Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1902-05-31
DESERVE STATEHOOD.

The Chicago Farm. Field and Fire.
side Is edited by Charles n. Howard
brother OF General q. q. Howard He
is familiar with the conditions I'm New
Mexico and Arizona. having for several
years filled the position of inspector in
the Indian service. Upon the subject of
statehood for the territories he says:
There is general sentiment
throughout the country that the time
is ripe for taking In these states. two
OF which have waited so long. II liz
hardly republican system which
keeps people waiting thirty years or
more before admitting them to state
hood. A kind of bitterness has sprung
up among the residents of these two
territories who made their homes
there with the expectation of all the
privileges that belong to citizens and
who have SO many times been disap-
pointed.
1T is not right to make the residents
OF our great territories the football of
politics. The questions should be ask.
ed; What is the population? Are they
capable of government? What are
the natural resources? The two pro-
posed states are rich in mineral re.
sources and as ranges for cattle and
Sh''H- W dSli'uith'ul ana noTtltHl
tural possibilities New Mexico also
holds a fair rank. The grapes. peaches
pears and other fruits of the Rio
Grande valley are exceptionally fine
No better potatoes can he raised any.
where than those of the Pe"os valley
Indeed, the rich soil and irrigation of
this valley make it a garden spot. cap
able OF almost any agricultural or hor.
ticultural possibilities. Both the terri.
tories have fine timber; both have
gold. silver. copper and coal.
"A remarkably intelligent class of
Americans have located in these two
territories and are conducting large
operations in mining cattle raising
and merchandising. There is no sound
logic or sound principle of any kind In
keeping these people out of the Union
because, forsooth. we fear they will
elect democratic or. perhaps. republic
an senators. Ii is by no means certain
what complexion. politically the legis-
latures of the new states may be. This
will depend upon the records soon to
he made of each of the parties. Any
course of the republican party which
will lose to II the vote of Illinois or
Indiana very probably would lose that
Of New Mexico or Arizona. In other
words. there is an intelligent and
thoughtful and patriotic population. If
they were convinced that either the
republican or the democratic party had
dealt unjustly by them or by the Phil
lppines. or mad acted with conspicuous
unwisdom on any great issue. the par
ty would be adjudged accordingly and
would lose votes. Il. for example.
there is an evident disposition in the
United States senate to shut them out.
now they are so near statehood. he.
cause there is no political boss who
carries the territory in his pocket and
can contract to deliver 1t for the hen.
eft Of this or that party, this would he
resented.and ought to be.
Have we not in the United States
senate statesmen who can rise above
mere party politics? The Farm. Field
and Fireside believes that men like
Senators Hoar. Cullom. iiawley. De-
pow. Allison. Beveridgo. Spooner
Teller and many others are capable of
treating this question of statehood IN
statesmanlike way and simply in
quiring what is tor the best develop
ment of this portion of our country
what is for the good of the people re-
siding tnprpo"