson applies 10 the republicans ~ ths
territory. and sometimes a majority
compossd 90 'cui throats. hors. thieye.
and muriercra." the cpltheia he applies
o. the democrats
The unanimous demand Cor Itatshood
10 shown by the fact that every demo
cratic and every republican territorial
platform Ia the past fftcen years has
contained a strong declaration "a favoi
% admission. that numbers OF delega
ions ot leading cidEcns have yisitei
Washington to urge favorable action bS
congress snd bills Of admlsEion hay'
been faNJraDly reported 90 ana paHset
by both republican and democnati,
houses after full discussion. The real
menta Of 'grsascrs" who volunteered
fOg service Ia the ciNhi war. who them
selves or thsar f0refath.rs, but ffteel
years before had ben aliens, and tb'
regiment OF "grstsera, cut -thrOtta.
etc. who fought ia Cvba. and many %
whom are now nghuns IN the voluntee
army In the Philippines also attcat th'
Ameroanism and patriotism of Nog
MeNicO'a citizens.