Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1901-10-16
The STATEHOOD
CONVENTION
Colonel ]. Francisco Chaves Was
Elected the Permanent Chair
man. Of the Gathering.
SOME STRONG RESOLUTIONS
Governor Otero Made Splendid Address
on Behalf of Statehood and Assessment
Reform. m.-Addresses by Governor
Murphy, Edwin A. Munger
and Colonel Ohaves.

The statehood convention convened
again this forenoon at the Reynolds
building, Albuquerque. Governor
Otero as temporary chairman yester-
day appointed the following commit
tees:
Permanent organization: F. A. Hub
bell, chairman; H. B. Ferguson, Este
van Baca, C. c. Emerson, Gregory
Page, Leandro Baca, G. w. Shakes
peare, Jefferson Reynolds, w. G. Sar-
gent, James H. Laurie, ]. H. Sloan, e.
V. Long.
Rules and order of business: c. j..
Gavin, chairman; e. c. Abbott, Lu-
ciano Chaves, E. A. Miera, w. b. Wal
ton, Abram Abeyta, Geo. Brown, Zac-
arais Valdez, w. H. Pope, D. j. Leahy
John Becker, N. B. Laughlin.
Committee on resolutions: B. S. Ro-
dey, chairman; S. Burkhart, H. O..
Bursum, A. B. Fall, w. B. Childers, O.
N. Marion, M. Lohman, l.. c. Grove,
Elfego Baca, j. A. Mahoney, w. Fl. II.
Llewellyn, e. V. Chaves.
A most enthusiastic spirit prevails
among the delegates who represent ev-
cry part of the territory. Among the
speakers this forenoon were: Governor
M. A. Otero, Governor Murphy OF Arf-
zona, Hon. Edwin Munger of Chicago,
Col. J. Francisco Chaves and others.
Governor Otero made the following
brilliant address:
Fellow Citizens: 1t is with pride and
pleasure that greet you on this occa-
sion when for the 21st year the metrop-
oils of New Mexico celebrates her ter
ritorial fair.
This occasion is one of unusual sig
nificance and Importance to you and
the whole territory, as upon your ac-
ton today will largely depend the ac-
ton of congress in regard to that
question of supreme Importance to our
future, our admission as state of the
union.
MY own views upon this subject are
lOO we'll hIlOWu W llCCNA hNPSsAsASAA AN~A
in each message to the legislature, and
in every report to the secretary of the
interior, 1 have urged the passage OF
an enabling act and set out in full the
reasons and arguments for it. I have
issued the proclamation calling this
meeting of the people that they might
express themselves directly instead OF
| through their legislature or governor.
| For more than half a century we
have been of, yet not one of, the Unit
ed States; during all that period we
have been true and loyal to the laws
and flag of that glorious union OF
which we hope to become part, an6
have freely given of our blood ano
| treasure to maintain it's supremacy anc
glory. During that time we have seer
fifteen states admitted, one of then
taken largely from within our borders
and territory created out of one o1
our counties; each of these states save
one when admitted had less popula
ton and taxable property than we nov
possess, and none was in any respec
better equipped for self government
than we.
AS early as June, 1850, constitution
was adopted by our people for the for
nation of a state which prohibited sla
very in New Mexico, showing at tha
early day that our people were full,
alive to the dangers that threatene
the republic, and the only course
could pursue to carry out the great fu
ture which these United States hav
wrought in proclaiming libert
throughout the world and to the peo
pies thereof. Under this constitution
two United States senators and
member of congress We're elected, VIII
were not recognized by congress. Blu
it did in September of that year Great
us into territory by the organic &C
which is still our fundamental law.
Nothing further was done Of a pub
lie nature towards our admission unit
1874, when bill for that purpose wa
introduced by Hon. s. B. Elkins, ou
delegate. This was defeated but tn
effort was renewed at the next an
each succeeding congress. With ever
renewed effort and additional reason
for our admission the opposition ha
grown the stronger until the conclu
sion is irresistible that some stron
personal and financial interests are al
rayed against us for selfish aggrar
disement. One evidence Of this is til
Elephant Butte dam; and another. tn
: segregation of large areas of publ
domain for so-called forest reserve
and the effort being made for go,
ernment lease law. AS a territory "
cannot combat these schemes; we ha,
no voice in the disposition Of that lar
that we have struggled so long
maintain as a part Of our territor
while as a state we would be able
assert and retain our rights.
In 1889 as distinguished body I
men assembled for the purpose
framing a constitution for the ne
. state Of New Mexico as had ever gatl
. cred for q similar purpose. and att
celebrating for nearly a month. TO
muIated a constitution which is Il
peer of any similar document in Il
union. 1t is SO fair, SO liberal and
comprehensive that I caused 1t to
: published In my last report as Il
strongest showing. that could be ma,
st upon our capacity for self governmer
. Owing to an unfortunate combinati'
d lof circumstances this most admiral
constitution was rejected by the pc