Arizona republican., 1901-12-10
The merits Of the statehood ques- tion have seldom been stated more


 IGNORANCE. yer Republican:
 strong fight will be made at the present session of con gress for the admission of the three territories, New Mexico, Arizona ana Oklahoma. The opposition of the east is probably not as strong it was q few years ago when political consid- erations caused many persons on the Atlantic seaboard to oppose the in- crease of western strength in the Ssli- ate. But there remains no small amount of ignorance and prejudice in that quarter which must be overcome in order to secure the passage of the requisite enabling acts
 Justice and the interests of the trans Missouri region alike demand that these three territories be admit ted. They have population cough to maintain state governments, and their people desire to be admitted This should stop all opposition; for when these two factors are present it is a denial of a fundamental principle to refuse to erect state governments
 The doctrine of the right of selfgov ernment is Fundamental Upon it our whole system is founded. But the in habitants of territories are not inde- pendent They are not a self-govern ing body. They live in provinces of the IeueFal they sIS completely subject to the will of con gress Congress can destroy the pit tance of self government which is con ferred by the establishment of terri tories. It can do away with the ter ritorial organizations entirely and en- act laws on it's own account for each of these three communities without their will. consent or approval.
 It is only through the erection of
 
 the territories can become independent and self governing. They have, as loyal American citizens, as much right to govern themselves as the inhabi tants of any of the original states, and it should be denied to them no longer.
 The prosperity of the territories un- der consideration would be greatly promoted by admitting them states Capital would flow in more freely and more rapidly through the settlement of new people. The interests of the whole country call for the erection of the proposed states in order that the de- velopment of the union as whole may be more rapid and uniform. The peo- pie of the east who oppose admission do so in ignorance of the real condi- tions or else in blind prejudice which is without excuse.
 y rebukes the ignorance and prejudice" of the opposition to statehood. It is unfortunate that there should be enough ignorance and prejudice in the east concerning the three territories. and Arizona and New Mexico espec- ially, to make it necessary to con- slider such factor in the situation. On the other hand it is happily true. however. that the east now under stands the conditions in these terri tories better than ever before, and the opposition thus far manifested is puny in comparison with that which has confronted the statehood move ment heretofore. Upon the whole, the outlook is very encouraging. and as this paper has stated repeatedly, sue cess Is within reach if our own people will keep up the fight with energy and good nature
 One important and encouraging feat ure is the friendship of the president. To. the New Mexico statehood conven- ton he clearly expressed himself as fayoring the admission of the three territories. While it is true that he did not see fit to refer to statehood" spe- officially in his message, there is no doubt as to his position, and the broad statesmahlike manner in which he dis cussed the needs and conditions of the west in the message has directed the friendly attention of the whole country to the west.
 The makeup of the senate committee on territories will have an important bearing on the final judgment of the senate on the question of admission. A favorable and strong report from the committee would be supported by vigorous arguments from able senators on the floor. There are now five vacan- cies in the committee. which probably will not be organized until after the holidays. As soon as the membership is known the people of Arizona should deluge the committee with letters set ting forth our claims to statehood. Sem ator Shoup, the former chairman. is not a member of the present senate. Sem ator Clarence D. Clarke of wyoming is a candidate for the chairmanship. and it will be piece of great good for tune for the territories if that place is conceded to him by the repuSiioa:, majority. Senator Clarke knows q great many of our citizens personally. He was in Phoenix last year and at Il banquet rendered to him, Senator Shoup and others, he went on record emphaticaily as friend of Arizona and a champion of her claims to seat in