El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-12
Hopes Of arizona's People
Again Deferred.
CONDITIONS ANALYZED
Senator Clark of Mdntana, the Multi
Millionaire min. Owner, Aided
TO Defeat Murphy - Mormon
Vote Was Cast SoIidIy For the
Democratic Nominee

Statehood for Arizona was dealt a stun
aing blow by the defeat OF Gov. y. o.
Murphy. republican, for delegate to
congress by Marcus A. Smith. demo
cratic.)
The total vote cast amounted to
about 10000. OF which Smith received a
plurality of more than 900.
The result was entirely unlocked for
nd is regarded as an expression of the
people on the movement for the adj
mission of Arizona
Business men and those interested in
the introduction of capital for the de-
velopment of the resources of Arizona.
have been upset in their calculations.
and are much perturbed.
Several large projects and deals were
contingent upon the admission of this
territory. Capital would willingly find
investment in Arizona. but for the
fear that when the territory is admit
ted the new form of government might
not afford it sufficient protection
The cry of the republican party this
year was statehood.
The democrats had little to- say on
this subject and confined themselves
to n denunciation of the officials acts
of the governor and the candidate for
congress.
In spite of his defeat the governor
and several other prominent Arizona
citizens assert that they will organize a
commission and go before the next
congress to plead for the admission of
this territory.
Murphy made a reasonable claim for
The suffrages of all who favored the
admission of Arizona
In view of the probability OF election
of a republican president and reDub-
lican congress. he urged that the dele
gate from Arizona should be of the
same political complexion in order that
he might receive proper recognition
for the territory represented by him.
At any rate the next session of con-
gress will be republican and congress
meets before the president ends his
first term so had Bryan been the sue
cessfuI candidate for the presidency.
il would have been in the power of the
republican party to admit Arizona be-
fore relinquishing control of the af-
fairs of the country.
Binger Herman. commissioner of the
general land Office and Senator Shoup
of Idaho. chairman of the committee on
territories. sent communications to-
Arizona urging the people to elect
Murphy. assuring them that statehood
would he easier of attainment in case
the territory made "A manifestation of
its political complexion which would
satisfy a republican congress.
Sentiment Against Statehood.
There is a strong undercurrent in
Arizona opposed to the territory ad
ministering its own affairs. On the
surface the people appear to be bub-
bling over with enthusiasm for state
hood. but nothing more fully than the
recent territorial election has demon
strated the strength of the opposition.
Senator w. A. Clark. of Montana.
who ostensibly takes no part in Ari-
IONA politics. undoubtedly was one fac
tor in the defeat of Governor Murphy.
and his object probably was to dis
courage statehood.
The people have long believed that
Clark favored the admission of Ari-
IONA as he could better secure a foot
hold in Arizona politics than in Mon
tana. and likely would strive to rep
resent this territory in the United
States senate.
Since Marcus Days interest in Mon
tana politics has diminished. and Clark
seems to control state politics. there is
no longer any reason to believe that he
is particularly interested in the admis-
sion of Arizona. In fact there is rea-
son to believe that he is strongly op-
posed to it. because OF the likely in
crease in the taxation of his big United
Verde Copper mine.
CIark's political strength in Arizona
thus far has been confined to the min
ing camps of Jerome. where is located
the United Verde mine with a produc-
ton of probably $40 900 900 annually.
Officers of the company assured Muir
ply two-thirds of the vote of this camp
but he fell short of the majority. To
show how fully the United Verde con-
trolls the votes of its employs. other
candidates on a county tick
ct were given overwhelming majorities
in Jerome.
The Mormon Vote.
The other important factor in the de- |
feat of the statehood ticket consisted
in the Mormon vote.
IL is reported that the first presi- |
dent of the Mormon church at Salt |
Lake sent forth an edict TO the Nor |
mon voters of this territory. command |
ing them to- support the democratic |
This cannot be verified. and il is on
ly positively known that while. on ac- 1
count OF his views of women's suffrage. |
Murphy expected a slight majority /
from the Mormons. they voted almost |
Solidly against him.
Eight or ten thousand MormonS are /
coloniZed in various parts of the east |
ern and northeastern Arizona. They /
have established thriving farming com
munities and are extremely clannish.
barring from their thresholds all Gen
tiles and discouraging Gentle immi
grafton. They WELD a strong political
influence in Arizona and are thorough
" contented with their lot.
II is altogether likely that the Nor
mons may be depended upon to- oppose
any measure looking to the admission
Of Arizona. as the subsequent immigra-
ton they fear would cause them to- en-
igrate from Arizona as numbers of |
hem hitherto have been compelled to |