Evening star., 1900-10-08
ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO
BOTH TERRITORIES MAY ELECT RE-
PUBLICAN DELEGATES.
The Democrats in the One Are All
split Up ana the Other Is
Naturally for Mckinley.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
PHOENIX, IAriz.,. October 2, 1900.
While 1t is true that the politics of terri
tories are not Of great national concern
during a presidential campaign. they are
nevertheless interesting as indicative of the
drift of public sentiment in places where no
pressure is brought to bear from national
party organizations. The tendencies of both
New Mexico and Arizona are strongly re-
publican this year. especially in New Mexi-
CO. which, from its political record, may
be considered a republican community. In
Arizona, which is of more democratic turn.
there is peculiar condition of affairs this
year which may possibly lead to the cleo
ton of a republican delegate to Congress
to succeed the democrat who now 6ccu-
pies the seat.
Delegate ]. F. Wilson of Arizona was a
candidate before his party for the rencmi-
nation this year. but ex-Delegate Mark
Smith. who represented Arizona for many
years at the national capital was again
seized with political ambition, and at the
last moment injected his strong and active
personality into the situation. The demo-
cratic territorial convention met in regular
session without disturbance and with Dele
gate Wilson and eX-Delegate Smith before 1t
as candidates for a democratic nomination.
noisy was precipitated early in the
game. however, and after three days of
acrimonious controversy the convention
split and each faction nominated its man.
Both Wilson and Smith assert that they
are the regular nominees of the party but
an appeal has been made to the courts,
each one hoping to gain the advantage Of
the decision. Only one Of them can have
his name on the ballot of the regular demo-
cratic ticket and it is possible that the
one who is decided to be outside Of the
breastworks will withdraw. as such a
doubleheaded ticket could only result In the
election OF the republican nominee.
Republicans Nominate Gov. Murphy.
The republicans have nominated Gov. n.
0. Murphy to make the race against Will
son or Smith or both. as the case may be,
and, with the Gissensions in the democratic
party and the strong drift toward repub-
icanism which Is manifest in the terri
tory, the republicans express the belief
that they will be successful this year.
Gov. Murphy has been in the executive
office of the territory since the retirement
of Gov. McCord. He has many enemies.
and numerous charges have been filed
against MIN in Washington in the effort to
secure his removal The fight against him
was given up, however. some time ago in
the apparent belief that it would be unsuc-
cessful. One of Gov. Murphys most nota-
BILE acts was his proclamation warning
investors against fake mining schemes in
Arizona. This move on his part was very
generally indorsed throughout the states
and by a large proportion of the mine own
ers of his own territory. But ii irritated
some people whose negotiations for the
unloading of mines and mining stocks upon
foreign investors were at that time at a
critical stage, and some perfectly we'll
meaning people believed that he injured
legitimate investment in his endeavor to
maintain the integrity of the mining in
dustry. Gov Murphy will have the sup
port of the railroad interests of the terri
tory and that OF many of the largest min
ing companies
The total vote of Arizona is about 15., 500.
and the territory has been democratic
since 1878 with the exception of the years
1884, 1894 and 1898.
New Mexico. Prospects.
New Mexico presents a curious contrast
TO Arizona. for New Mexico has been re-
publican since 1878, with the exception OF
five biennial elections. = Il was democratic
in 1896, but returned II its republican al
legiance in 1898, elecrAax Pedro Perea to
Congress delegate. The vote of New
Mexico is very much larger than Arizona
being nearly 10000 The republican ma
jority has averaged from 1000 to 1000
New Mexico has been very little
trouble to the various ma tional administra-
tions for the reason that the large proper
ton OF its voters are Mexican. and If a
Mexican of influence Is appointed to office
the people readily acquiesce in his incum-
bency. The present governor, NJ A. Otero
is very popular with all classes of people
throughout the territory. and there seems
To be good reason to doubt but that
New Mexico will maintain her reputation
as republican territory at the election
next month.
The issues discussed by the speakers
throughout Arizona and New Mexico are
about the same as elsewhere. although free
silver is receiving far less attention than
II did four years ago. There Is always one
ever-present issue in a territorial campaign
and that is statehood, and each side Of the
controversy does everything in It's power to
convince the voters that statehood would
be most quickly secured under the party
represented. The people are a unit for i'm
mediate admission. Nearly all believe that
President Mckinley will be reelected, and
this may have some influence at the polls
for if both territories gave large ma ajorities
for the republican ticket it is believed their
chances for statehood would be much bet
ter than If they went democratic.
Industrially and commercially Arizona
and New Mexico are in very good shape
especially in the mining districts. A pro-
longed drought during the summer threat
ened severe losses for the live stock indus
try, but heavy rains in September put an
end to the suspense and reduced the loss to
minimum. j. p. .WHELPLEY.