Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-07-31

eiecteu HiH W represent tnem mas
been appreciated, and being in my
home town, feel II deeply, and am
moved even to embarrassment
II greet you, fellow citizens, not as
citizens of the territory of New Mex
leo, save as my neighbors in suffering,
but | greet you as citizens of the state
of New Mexico to be before the goth of
December next. Great applause.)
New Mexico's demand for the common
right of citizens of this union has
never been in better shape than it is
at this moment, not even in the days
when Senator Elkins had the honor to
represent the territory in congress and
came so near achieving what we have
fought so persistently for
II found when l first went to con-
gress, that the nation was taken up
with things that we did not think then
it ought to give all its attention to,
such as legislating for Fiipinos, Porto
Ricans and Cubans. We found that
these things were taking so much time
and attention that even in the national
house OF representatives they did not
want to.consider our bill at this ses-.
sion of congress-, yet we fought so per-
sistently--in the night time, day time.
in hotel lobbies, in the corridors of the
| capitol, on the street cars, and in fact,
every place we would meet member
of congress, that finally we were given
hearing. with the result that after
much opposition, the omnibus state
hood bill passed the house without di-
vision. O(Applause)
| MIR. Rodey had been asked to give a
brief statement of the work he had
| a l.,
he did in concise and vigorous Ian
guage, and the relation of the tale
evoked much enthusiasm.
The following synopsis of the state
ment proves the truth of the assertion
made by Chairman Hubbell that never
before had a delegate in so short
time done such an amount of work:
Delegate Rodey settled the controver-
sizes between applicants for the post
mastership of 200 postoffces printed
and circulated at his own expense,
1000 circulars regarding statehood;
wrote 500 personal letters regarding
statehood; sent 1000 letters contain
inc. statehood matter to congressman
before and during the session; distrib-
uted in the territory 1900 agricul
tural bulletins and 40 900 packages of
|
,00J letters spent his whole salary
and half as much more in the work for
statehood; attended to 500 pensions,
making many trips to the department
and introducing many pension bills;
answered 1000 letters asking informa-
ton, including 300 applicants for posi-
tions in the new possessions; wrote
hundreds of letters TO editors on the
ct q NJ AIn naA
in his statement to say that II single
letter sent him during his term had
remained unanswered, he was totally
unaware of the fact. He attended
twenty-five meetings of western mem
bers of congress while the irrigation
bill was being formulated, and worked
continuously until it was passed.
And | want to say right here" said
the delegate, that New Mexico even
wlJn a voteless delegate, had as much
to say about the formulating of that
bill as any of the states affected by it.
| haven't time to discuss the matter,
but | am convinced that no measure
ever passed by congress contains so
much of hope for the arid west as the
irrigation bill. II means that every
acre of land in the territory capable of
yation. And, furthermore, | believe
New Mexico will be the first or one of
the first of the states to be consid-
cred
Continuing the statement. the dele
gate said he had worked assiduously
with members of congress for the
statehood bill; wrote hundreds of let
ters to people of influence and sent
1000 kilograms on the subject; fought
with pen and tongue, everybody and
everything that opposed the move
ment. There never was a slander on
the people of New Mexico published
that did not receive a reply such as
was needed.
He secured statehood interviews
with more than 500 newspapers; orig
mated the idea of the omnibus state
mood bill. Mr.. Rodey explained at
length why individual bills would have
been killed. He fought the Beals land
grant steal from start to finish.
Il made such a strenuous fight
against this BILL the speaker said,