Arizona republican., 1902-11-21
The Tucson Knockers.

Much regret has been expressed that the members of the United States sen ate subcommittee on territories could not give more time to their investiga- tions in Arizona But in view of the ad . vices from Tucson, printed in The Re publican yesterday, still greater regret will be felt by the people of the terri tory that the committee did not decide to go through Tucson without stopping. It appears that the fool-killer was off duty for the day. and the Pioneer So- ciety"-personneI not stated-took ad- vantage of the fact to appear before the senators and urge a long string of amendments to the pending statehood bill. As we stated a few days ago, any man that stands for any amendment to the bill now before the senate commit tee might as well wear label reading. "I am an enemy to statehood" The individuals who purported to speak for the Pioneer Society" have treacherous designs against the statehood bill and are afraid to come out into the open and show their opposition. or they are asses. Were all the citizens of Arizona to be lined up and counted, and boiled as to their wishes, we do not believe that nine men could be found in opposi- ton to the bill. The few who would prefer a continuance of territorial bondage get their inspiration from Tucson. Very probably, some of those who joined in recommending the pro- posed amendments did so in that ig norance which often prompts the cheer ful idiot to do things simply because somebody tells him he should.
 /No more effective plan for killing the omnibus bill could be devised than that of tacking on amendments which would require the measure to be returned to the house of representatives. The bill has already passed the house, and is awaiting the action of the senate. If passed by the latter body as it came from the house, it will become a law at once. But if amendments are made by the senate, the bill must go back to the house to run the gauntlet there once more. There can be no doubt that q number of representatives voted for the bill under moral duress; they would be glad to see Arizona and New Mexico cut out. These enemies would have their opportunity should the bill once go to conference. The speaker, who is not friendly to the bill, would appoint the house conierees. Should these cOnferees find that the senate had affixed lot of amendments objectiona- ble to this territory, is it likely that they would insist upon the terms of the house bill? When a bill goes to confer ence one house or the other must give, way-unless it is found impossible to reach an agreement. What assurance ments from the senate would not pre- vail?
 It matters not if a hundred desirable amendments could be suggested. The fact remains that anyone of them might prove fatal to the bill by open ing the fiood-gates for other amend ments, and by affording a handy and agreeable way for polite but hostile senators to kill the measure so far as Arizona and New Mexico are con- cerned. One of the strongest argu- ments in favor of the omnibus bill has been the fact, reiterated over and. over again that the people of the terri tories are practically unanimous for it..
 The first discordant note which has been borne to the ears Of senators or heard in conferences among our own people, was sounded at Tucson in the presence of Senator Beveridge and his associates. How are these senators to know that the ridiculous and preten- , tious Pioneer Society" does not repre- sent considerable element in the ter ritory?
 As matter of fact, the amendments suggested are all childish and captious. What difference does it make whether the constitutional convention has 36 or 9G delegates? To be sure, the larger membership would give better oppor- tunities for grafters to slip in, but these gentry need not be altogether dis couraged; some of them will be elected to the convention anyhow. And the masses do not care a copper whether Pima county has the same number of delegates as Pinal, or twice as many.
 Why did the great and progressive city of Tucson permit her few calamity howlers to monopolize the ears of the Eenators2