Arizona republican., 1901-03-09
A PETITION FOR STATEHOOD
Which Might Bs Rsvampsd For the
 Use of Arizona

In the congressional library hangs Q faded document. the petition of Mis- soun to be admitted as state in the the union. The arguments which were used almost all aprly to New Mexico only more strongly. says the Albu- querque Citizen, and it may be added that they are good for Arizona. Mis- souri then had scarcely 10000 inhabi- tants; New Mexico has five times as many; Missouri had existed thirteen years as a territory; New Mexico has been in territorial tutelage for over fif- ty years. Missouri had been given a vague promise of statehood; New Mex leo has a definite promise given it in q solemn. treaty with Mexico: Missouri urges that 1t was loyal to the union in 1872 to 1874, but New Mexico has been still more loyal. The Missouri petition said in part:
 That your petitioners live within thar part of the territory of Missouri which lies between the latitude 36 de- grees and 90 minutes ana 40 degrees north. and between the Missouri river to the east and the Osage boundary line to the west. They pray that they may be admitted into the union of the states within these limits.
 They conceive that their numbers entible them to the benefits and to the rank of state government. Taking the progressive increase during former years. on the bass of this calculation. they estimate their present number at upwards of 10000 souls. Tennessea Ohio and the Mississippi states were admitted with smaller numbers, and the treaty of cession guarantees this great privilege to your petitioners as soon as 1t can be granted under the principles of the federal constitution. They have passed eight years in the first grade of territorial government. five In the second; they have evinced their attachment to the honor and in- tegrity of the union during the late war. and they. with deference, urge their right to become a member of the great republic.
 "They forbear to dilate upon the evils of the territorial government, but will barely name, among the grievances of this condition:
 T. That they have no vote in your honorable body. and yet are subject to the indirect taxes imposed upon them.
 "2. That the veto of the territorial executive Is absolute upon the acts of the territorial legislature.
 "3. That the superior court is con stg7ncted on principles unheard of in any system of jurisprudence having primary cognizance of almost every controversy. civil and criminal. and subject to correction by no other tribu- nal.
 That the powers of the territorial legislature are limited in the passage of laws of a local nature. owing to the paramount authority of congress to leg islate upon the subject
 Congress needed the voice of the pe- titioners and granted them statehood In the face of conditions that almost precipitated q civil war; New Mexico urges many more and more logical req sons than did Missouri at that time, and has the promise of the great polit- ical parties to give It statehood. It seems reasonable, however, that if New Mexico takes the proper action this time. if its legislature authorizes the appointment of a non-partisan commis- sion to go to Washington, as Governor Otero has suggested. statehood will be granted the territory within the next twelve months. It Is certainly worth while to make the effort.